School, Education, and Raising Children

School, Education, and Raising Children
by Fr. Joseph Evinger

When one is a child one does not always appreciate the sacrifice and struggles that parents go through. When one becomes an adult (and a parent), most often he or she will recognize the beauty of the vocation to marriage and parenthood. In this article I would like to speak a bit about the role of parents in raising their children.

The first responsibility of parents is to establish a safe space for the children to grow up in. This safe space is first and foremost established through a good relationship between the spouses. If the parents have care and love for each other and go through great sacrifices to grow in their marriage, the benefits passed on to the children are astonishing, particularly when it comes to the emotional and spiritual stability. On the other hand, if the parents lack care and love for each other for whatever reasons, the development of the child will lack growth in certain areas, from communication, charity, sacrifice, and maybe most of all, trust. The home ought to resemble a little heaven on earth to the best of the parents’ ability. Establishing a safe space for children gives them a little glimpse of heaven.

The second responsibility is the education of the children. One does not properly educate unless the educator looks at the whole picture, earthly and eternal life. We live in a very blessed culture in many ways. In recent history the establishment of the school system in almost every community has helped parents raise their children in a way that past history never offered. Thanks to the school systems in the U.S., children have accelerated when they reach adulthood in ways that other countries and communities have not. This is an excellent human accomplishment. Nevertheless, there are some dangers. I can think of particularly two.

First, some parents began to transfer—often not consciously—the main responsibility of raising and educating their children to the school, to afterschool programs, and/or to a daycare. These parents have the expectation that these institutions will give their children the key stuff to become adults. We must remember though that these institutions, no matter how good, cannot give what good parents can give. Parents are responsible for the primary education of their children. It is the parents who must teach their children about God, how to go to Him in prayer, and that there is nothing on this earth more important than striving for heaven. A good faith formation program can help parents teach their children the ways of God, but passing on the Catholic faith is the parents’ primary responsibility. Parents may recognize their inadequacy in passing on the Christian life, but be assured, a little humility and a desire to know God will make it quite easy to do so.

The second danger leans more on the side of the school system. If the school system does not have good Christian values and morals, it then can become an agent of cultural and family destruction. It is the school systems responsibility to help parents’ raise and educate children about the laws of nature, from biology to history, morality to self-sacrifice. Those Christians who work in schools are obligated to live lives with Christian love and affection for everyone, while at the same time hanging on to Him who is the way, the truth, and the life.

I realize that there are a number of parishioners at the three parishes I serve who are school staff. In my short time I have come to know you, I have seen you share your gifts with our schools, and therefore, with the whole community. I wish to thank you for your dedication and love for the next generation. Pray every day for wisdom and prudence, and that you may love the children and fellow staff with the love that Jesus has for them.

Lastly, parents, I want to encourage you to pray with (not just for) each other, together, and to pray with your children whether they are small, half grown, or adults. This is one of the main responsibilities of a parent. This ought not be done forcefully, but with great affection for God, our Blessed Mother, and all the saints.