Should Christian school kids be used as forced labor for politicians? I think the obvious answer to this question is: NO. Schools should not send out their students to work for politicians of any party, unless it might be an optional opportunity for extracurricular involvement–which might be a very positive engagement.
Let me tell you my story about being in a school that answered this question wrong (I won’t mention the school’s name–not looking to ruin reputations here.)
When I was a high schooler the Christian school I attended took my entire class off to a non-optional political rally. At this rally several politicians spoke and they were all from one party (which I won’t mention–again the principle is the point.) In the weeks following this rally we were told that elections were coming up, and while we were all unable to vote we were told we could make a huge impact by helping the campaigns of a few politicians. We had another rally at the school, in the room where our chapels usually took place, and a politician seeking election spoke and was prayed for. God seemed to have appointed this one to win.
We were told that for one whole day we would not have classes (cheers from the student body) and that instead we would all go out into the community and put out political flyers supporting the men who were running for office that we had heard speak over the prior few weeks (groans from the student body.)
The ones seeking election who had spoken had moral positions that aligned with those of the school, they said, and obviously the students too. Not only should we and our families support them and vote for them but we should also go out and work for them. So on the appointed day we came in and were each handed a huge stack of flyers, and then we were sent out to put them in mailboxes and on poster boards and go door to door campaigning for these men. We were told of ways we could use the flyers and told that we could not throw them away or let any blow around town loose–because that would make the politicians look bad. We were also instructed how to have a conversation with someone and convince the to vote for the men. It was surreal.
I was appalled at this. I couldn’t believe it was happening. I didn’t make a stink about it. Didn’t complain to anyone, including my parents. Instead we broke the rules; me and my buddies just threw the flyers away in the trash and found a park to hang out in for most of the day. Part of me wishes I had protested the event–rather than being a quiet objector. We were never told this was optional. We were never given other possibilities for this day. In fact we were given some sense that there would be consequences for those that didn’t do it.
Some of my friends ended up going to the movies that day after spreading flyers. Others spread out the flyers and found a place to smoke cigarettes in peace. One senior class couple stole off by noon to his house as his parents were off on a business trip. These were my fellow Christian school compatriots–the forced labor of the campaign team at work. I wonder how they vote today? I wonder if they might consider themselves Christians anymore? I keep in touch with several of them today–and most of them do not.
This episode left a bitter taste in my mouth about church and Christian schools. It made me think that the church was trying to brainwash young people to think a certain way, to vote a certain way, to have certain beliefs as core to their faith. Whatever kind of faith these people had, I knew at the time that I didn’t want anything to do with it. I understood that people thought the church should be active in state issues–but this just went too far.
I still can’t believe it happened.
Can you? Is it still happening today? I hope not. What’s your take?
Both unbelievable and totally believable based on my past experience. ha!
I think we need to have more conversations about what deconverted people, rather than only focusing on proactively converting.
Hey Ed… I like the “deconverted people” label… my buddy at Watermark church started his church plant in hopes of reaching the “Unchurched, and the Dechurched”…. similar idea.
I had a similar experience as a student at a Christian school many years ago. Seems to be that for most, Christianity is not a set of beliefs and principles that serve as an intellectual basis for reflectivel decision making, but just another part of their cultural auto-pilot.
Hey NV… good line: “cultural auto-pilot”… this resonates with me as I don’t think the leaders who did this were thinking devious plots or insidious plans when they did it. They just didn’t think it through, I bet. They didn’t know that they were turning a whole generation of kids off to their politically-embedded worldview.
Ironically, I had a “worldview” class I had to take, in which we learned all about the Christian school’s worldview–and in which much of the class decided to eventually choose a different worldview. Regardless of whether the school’s worldview was right–as a pragmatist I have to suggest that it just doesn’t work!
As a campaign manager we used my boss’s connection with the christian schools to find all kinds of volunteers both students and teachers. Although none were coerced (at least not to my knowledge. I know many public schools that recruit openly for the other party due to their positions on public education, etc. It goes both ways but I agree that anytime you make someone “volunteer” you are not helping them or helping the cause they are supposed to be supporting.
