Having cleared up that I’m not against education, let me say this: Too many parents today worship at the altar of education. School books are their children’s Bible. School fees are their tithes. And their own children are their sacrificial offerings to a god who cannot deliver them.

Their prayer? “May my child get good grades so he will become somebody in life and make good money.”

And to get that prayer answered they are ready to do anything. Really, ANYTHING. They’ll be quite flexible on everything else, but won’t compromise on their child’s education.

“My 14-year-old daughter wants to start dating guys I don’t even know. Well, what can I do, you know teenagers, you can’t keep them in the house.” Many parents will accept that behavior from their daughter, as long as she’s being ‘responsible’ with her school work.

“Our son finds church boring but he is so excited about video games. He’s a boy, you know, we can’t drag him to church.” I wonder what these parents would do if their son wanted to stay home playing video games instead of going to school.

“My daughter disrespects me, doesn’t help around the house, and has taken to going out drinking with friends till late at night on weekends. I’ve been turning a blind eye as long as it’s not affecting her grades.” In other words, I’ll take abuse, I’ll support an ungrateful bum financially, I’ll wait up late at night worried sick till you come home drunk — BUT DON’T YOU START DOING BADLY IN SCHOOL!

When did getting an education take the place of good old manners, moral values, and faith? When did it make up for them?

My mom blamed herself for being unable to put me through private school. But she did a better job instilling some values in me than any Harvard professor could. To her dismay at the time, I left school before entering my last year of college in order to go into full-time ministry. That was 20 years ago. She laid the groundwork to a successful life. My faith in God did the rest.

I think I’ve turned out just fine.