In 1524, Martin Luther declared, "For the sake of the Church we must have and maintain Christian schools!" Given the dramatic decline in the quality of public education today, this is a time for a call to action. It is a call to all who share in a desire to make a difference in the lives of the children of this generation and to positively impact tomorrow's society.

To God-fearing people, the case is clear. It's clear that the American culture has been gradually but certainly undergoing deep decay. The moral climate has declined to a level at which individual behavior is ruled by relativism rather than absolute values. "Ethical" behavior is no longer based upon a concern for the good of a neighbor but rather upon what's best for "me." The role and importance of the family unit has been significantly minimized, even bringing into question the definition of a "family" or, for that matter, "marriage." National divorce rates fall only because the convenience of cohabitation without legal commitment has often replaced marriage as a lifestyle. Additional statistics consistent with these societal characteristics reveal years of marked decline in the church attendance and church-directed charitable giving of Americans.

The growth of secular humanism in our society has penetrated and significantly influenced the American public school system. Rather, it has become the rule to the point where even the symbols of religious values are forbidden. The mention of "God" in our national pledge has become a serious discussion topic. The impact of John Dewey's philosophy of education still resounds throughout public school classrooms. His influence has re-defined "good, right and beautiful" with only those things which can be scientifically proven and are consistent with human reason. Today's educational leaders have placed man's will as the measure of good and rejected any sense of objective, absolute truth. With a citizenry in spiritual decline and our public schools advocating a secularized philosophy, the once strong fabric of America-home and school-can no longer be counted upon for the moral leadership required to strengthen and stabilize our society.

America's public schools are also troubled as revealed by the documented lowered test results attained by its students. Business leaders decry the inadequate preparation of those high school and college graduates seeking employment. School buildings, once considered safe and secure places of learning, greet students with metal detectors and are staffed by security guards both inside and outside of its hallways. The intellectual discipline and academic rigor which once typified America's public schools has been often minimized. While increasing numbers of parents have abdicated their guidance-in-learning role, teachers increasingly struggle to be inspirational and intellectually impactful. Finally, one must conclude that the root cause of educational failure may well be one of the underlying educational philosophy which disguises education as "modern and progressive."