This is also true when it comes to teachers, parents, and
students willingly submitting themselves to a textbook.
When they accept that what an author of a textbook says is
true, they will become like that author. The end result is that
students will form their worldviews modeled on those of the
teacher and the textbook.
Kevin Swanson emphasizes the importance of carefully
choosing the teachers and the textbooks that parents put in
front of their children. In his book Upgrade, Swanson warns
parents, “The worldview maintained by those who write the
textbooks and present the curriculum does bear a lasting
impact on children.” 4
Swanson is saying that authors (those who write text-
books) and teachers (those who present curriculum) impact
children’s lives well beyond the mere facts they present.
The bottom line is this: every textbook will have stated
objectives explaining the purpose of the book. These objec-
tives will deal with the facts presented in the textbook. It
is important that parents and educators choose textbooks
wisely to make sure these resources contain accurate infor-
mation and facts. However, we must understand that merely
acquiring correct facts about any subject isn’t an adequate
reason to use a certain textbook.
John Piper referred to this concern when he said, “Modern
people suppose that if they have the facts about a given thing,
person, or event, they have the truth. They forget that facts
are not meaningless or value-free and that if we do not asso-
ciate the meaning with the fact, we do not have the truth.” 5
Christians must understand that the main business of all
education, whether it is teaching a class or using a textbook,
is to shape beliefs through the communication of ideas. The
subject matter serves merely as the conduit through which
the teacher’s and the textbook author’s worldview or ideas
flow. Why is this so important? Because all ideas have conse-
quences. Disastrous consequences will result from Christian
parents, pastors, and educators using textbooks without
giving careful attention to the hidden objective of the texts. ■
Dr. Glen Schultz has given his life to educating future generations according to God’s plan.
After five years in public education, he entered the field of Christian education, where he
has been a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. He has directed the Christian
school work at LifeWay Christian Resources, served as the Association of Christian Schools
International Southeast Regional Director, Superintendent of Liberty Christian Academy
in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Headmaster of Sherwood Christian Academy. Currently, Dr.
Schultz serves as founder and director of Kingdom Education Ministries. He is the author
of Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educating Future Generations and several parenting
booklets. Glen and his wife, Sharon, have three children and six grandchildren and live in
Summerville, SC. He is a member of the Renewanation Board of Directors.
ENDNOTES
1. Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan, and Steven Soter, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, presented by Carl
Sagan (1980; Public Broadcasting Service).
2. Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain, The Berenstain Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature
(Dover Publications, 1977).
3. Ken Ham and Greg Hall, Already Compromised (Master Books, 2011), 19.
4. Kevin Swanson, Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child (Nashville, TN:
B&H Publishers, 2006), 169.
5. John Piper, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God (Crossway, 2010), 125.
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