"So what?" to Authority of Parents over Children

What ideas should shape our thinking about education and what difference do those ideas make in our lives? Recently, I introduced what I think is another great idea that can shape the way we approach education: God delegates authority over children to parents. In other words, parents are responsible for their children. So what, though? What difference does this idea make for education? Well, at the risk of stating the obvious, here's one implication:

Implication #1: Parents should raise and educate their children. In other words, parents should take the lead in educating their kids. I think educating children is an expression of what God teaches parents in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. At all times and places, parents should teach, train, and educate their children. Now, this might sound like an endorsement for exclusive homeschooling. While I think homeschooling can be an excellent expression of this God-given responsibility to parents, I don't think homeschooling is the only expression. Sometimes I think homeschooling can be a bad option.

I think parents can get help from professional educators in educating and training their children. Training and developing the image of God in man requires expertise and skill. Parents can, in a sense, delegate their parental authority to another individual or group to get the required help in fulfilling this task. Getting help from professional educators is like hiring a money manager to help keep and steward your personal finances. So, schools provide a service first to parents in stewarding their children and then to students in learning what they need for life. In no way do I think this means that parents are "hands off" in education. Parents should still get their hands dirty in educating their kids. After all, parents will answer to God for the way they raise their kids.

OK. But, now what? In light of this idea, how will we educate differently?