Family–School–Church

One item which I wish to bring to the foreground is the discussion about modern media. When we look back upon the year 2019, I cannot earnestly enough ask your attention for the position taken by the administration of the Calvijn College in Zeeland. They have taken an integral and courageous attempt to serve and to promote in principle, the oneness of family, church, and school as noted in the heading of this article. This is a position which asks for support throughout the nation from every family, the entire educational system, and the church. It is a position which must result to the benefit and welfare of the souls of our young people. It is high time! We are obligated to do so because of God’s covenant faithfulness and also His vengeance in regards to not only how we extend but also how we restrict the administration of the covenant of grace.

Excerpt of the letter sent out by Calvijn College

Since the 60s of the previous century, we have tried to keep television at a distance until about twenty years ago. At that time, the Internet was introduced and ten years later the smartphone. In large numbers we have created a small opening in our homes, and almost without any sound the digital wonder has crept in. It has established itself as part of our lives without our fully realizing it. Unsuspectingly, we have begun to use it, every day a bit more driven by inquisitiveness and ease. Today we can no longer go without it (at least that is what we think), and we all are bound to the leash of technology.

A countermovement

Stealthily—That is also how it came into Calvijn College. Currently, thousands of students walk about Calvijn College, most of them with a smartphone, an occasional one without. The coming of the Internet and also the smartphone has not only radically changed our society but also the culture in our school. In the past several years as school board and school administration, we have had far-reaching discussions. That has brought us to the intent to keep the smartphone and other means of digital communication (as for example smart watches) outside of the confines of our school. To reinforce our position, we have formulated three principal arguments which we want to explain to you as follows:

Spiritual (im)purity

Our young people are inundated by means of Internet and smartphones with “spiritual wickedness” (read Ephesians 6). Although there are naturally differences, our young people are crammed full with wrong music, sports, sexual content, and violence. That also goes on while school is in session. Many students have access to film sites such as Netflix or Videoland either through a personal or shared subscription. The destructive influence upon their morals and morality is great. More importantly, every second of their time is occupied, and the truth remains, if God does not prevent it, that His kingdom is not part of their thoughts.

Mental (un)rest

Our students come to school to learn. In order to be able to learn properly, both mental rest and concentration on the proper things is necessary. The physical presence of their smartphone serves as an unnecessary and disruptive element. They are continuously stimulated while their attention is caught up in all types of matters which have nothing to do with school and learning.

(Anti)social behavior

A school is a community. Because our students have their smartphones handy, the temptation is great to sit and stare at their screen rather than talk to each other and thereby be more engaged with each other. Contact and communication with people is more important than interacting with technology. In addition to that, there is also much abuse of the smartphone with undesired and unacceptable behavior. Because we as a school have a mission to form and educate our students upon our foundation and principles (Scripture and Confessions) as well as the baptismal promise of the parents of our students, we feel that we must take this responsibility for the students which attend our school.

A voice out of the past

J.C. Ryle states the following, in the consideration of Mark 7:14-23, about the evil in our hearts:

“Our innate sinfulness and natural leanings toward evil are never sufficiently considered. The perverseness of mankind is often attributed to wrong examples, evil companions, examples, evil companions, exceptional temptations, or lists of the devil. It would seem people forget that every person carries a fountain of iniquity within him. We do not need bad company to tempt us to do evil. The inclination to every sin under heaven lies within us.

“We must remember this when training and instructing our children. Whenever we provide leadership, we should never forget that the seeds of all evil and wrong lie in our hearts.

“It is not enough to keep boys and girls at home to protect them from every temptation in the outside world. They carry within themselves a heart that is inclined to every sin, and until their heart is changed, they are not safe no matter what we do.

“When children do something wrong, it is a common habit to wrong, it is a common habit to blame evil friends for all of the wrongs. To do this is pure ignorance, blindness, and foolishness. Evil friends are undoubtedly and without question a great iniquity which must be avoided as much as possible, but evil friends do not teach a boy or a girl half as many sins as those which lie in their own heart. Unless they are renewed by the Spirit, the inclination to all evil lies within.

“If parents were half as busy in praying for the conversion of their children as they are in protecting them from evil friends, their children would be better off than what they are at present.”

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