We have looked at how corporations, the political left, and the political right are reacting to Christ and how they are supporting (or refusing to support schools that have Christ in their curriculum). Now it is time to take a look at the American people to see how they are reacting. To say anything about the American people necessitates that we speak in generalities. When I survey the landscape of America I see a few different groups and one overarching problem.
The first group we could call the “trapped”. This mainly consists of the poor. They have no educational options and our political leaders seem to want it to stay this way. The cycles of poverty and poor education in the inner cities are almost a cliché, but, of course, things could be done. The failing schools could simply be dropped into the free market by giving people some sort of tax credit to use at private schools. Many would leave the failing schools and change would come. Do not, however, hold your breath for this. The poor have no political weight to make this happen, their representatives are servants of the educational status quo, and those outside of the inner cities are more apt to turn a blind eye to their needs.
The second group would be the “discontent”. I am one of them. They see the problems with the present system—problems of philosophy, quality, and economics—and they know that change must come. They get queasy when they think about the ponzi scheme that now funds our schools and know that if we do not change our ways we are on the road to serfdom (and in the fast lane).
The next group is the “middle class.” They are fairly content with the status quo, and I am afraid in them De Tocqueville’s most ardent warnings about democracy have come true. I am also one of these folks sometimes. They have become, as the 19th Century French Aristocrat/Social Prophet clamored, almost completely self absorbed. They do not want any one picking their pockets mind you, but their deepest felt needs center on personal comfort and prosperity in the present. They give little time to broader concerns of the future. They are sometimes Christians, but they have little patience for the alarm bells being sounded by the “discontent”. They look at the “trapped” with pity, but usually are not ready (too busy, no time, not enough imagination or leadership) to see the Titantic is taking on water. They have recently showed some signs of discontent and enough might wake up during the next election that some changes might be made. I worry, however, that if unemployment were at 4% and personal incomes were rising that this group would be content to simply let things go.
Finally, we have the “educational priestly class”. This does not include all people that work within the educational status quo. Most public school teachers that I know are in the “middle class” (some are even numbers among the “discontent”). This class is made up of people whose job it is to keep the status quo and, particularly, the money attached to the status quo flowing at regular or increasing volume. I used to think that these folks simply could not see that the system was failing and that change needed to come. I am increasingly convinced that they simply are doing a job. They do not look up to see if change is needed. They do not care. Their job is keep the money flowing to them and to their constituents. We could get angry at these folks, but I think that this is how most people today approach their jobs. (Also, their efforts are not going to keep the present system going much longer. It is grinding down.)
If broad changes is going to come, the “middle” must become discontent. This will only happen if the “discontent” and the “priestly class” both do their job competently. The “discontent” need to found schools, teach excellently, and provide leadership and winsome arguments that help the “middle” to see that our school and (especially) Christian kids need to be in an environment that challenges them educational and that affirms their faith. The “priestly class” also must do their part. They will provide the sparks that will start the fires by consistently overreaching for dollars. This will stir up discontent in the “middle” and give plenty of blog material to the “discontent”.
In our next installment, we will look at the church.
