Monday, May 02, 2005
Letter to my School Board
Albemarle County Schools
Attention: Susan B. Sheffield
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Re: Jade MaRee
This letter is to notify the school board that we are operating our home school in accordance with the religious exemption statute 22.1-254(B) (1).
Our reasons for home schooling our children are based on God's commands to us in His Word, the Bible. He expressly states in Ephesians 6:4 (and Deuteronomy 6 and 11) that believing parents are to diligently train their children in the Word of God. We are to teach it from the time we rise in the morning, until we go to sleep at night. In the Bible, Eli is an example of a parent who failed to do this. Because of the wickedness of his sons, they lost their lives in judgment (1 Samuel 3:11-14 and 4:11).
God requires us to acknowledge Him as Creator (Romans 1:18-22, Hosea 6:6). The so called "separation of church and state" prohibits public schools from doing this; too often the public school sector defines Freedom of Religion as “Freedom From Religion”. It is a sin to teach children to think in a secular manner. We are not accidents of natural selection, but are created in the image of God and loved by Him. Failing to hold on to this truth causes a child's heart to "be darkened" and eventually "given over to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:21 & 28).
We must teach them the TRUTH. "The wrath of God is revealed against all who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). God also commands that His Son, Jesus Christ be acknowledged. 1 John 4:23 says, "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and now is already in the world."
Matthew 10:32-33 says, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." Acts 10:36 says, "You know the message God sent to the people..., telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." And Matthew 28:18, "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me..." In 1 Corinthians 15:27, God the Father "has put everything under his feet." Acts 2:26 says, "...God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Jesus is not honored as Lord of all in the public schools. Rejecting Jesus as Lord is the cause of much evil (Hosea 4:1, Psalm 97:6).
Jesus is to be acknowledged in all education since "all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16,17). Therefore, science, history, literature, etc. must be taught from a Scriptural perspective and give proper honor to Jesus. Those that forget God or fail to love the truth will perish. (See Psalm 9:17 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10)
The Lord has also given warnings about the influence of others. Proverbs 13:30 says, "He who walks with the wise will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm." Who is a fool? "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." Psalms 14:1 and 53:1.
The school's curriculum does not acknowledge the one true God and many students and teachers don't believe God's Word. (Hebrews 11:6, John 14:6, John 17:3). Luke 6:40, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." We cannot allow our children to have associations which could cause them to stumble spiritually. Matthew 18:6-7 "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!"
Parents are responsible for the training of their children. Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Children must not be given an ungodly education. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,...But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:1,2, "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:17).
It is the parents job to bring the children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. In obedience to God, we are training our children to serve God and love Him with their whole hearts and minds (Matthew 22:37). The goal is to train our children to be prepared to serve God (Hebrews 9:14) and man (1 Peter 4:10); and to gain the knowledge and wisdom needed (Proverbs 4:7 and 23:12) to be effective in whatever calling the Lord has for them. God has given special gifts to each person. We need to discover these gifts and help our children develop them (1 Peter 4:10). This includes learning the academics from the right perspective and learning God's Word. "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them" (Proverbs 4:5).
By studying God's law they can learn to govern themselves, be wiser than their enemies, have more insight than their teachers, and understand more than those much older than they (Psalm 119:97-101). As believers in Jesus, we belong to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "You are not your own, you were bought at a price" (the blood of Jesus). So, "...as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
Thanking you in this matter, we are;
Sincerely:
Attention: Susan B. Sheffield
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Re: Jade MaRee
This letter is to notify the school board that we are operating our home school in accordance with the religious exemption statute 22.1-254(B) (1).
Our reasons for home schooling our children are based on God's commands to us in His Word, the Bible. He expressly states in Ephesians 6:4 (and Deuteronomy 6 and 11) that believing parents are to diligently train their children in the Word of God. We are to teach it from the time we rise in the morning, until we go to sleep at night. In the Bible, Eli is an example of a parent who failed to do this. Because of the wickedness of his sons, they lost their lives in judgment (1 Samuel 3:11-14 and 4:11).
God requires us to acknowledge Him as Creator (Romans 1:18-22, Hosea 6:6). The so called "separation of church and state" prohibits public schools from doing this; too often the public school sector defines Freedom of Religion as “Freedom From Religion”. It is a sin to teach children to think in a secular manner. We are not accidents of natural selection, but are created in the image of God and loved by Him. Failing to hold on to this truth causes a child's heart to "be darkened" and eventually "given over to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:21 & 28).
We must teach them the TRUTH. "The wrath of God is revealed against all who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). God also commands that His Son, Jesus Christ be acknowledged. 1 John 4:23 says, "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and now is already in the world."
Matthew 10:32-33 says, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." Acts 10:36 says, "You know the message God sent to the people..., telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." And Matthew 28:18, "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me..." In 1 Corinthians 15:27, God the Father "has put everything under his feet." Acts 2:26 says, "...God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Jesus is not honored as Lord of all in the public schools. Rejecting Jesus as Lord is the cause of much evil (Hosea 4:1, Psalm 97:6).
Jesus is to be acknowledged in all education since "all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16,17). Therefore, science, history, literature, etc. must be taught from a Scriptural perspective and give proper honor to Jesus. Those that forget God or fail to love the truth will perish. (See Psalm 9:17 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10)
The Lord has also given warnings about the influence of others. Proverbs 13:30 says, "He who walks with the wise will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm." Who is a fool? "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." Psalms 14:1 and 53:1.
The school's curriculum does not acknowledge the one true God and many students and teachers don't believe God's Word. (Hebrews 11:6, John 14:6, John 17:3). Luke 6:40, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." We cannot allow our children to have associations which could cause them to stumble spiritually. Matthew 18:6-7 "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!"
Parents are responsible for the training of their children. Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Children must not be given an ungodly education. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,...But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:1,2, "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:17).
It is the parents job to bring the children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. In obedience to God, we are training our children to serve God and love Him with their whole hearts and minds (Matthew 22:37). The goal is to train our children to be prepared to serve God (Hebrews 9:14) and man (1 Peter 4:10); and to gain the knowledge and wisdom needed (Proverbs 4:7 and 23:12) to be effective in whatever calling the Lord has for them. God has given special gifts to each person. We need to discover these gifts and help our children develop them (1 Peter 4:10). This includes learning the academics from the right perspective and learning God's Word. "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them" (Proverbs 4:5).
By studying God's law they can learn to govern themselves, be wiser than their enemies, have more insight than their teachers, and understand more than those much older than they (Psalm 119:97-101). As believers in Jesus, we belong to Him. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "You are not your own, you were bought at a price" (the blood of Jesus). So, "...as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
Thanking you in this matter, we are;
Sincerely:
