Within the patriarchy movement, there are those who are outspoken in their admiration of the Mayflower Pilgrims, and who cherish the Reformational view of the family, which, they contend, needs to be recovered for our culture today. I couldn’t agree more.

Because of such deep admiration for these historical heroes, we might ask, “What was their view on education for the family?” No doubt, some things were learned at home; however, as Samuel L. Blumenfeld points out in his book, Is Public Education Necessary?, the Reformers were intent on establishing schools. I don’t see an emphasis on developing home schooling, but education for everyone through common schools in a community. In fact, Luther was so intent on this that he promoted taxation by civil authority, a tax with which many of us would disagree today. Blumenfeld points out that the Protestant Reformation gave us the concern of education for everyone, so that Luther pushed for establishing public schools and mandatory attendance for children. Luther’s logic was, if you could make citizens join the military to fight other countries, then you could make their children go to school to understand the Bible as the authority for all of life and to fight the devil.

Blumenfeld points out that schools were similarly the emphasis of Calvin, so much so that an educational system was developed, with an excellent reputation, and was connected to the ministry of the church. Other works about the reformers, including men like John Knox, record this same emphasis to establish schools.

Or, consider the Mayflower Pilgrims; the way some carry on about these dear Christians, you’d think the first home school convention must have been held as soon as they got off the boat. Everyone agrees they were concerned for the family and God’s Truth, and were future oriented; so what was their position on education?

It is true what we often hear, that parents taught their children to read and catechized them; but what we don’t usually hear is that they were bound by law to do this, and if they did not, they could be fined twenty shillings. Furthermore, one reason this was a law was that they realized if they didn’t constitute it as law, then the parents would be too indulgent and negligent in the duty of seeing their children get at least some education.

But the ultimate goal of the Pilgrims was not the establishment of a school in every home, but a school in every community. Leland Ryken, in his excellent book on the Puritans entitled, Worldly Saints, notes that while Christian education began in the home, schools were an extension of that parental responsibility. Because of the Puritans in England, schools multiplied, and with the Pilgrims in New England, schools were earnestly prayed for, sought after, and established.

Now, what shall we conclude about all of this? Were the Reformers, Puritans and Pilgrims out to lunch when it came to education and the family, or can they teach us something? What grade are we getting in history if we ignore what was a very prominent emphasis for them?

When it came to education, their chief concern wasn’t to create a home school in every family, but to establish schools and delegate that parental responsibility and concern to others.

Does this mean that you should not homeschool if you think that is your best option? Not at all! Roll up your sleeves and have at it; God bless you in it; but please don’t use this as a test of being more spiritual or biblical than your Christian brethren who choose otherwise---folks like Luther, Calvin, Knox, many Puritans, the Mayflower Pilgrims, and a bunch of other believers who live all around you, who also love Christ and their children and may choose a different method from yours.

To those who may choose to send their children to a Christian school, don’t be spouting off about how you are more Reformed or Orthodox or whatever; honor the Christian liberty of others as you’d like them to appreciate the liberty you have.