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CHARLES J ARNETT

July 20, 1990

Editor

Englewood Independent

107 W. National Rd.

Englewood, OH 45322

Dear Editor

The guest editorial of July 5 about the Federal Government taking over education seems based on several presuppositions that I strongly disagree with. The logic is not as faulty as the unspoken presuppositions. The apparent presuppositions seem to be: 1) The end justifies the means. ie. Because the Government should have a strong national defense they should take education out of the hands of the community to achieve that end. 2) The Government has as much authority in the education of our children as they have responsibility to maintain a strong national defense. 3) Congress is now trying to maintain a strong national defense. 4) The present failing educational system could be bailed out by pouring in more tax money. 5) That anything becomes more efficient with more government control.

I have another suggestion based on the following presuppositions: 1) The Word of God is a sufficient guide for all that we believe or do. II Timothy 3:16 & 17 et. al. 2) Government gets its authority for all that it does from God. 3) Government is only authorized by God to punish the guilty and protect its citizens. Romans 13:1-7. 4) Nowhere in the Word of God is government authorized to take charge of education. 5) The Word of God gives parents alone the responsibility of educating their children. Ephesians 6:4 et. al. 6) Education has the primary purpose of bringing children to a knowledge of God. Acts 17:26 & 27 et. al.

With those presuppositions, the given of compulsory education, and that property tax is an outdated form of taxation, I come to the conclusion that we should get rid of the present failing education system. This could be implemented by the following. 1) There could be a state educational income tax. 2) That tax should be given, in the form of vouchers or education stamps, similar to food stamps, worth about $2800 per child, to the parents. 3) Those stamps could be used in the school of the parents choice. 4) Do away with state operated humanist schools. 5) Lease present state owned school buildings to private education.

The following advantages are apparent with no disadvantages. A) The education of children would be under the direct control of the parents. B) Parents would have to get involved in educational choices for their children. C) Education would be returned to free enterprise or capitalism which is the American way. D) No child would be forced to attend a school with a distorted religious bias such as the present state operated humanist schools. E) A great increase in quality education which is always the case when the American way is given a chance. F) Teachers would be treated like the professionals they are instead of NEA lackeys. Sally D. Reed called the NEA the propaganda front for the radical left. G) The schools would concentrate on education instead of social engineering. H) School boards would not be a matter of voter approval. I) Parents would have the choice of sending their children to a school with a value system similar to theirs. J) Home schoolers could afford to select quality home school educational aids. K) We would advance our national defense by having an improved educational system. L) This would be a fair treatment of all elements of our pluralistic society. M) This would demonstrate to the world that the presuppositions of Christianity, which gave us America, are the only presuppositions that work in a pluralistic society. They treat all people fair by respecting their differences. N) Even school sports would improve in a free enterprise system.

Yours for quality education

Pastor Charles J. Arnett Union Baptist Church

Englewood Ohio