Vol. 14, No. 5, 1997

Articles on Other Religious Topics

Charter Schools as a new concept are attractive in many ways but are also presenting some significant liabilities. "Charter schools are public schools formed by a group of citizens, frequently public school teachers and administrators who feel they can run a better public school if they had fewer strings attached, who obtain a charter from the state.

"They are exempt from [many] state laws and regulations which apply to other public schools, but are funded on a per-pupil basis like other public schools," (Guide to the Issues 1996, Alabama Family Alliance, p. 5).

In other words, charter schools can offer an alternative to regular public schools if teachers and parents desire unique or alternative teaching approaches or philosophies. Although they have much latitude, they still must be free from any sectarian religious influence.

The latitude on alternative approaches and teacher qualifications has opened the door for some groups with specific religious philosophies to disguise their motives in such a way as to gain entrance into the charter school arena.

Certain New Age-oriented Montessori schools have become Charter schools. In addition to Sacramento's Waldorf school (see "Waldorf. Controversy", p. 5) and Scientology's Applied Scholastics (see "Applied Scientology.", p.15), Waldorf schools have opened in San Diego, Novato, Nevada City, Maryville, and Sabastopal (all in California), Boulder, Flagstaff, Detroit, Milwaukee, New York City. Many others are proposed.

Dr. Stephen Yulish, formerly a New Age devotee, wrote his master's thesis on the educational philosophy of Waldorf's founder, Rudolph Steiner, for the University of Illinois. Dr. Yulish taught History of American Education at the University of Arizona from 1975-1982 and later became a Christian. Upon encountering the Waldorf Pine Forest Charter school in his hometown of Flagstaff, he challenged both the constitutionality and educational soundness of the program. Unfortunately, after running into the typical governmental red tape, and not being able to gain the interest and activism of the churches in the community, Dr. Yulish gave up the fight.

This must not happen. Christians must be aware that they have both a cultural and a personal mandate. They are whenever possible, within the law, to tear down every speculative philosophy erected against the truth of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). They are, in this regard, their "brother's keepers."

If a system is illegal or unjust Christians must become activists and use all of their positions of influence to move those in authority to do the right thing. Of course this activism must always involve prayer to the One who holds the heart of the king in His hand and moves it wherever He wills (Proverbs. 21:1).

Watchman Fellowship's Alabama office took this mandate seriously and began to work with many other Christians and like minded people to eliminate New Age influences being smuggled into Alabama schools. The result, after much research, prayer and activism, was that Alabama's State Board of Education and Legislative committee passed a regulation/law that prohibits those techniques in the public schools.