Yep… that’s the point. When you “make a student volunteer” you are crossing over into the unethical part–and you end up just seeding the “other side” with those that will eventually betray the cause.
I should add–to your “not to my knowledge” caveat… I wonder if we need to be very careful to make explicit the optional nature of such things. In my story, that was never done.
I also had a similar experience at my Christian school. Our principal ran for mayor and also worked on the campaign of a presidential candidate. Extra credit was given for working on these campaigns. Also, the use of chapel space and time was used for what amounted to political rallies. I believe the majority of my classmates would now consider themselves the opposite of the political party of both our principal and the candidate he worked for.
Liberal politics (or agendas, as if conservatives never have one) were often criticized in our classes and I graduated wondering if someone could be both a Democrat and a Christian. I’ve found a very similar mindset in other Christian schools.
As Jeff Cobb mentioned below, there are schools that swing the other way politically and make the same mistake… so while there is certainly a trend in Christian schools to do this in the way you said, perhaps my question should have been: Should ANY School Use Kids As Forced Political Labor?
My answer remains “No”
And like you said here, Matt… it really works CONTRARY to the aims of the schools in these cases. It seems like brainwashing efforts backfire.
My friend CJ posted this on Facebook in this discussion:
(((I will not name the pators, but I think there is a point were a church does become to focused on politics. God never created the church to run government nor vise verca. When a pastor is only feeding politics that is to much, the pndulem is not in the middle and to much on the sides. I know my public school kids are being force fed the same. They had a homework assignment to have parents call their represanitives to increase teacher pensions. I do not think this is a christian school only issue. As somebody who eats and breathes politics we are oversaturated and that gives us the Kardashiams.)))
I think there is a pretty strong message in the gospels concerning political ideals being wrongly or unfairly attached to the faith. Jesus actually weeps as he enters Jerusalem because, despite his efforts to communicate the humility and service of the kingdom bu riding on a donkey, people still cry out for a political messiah. This does not seem too far from today in Christian culture. There is so much charged talk about how, if certain laws pass, we are threatened in losing certain parts of our belief system on topic xyz. This is not to say that government is unimportant, but rather to say that it is fruitless for salvation and redemption. God chose the church; not caesar. It is disheartening to hear, then, of any Christian institution advocating for a myopic and involuntary alignment with any given party as a blanket endorsement of their agenda.
Well written, Chris! Amen!
Are you writing anywhere online? Something non-coffee related that is (not that there’s anything wrong with that — I just know you have so much good stuff in your head I’d like to hear more)
Ugh…I hate that this happened. I hope you also had positive experiences at your Christian school. As a Christian high school teacher, I feel like I am constantly encouraging my students to wake up and not just repeat what they hear from parents, pastors, and teachers. We have a great time talking about everything from literature to politics to marriage.
I hope the American church has moved past the “politics as salvation” era where we idolized conservatism, in my opinion. If the gospel is not central and exalted in our churches/Christian schools and universities, shame on us.
Well put, Jeannie. Yes, I had other positive experiences.
Thanks for investing in your students!
Whenever I think of politics and school children I have memories of old BW photos showing Hitler Youths marching in the streets of Germany. School is the arena where we are taught to think critically. This may include VOLUNTEER work if one desires, not mandatory participation in political activities. Anything else is indoctrination and should be condemed. Whether a religious school pulling for a candidate representing their “ideals”, or a unionized teacher in a public school rallying their students to support a candidate endorsed by their union. How can you open young minds by discouraging free thought?
I agree with you–but it’s been interesting to me that some (on Facebook) defended the practice of forcing kids to do this.
Any dealings with youth must be taken seriously, from monitoring
play in your backyard, to coaching sports, overseeing a church youth group, or
teaching at a public or private school. Kids are sponges and things we do have
lasting impact whether we realize it or not. As far as Facebook goes it’s the
“Teen Beat” magazine of GEN Y, so while I see flux in the “matrix” I
don’t put much stock in it. There are lots of “pot stirrers” out there (especially
me!) and I think much of the controversy is just stimulation for a reaction.
I graduated from a Christian evangelical school and never experienced something to that degree, fortunately. My teachers were, though, quite openly opinionated on a specific party, but I would not say to a ridiculous degree.