NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Consider these principles on educating young children.
1. The education of young children is the primary responsibility of parents. Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:18-21; Psalms 78:1-7; 127:3; Proverbs 22:6; Malachi 2:13-16; Ephesians 6:4.
2. The education of young children is a 24 hour-a-day, seven-day-per-week process that continues from birth until maturity. Deuteronomy 6:7; 11:19; Proverbs 22:6.
3. The education of young children must have as its primary goals the salvation of and discipleship of the next generation. Psalm 78:6-7; Matthew 28:19-20.
4. The education of young children must be based on God’s Word as absolute truth. Matthew 2 4:35; Psalm 119.
5. The education of young children must hold Christ as preeminent in all of life. Colossians 2:3, 6-10.
6. The education of young children must not hinder the spiritual and moral development of the next generation. Matthew 18:6; 19:13-14; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.
7. The education of young children, if and when delegated to others by parents, must be done so with utmost care to ensure that all teachers follow these principles. Exodus 18:21; 1 Samuel 1:27-28; 3:1-10
8. The education of young children results in the formation of a belief system or worldview that will be patterned after the belief systems or worldviews of the child’s teachers. Luke 6:40.
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Schultz is director of Christian education for Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and author of “Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educating Future Generations” (Broadman & Holman, 1998).
