In the room were stakeholders of all sorts. I mostly listened for the first part of the program. But then one of the county workers began making the argument that parents don’t really know how to take care of their kids in general, let alone making sure they were ready for kindergarten. I asked the representative, “So, are you saying the state, represented at this time by the county, would really like our kids from the time they are born until they are 18?” There was silence from the other end of the table. Then finally the lady said, “Well, yes, if we think the parents aren’t doing what they need to.”
To hear it said publicly that government workers generally think children are wards of the state was really quite breathtaking. I did manage a response, saying, “I completely disagree. Children belong to their parents; they are not wards of the state.”
Scripture makes it clear children are gifts from God, given to parents — moms and dads — who are responsible for the nurturing, care and general development and well-being of the children. Earthly parents are stewards on behalf of God the Father to raise the ...
