By Mimi Rothschild

Imagine a place with lock-downs, metal detectors, inspections, undercover officers and routine drug testing. What do you see in your mind? Sounds like a description of a prison to me. Actually, this is what many public schools in America have implemented to address the violence and drug problems. In addition to hundreds of other problems, public schools now look and feel like jail!

It may not surprise many home schooling parents that drastic measures are being taken, given the fact that drugs and violence are two major problems which have systematically plagued public schools for decades.

The Hawaii Board of Education is considering passing a law that would allow public school administrators to search student’s lockers. Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist recently signed a bill that allows high school football players, baseball players and weightlifters to be subjected to random testing for steroids. Earlier this month 12 high school students at Washington’s Federal Way high schools were arrested by undercover detectives for selling drugs, rifles and semi-automatic handguns. Some of the drugs sold were cocaine, ecstasy and oxycodone.

Given these frightening conditions, it is understandable why home schooling is on the rise in America. Parents want their children to receive a quality education in a safe environment. Home schooling is increasing in popularity because Southern Baptists have answered the call of Pastor Wiley Drake and Bruce Shortt.

Bruce Shortt writes “The experiment with government schooling has failed. What Baptists need to do now is create a new public education system, a system that is public in the sense that it is open to everyone and that takes into account the needs of orphans, single parents, and the disadvantaged. With our existing buildings, our talented people, and the educational technology available today, it is now possible to create rapidly an affordable, effective Christian education alternative to the government schools.” Shortt is a co-sponsor of the “Exit Strategy” resolution

The Southern Baptist Academy has answered that call too and is providing Southern Baptists parents with affordable resources so they can successfully home school their children.