Values Clarification

August 31, 1989

Editor
Englewood Independent
107 W. National Rd.
Englewood, OH 45322

Dear Editor
The architects of education are using the most innocent, benign, and inoffensive phrases to peddle and to coerce destructive and offensive doctrines in educational institutions. One of the popular "great swelling words" (Jude 16) of today is "Values Clarification." Boy, that sounds good doesn't it. It should, it is a phrase designed to inspire us to bow down with appreciation before those destroying the values of our culture. What is Values Clarification? On the surface, it encourages each student to come up with his or her own moral value. That certainly sounds innocuous doesn't it. Why then are some parents so upset about such an "innocent" program? On mature and serious thought one can easily see that the concept actually decimates and dismantles morals. Think about this. If the young student has the ability to look within themselves to determine what is right and wrong for them, they don't need the morals or principals of their parents or God. The explicit or implicit teaching of this concept is that there is no more important source of morals than what they "feel." The morals of God and the morals of their parents are subjugated to the student's immature desires and thoughts. It is effectively implied that the moral standards of God and the moral standards of their parents are of very little importance. That is why many researchers claim that the sex education programs and the drug awareness programs in our schools actually provoke the problems rather than cutting down on those problems. We do want the children to learn to make their own value judgments. However, they should learn to make those value judgments based on established moral values. Somewhat like we want children to use correct grammar, but we want them to learn the rules of grammar so that they can. I hear we have many conscientious teachers. Most are as concerned as parents about the revolting, downward drift in our society. However, they use the text books they are given; they use the means they are taught will work. By definition, most methods they use are godless. In Genesis 3 we have the original values clarification instruction. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to read between the lines. In essence, Satan told Eve to look within herself to see what she wanted to do. He actually told her that it was bad for her to listen to the morals that God has sat down. the devil encouraged her to find her values within herself and to ignore any outside standards. What a mess that has brought into the world. We can expect the same results from the 20th century values clarification the designers of disaster are foisting upon our public school teachers. America is the victim. King Solomon, the one of the wisest man who ever lived, had the classic response to "Look within yourself for your own values." It was, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment," Ecclesiastes 11:9. Organized destruction of morals can be found in any educational level beginning with kindergarten. It is found in most any subject. Parents, you can do something. There is a "Protection of Pupil Rights amendment" that denies the state the right to destroy your beliefs and values. It gives you the right to examine all classroom material. You can examine the teacher's material as well as the student material. You can remove your child from any class that tries to undermine your principals and beliefs. Talk to your local school board; I suspect they are willing to help you; they welcome citizen involvement. Read some eye- opening books that deal with what is being taught our children. Some good books are available through the local library. Our survival not only depends upon our children, but also depends upon eager and enthusiastic vigilance in guarding the principals that made our country great. God warns us to "Be sober, be vigilant; be cause your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" I Peter 5:8.

By His Grace and For His Glory

Pastor Charles J. Arnett
Union Baptist Church