Raising Ignorance

I have been in Christian schools all my life.  Elementary, Jr. High, High School, College have all been Christian Private Schools.  And yet it was not until my Sophomore year in College that I had an American history class that really dealt with civil rights and the perspective of the innocent and oppressed through Howard Zinn's book A People's History of the United States.  That was a class that made us think seriously about the nature of the history we have been taught, but it stretched our worldview the way education was meant to.  I only wish I had made it to more classes that semester.

However, the class came to late.  Most of the people in my class were teachers-to-be and many came from Christian conservative homes.  Maybe, just maybe the class would spur them on to the classroom wanting to talk about the injustices of America and its policies toward race and history.  I somehow doubt it though.  As a barometer I remember my major class project was on the history and impact of Rock and Roll and I had little interest at the time in reading speeches by Dr. King or Malcolm X or any other host of passionate leaders that defined this country only 30 years prior.

If there is anything I would change about my Christian education experience, if there is anything that would seriously make a difference in the future of our children in Christian schools I would change its history curriculum.  I would tell the story of African Americans and I would tell it through their eyes and bring in visitors so the kids can hear it from their voices and I would start it in elementary school.  The earlier they can learn how we hated one another the sooner love can take root.