THE CURRICULUM: What do you know?

Finally, now the kids are back at school I want to ask the question of parents.

Have you looked, asked, or thought about the school’s curriculum?

I reason I ask the question is simple.

As parents we are no longer permitted to enter some school grounds let alone have access to your child’s classroom and teachers.

I want to state categorically, this podcast should not be seen as any form of criticism of teachers as they are paid to teach our children.

The question is what it is, they are teaching.

When my parents dropped me off, sorry, I should tell the truth.

When my parents said goodbye to me as I started my two-mile hike to school each morning on a cold frosty Otago morning.

They were right to assume I was going to learn how to read write, add and a little about my world, and of course being a Catholic School, something about God.

But today’s curriculum is far wider ranging as it touches on subjects that even I, as a parent could never imagine would be taught, even when I dropped my boys off at school (yes, I did)

Today’s curriculum is now designed to teach children to think about the world around them. It teaches them there is no God

It teaches them there is no gender\It teaches them the world they are going to inherit is going to end in disaster because their parents and their grandparents were irresponsible with the planet

It teaches them that their actions are someone else’s responsibility

It teaches them truth is subjective

It teaches them that events in history were wrong, and we need to rewrite it so its palatable to this generation.

And of course all the while it is grooming our children to believe what the state wants them to believe.

A recent news item on TVNZ showed a group protesting the rights of freedom outside a Christchurch School while the Prime Minister was visiting.

Social media went wild as did the reporter suggesting children shouldn’t be subjected to this type of behaviour.

Hmm I would have thought a teacher may have been able to turn this event around into a teaching moment rather than shield children from reality.

I know the country is split on the idea of children attending the Freedom occupation of Parliament grounds.

The government also made the point that Oranga Tamariki should step in.

When a parent takes their child to say, a super rugby game, which is filled with frenzied spectators displaying tribal loyalties, where some times behaviour is not the best, where security and even the police are required to take action, no one and I mean no one sees anything wrong in the kids being there.

They are learning life.

Just the same as being at a protest, they are learning and are exposed to life which will help them form their own opinions, not the ones the state teaches them, but there own based on family values and reactions. 

Which brings me to this point.

Our world is full of differing ideas and opinions, different challenges, different lifestyles and especially here in New Zealand, different cultures.

We have many beliefs, but the one which overrides all is that New Zealand is a great place to live, work and play.

And the reason for that is because of the multi culturism we have living within our boundaries.

So yes I believe it is important to be taught learn and understand the varied differences within our society.

We need to learn for example why and what a Muslim is

We need to learn and understand what a member of the gay community is about

We need to learn and understand about our indigenous people.

We need to learn and understand about everything in our lives

We need to learn and understand these things in a truthful way.

Our children do not need to see a kaleidoscope view where everything is fragmented and not normal.

We need our children to learn and understand that there is diversity in our nation.

But they also need to learn and understand they are a part of that diversity.

Because someone in school is Muslim, gay, or indigenous doesn’t mean we need to educate them on becoming one

My comments are aimed at the increasing influence that the gay community is having on both our children and our lives.

My sons are my sons, your daughters are your daughters, they are not pronouns, your son is not odd because he’s playing with dolls instead of kicking a ball. Your girl is not in the wrong body because she wants to work on your car rather than learning to sew.

We all have differing views on the LGBT community, but I believe, and that belief is based on knowledge gained from the Bible which is written by the creator of mankind and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

You know, the school teaches them a lot of things parents disagree with.

As a parent you roll your eyes, mutter under your breath what next, but the sad thing is you accept it.

Imagine if every parent who disagreed with the curriculum and wanted them to return to teaching them how to read how to write and be able to spell, speak properly without saying “like” every second word, how much better New Zealand would be.

I am not suggesting we take our children from school, but at least question what they are learning .

Finally

We, you and I should be our children’s teachers, they should learn from us about life.

We need to teach our children what is right and what is wrong and truth in all things, not the overreaching state.

Deuteronomy 4:10 say

Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Also Deuteronomy11:10

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Above all teach them about your love for God, Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.