A War is Being Waged for the Hearts and Minds of Our Children!
Kirk Post: Principal of the School of Rhetoric

The True Nature of the Battle

Our nation's battle against worldwide terrorism is very serious, but it does not represent our greatest conflict. The problems with the economy and the negative campaigning for the upcoming election surround us, but they are not our most pressing problems. Evidence from research shows us that we are quickly loosing the minds and hearts of our children. Dan Smithwick, President of the Nehemiah Institute, reported on April 17, 2001, that over the previous 15 years their ministry had conducted worldview testing with Christian high school students using the PEERS Test. The test is designed to measure students' understanding in Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social issues.

The Nehemiah Institute has found that with each subsequent year of testing, Christian high-school students' understanding of a Christian worldview was lower than the year before. Fifteen years ago, students tested had scored as Moderately Christian in their worldview. Since that time, scores have dropped an average of 30% so that Christian students attending government schools now regularly score in the lower half of a Secular Humanist worldview, and students from typical Christian schools are now scoring barely above Secular Humanism. This trend, according to Smithwick, raises grave concerns for the future of the Christian church in America.

Smithwick predicts that by 2014, Christian high-school students attending government schools will fall completely to Socialism with students in typical Christian schools falling to Socialism only four years later. Interestingly, the only exceptions to the decline over the last fifteen years were in Christian schools that had adopted specific worldview materials in their curriculum. These, he reported, were primarily schools known as Principle Approach or Classical Christian schools.

Why We are Losing the Battle

If, as God commands us in Deuteronomy 6, it is the responsibility of one generation to train the next in loving God and His Law, then we are missing the mark. We find ourselves caught up in providing ever more programs and facilities, sports and competitions, technology and "experiences" and forgetting the more weighty matter of training children to love the Lord our God with all their hearts, souls, and minds.

It is our conviction that in the battle for truth, we are not in competition with other Christian schools. The battle is great and we are all needed to take up the banner of Christ. Furthermore, our enemy is not government schools. Our enemy is the ancient one who would deceive the elect and scatter the flock, who would convince us to separate all of life into two realms: the sacred and the secular, and ignore the fact that God reigns over all everywhere. . Satan would have us think that it is some how wrong to believe in God's absolutes and stand boldly for what is right.

We are not called to be politically correct. Ours is a war of worldviews. Your choice of school should reflect your worldview, for the methodology and teachers you choose will most assuredly stamp their worldview on the minds and hearts of your children. Choose wisely.

Those Who Should Not Consider St. Augustine Academy

  • If you believe that man is basically good and that education will perfect society, then our school is not for you.
  • If you believe that the teen years are the best times of a person's life and that the responsibilities and hard work of adulthood are a drudgery to be postponed as long as possible, this school will be too demanding for you.
  • If you feel government involvement in your child's education supercedes your responsibility as a parent in educating your child, you should seek education elsewhere.
  • If you think the government stamp of approval in certifying schools guarantees academic excellence then there are plenty of other options for you.
  • If you feel that the Government supersedes parental authority and that education is best left to State-certified professionals, rest easy, there is "free" education waiting for you.
  • If you believe a child's best influence is from his peers instead of parents, grandparents, and godly adults, then you will not appreciate our approach to training.
  • If you believe the number-one goal of a good education is to provide the means for obtaining a high-paying job, keep looking.
  • If you hold the opinion that homework, hard work, and high expectations somehow stifle a child's creativity, don't pause here.
  • If it is your persuasion that history is bunk and only those things relevant to our current society are important to study, this is not the place for your education.
  • If you think young people can't love learning and academic achievement, deep spiritual truths, and strong accountability, then you won't believe the results we have to show you.

Those Who Should Consider St. Augustine Academy

  • If, however, you believe that we were created to bring glory to God and enjoy Him forever, come join us.
  • If you see a contradiction in offering spiritual training on Sunday and secular training on Monday through Friday, then you understand the complete education we seek.
  • If you agree that it is a matter of respect to dress appropriately for any occasion, then you will feel comfortable in our school.
  • If you think it is important to know where we have come from in order to understand where we are and where we must go, then you will appreciate the classical program we offer.
  • If you agree that "readers are leaders" and you are not afraid to join in the "Great Conversation," we have hundreds of good books waiting for you!
  • If you know there is a right way to think and that loving God with our minds requires good mental discipline, your logic will fit nicely with ours.
  • If our minor differences in secondary doctrines are not as important to you as the essential Scriptural truths to which we cling, then join our lively discussions.
  • If you agree that young people are capable of concerning themselves with more than just the color of lipstick or the latest video game, and that they can understand the differences in world views and be trained to discern truth from error in everything they hear, read, and see, then join us in this effort!
  • If you believe that the awareness of God's greatness in the school is much more important than the size of its student body, you are the type of student we want.