Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 7634 Plough Quarterly • Winter 2015 kingdom in this specific place. We want what every human wants – shelter, community, and security. But as followers of Christ we are called to something else as well: we are to be salt and light, representing his kingdom here and now. Enrolling our children in the public school system is central to our life in this under- resourced, diverse community. Before moving here we did our homework, poring over the district’s educational scorecards and demo- graphic makeup. I’ll admit I was concerned and burdened by the challenges associated with the poverty and often-complicated immigration sit- uations in our new neighborhood. I understand why so many families seek other options. But when I visit our sons’ elementary school and see the at-risk, English-as-a-second-language, first- generation American children working hard to make their way, I think of all the resources that are lost through educational white flight. My heart aches each time I meet a strong Christian family whose talents, resources, and faith will never intersect with the children in our public schools – including my own children. When I hear the well-intentioned advice, “If you move there, don’t send your kids to the public school,” my heart cries, “But that’s where we need you!” All the same, must I sacrifice my child for this cause? I feel the question deeply, and I am not suggesting we send our children out as little missionaries. Rather, I am calling for entire families and churches to flood the schools together. With the Body of Christ permeat- ing these places, we would no longer have to choose between our children and our commu- nity. As the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jer. 29:7). In this way, our children will learn to follow Christ, to bring him to the world, to live focused on others, and to understand other cul- tures. Supported by their parents and churches, they will learn these life skills in our public schools. After all, the demographics of our neighbor- hoods are not as impoverished as those of the school system. When families pull their children out of public school, they deprive that school of their resources and energy, prompting more families to opt out. Meanwhile, families with fewer resources have no option but to stay. Soon, districts with challenges and resources become simply districts with challenges. We should reverse this demographic spiral. If we flood instead of flee, we could impact these schools for the common good and the glory of God. Choosing public education – even in a trou- bled school district – is my Christian act of hope, justice, and redemption. I choose public school not because I don’t care, but as a com- mitment to care and invest even more. My husband and I see this as a kingdom-building opportunity, in our own small way adding what we have to the wellbeing of the city. And we are not alone – beyond the discouraging statistics and failing test scores we have found committed teachers, administrators, and parents working together to make a difference. God is always found working in even the darkest of places. Jesus left his privilege to become one of us and to serve us. He was not afraid to get his hands dirty, not scared off by temptation or danger. If we follow him we must count the cost and pick up our cross, forsaking privilege for the sake of service. He implores us to put our light on a lampstand and not under a basket. By withdrawing from public schools, Christians have dimmed the light in places that desperately need it, clustering instead under the protective cover of our homes and churches. In his book Neighborhood Mapping, John Fuder implores churches to serve their neigh- borhoods by becoming genuine, credible members of the community. “We can choose to remove our children from the ‘bad’ schools to Choosing public education is my Christian act of hope, justice, and redemption.