One of the early allegations about Christian schools when they were beginning to proliferate in the 1970’s and 1980’s was that they were covers for segregation academies, and no doubt some of them were. Unfortunately, the stereotype has lingered far beyond the reality.
Recently, I was able to do a professional observation at a local Christian school which is truly a stereotype-buster. To begin with, this fourth grade class had a healthy distribution of Hispanic, Caucasian, and African-American students. All were participatory, and all are getting a great education. Ironically, the history lesson was on the Civil War, and it was being taught by an (excellent!) African-American teacher. After reviewing the role of Lincoln in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, the teacher went on to discuss the two great generals, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. She was able to name the strengths of each of the generals in a fair and balanced presentation.
Students are always interested in who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. Although nothing in the teacher’s presentation prompted this, it was clear from the discussion which followed that they identified more with the Union cause. At one point a student asked, “Are we friends with the South, now?” The teacher wisely smiled and answered, “Why, yes. You know, I moved to Arizona from Alabama!” Seeing the students needed some perspective on how long ago all of this took place, the teacher used as an illustration the fact that her great-great-grandmother, who was alive during the teacher’s childhood, was born free, but her mother had been a slave.
Did I mention this was at First Southern (Baptist) Christian School?
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