Zapping Our Little Schools of Horror

 
Overall, public schooling incrementally, spiritually devolved since the Industrial Revolution, culminating in disastrous Supreme Court decisions in the early 1960s.   Infamous atheist Madalyn O’Hair and others successfully tossed prayer and Scripture from public schools.   Emboldened secular educational engineers, sometimes referred to as educrats, then redesigned government schooling and reduced instruction to produce raw utilitarianism, devoid of Christianity, by the 1980s.  

 
In 2025, we are reaping the ill effects of cultural atheism that was left unchecked by the same government branch (judicial) that so eagerly tossed faith but then did nothing to protect students (and families) in their individual exercise of beliefs for the majority of their day, including in extracurricular activities and organizations.

 
It reminds me of the classical musical, Little Shop off Horrors, wherein a naive florist store clerk, Seymour,  is beguiled by a “cute” but somewhat needy foreign plant that soon captures the rapt attention of the general public.  What appears to be a teeny, innocuous but also enticing sprig of greenery soon demonically overwhelms the shop with sinister reinforcements on the way!.  

 
One line sticks in memory as the woeful tale reaches a climax.The once defenseless bud from outer space, having grown into an enormous plant monster, gulps down the store owner, chases Seymour,  and bellows, “You never knew who you were messing with.”  

 
Like the classic musical, the tales of growing school horrors expose the inherent evil in rationalization for human activism that often starts innocently and with the best intentions.  The ending is as predicable as Seymour’s fall from grace.  

 
Currently, we have multiple little schools of horror, about 130,000 in number although among them can still be found faithful Catholic schools.  Additionally, about 3.7 million children are homeschooled.  Tales of expanding, intrusive chaff seem to grow by the hour.  Like the all consuming gigantic plant in “Little Shop of Horrors, there seems to be no escape.

Appalling, godless elitism also tows the decline in academics, and tens of millions of youth have and are being rendered illiterate in all ways, yet propagandized and groomed to be subject to manipulation by autocratic rulers.  The worst threat is to the salvation of souls.

 
St. Francis de Sales asserted:  “Everything that has no bearing on eternity is mere vanity.”  (From Every day with St. Francis de Sales, A.S. 359). In short, education is meaningful in how it imparts the reality of God; brings us to fruitful, terrestrial vocations; instills virtue and dispels vice; and enables us to enjoy Heaven forever.  We were destined to cultivate our individual, cherished souls, not grow into a collectivist society that “sucks the blood” from our very being.  (See Little Shop of Horrors for explanation of that analogy.)

 
There is little doubt that globally governments of all stripes have explicitly expelled Christianity; formed curriculum and instruction imbued with odiousosophy (hatred of Wisdom) against the dignity and destiny of the individual and the ideal of holy families;  propagandized children to embrace only temporal, communistic goals; falsely empowered youth to harm themselves; and have punished holy objectors. 

 
Most frustrated are likely parents and families in worst case scenarios whereby public or marginally Catholic schooling are the only options for these earnest families.   They grapple for guidance, assistance, and genuine education.   They fear for their children.

 
However, like the live electric cord that grabs Seymour’s attention and saves him at the last minute,  Catholic parents should be confident that they, too, have such weapons to zap the opposition.  They are:  prayer, education of self, appropriate inquiries, and a personal library (hands on and electronic).  (Think PEAL and make a loud but joyfully confident noise in the world.)

 
Remember foremost that if your child is in a public school, much of what follows can still be implemented and integrated into their education.  Keep your eyes on heaven, and your children will look up likewise.  Of course, cultivate an atmosphere of open conversation, especially at the day’s end.

 
Instill a posture of prayer in the family and student children, from morning to noon, to evening.  Teach such for silent reflection.  Several times a day, any student can pause, though in a non interruptive manner, even for thirty seconds for prayer.  (The prayer to our Guardian Angels takes about ten seconds).  Try to gather as a family at night, especially for the Rosary.  Of course, it goes without saying—live your Faith.

 
Educate yourselves, both academically and catechetically.  Candidly, there are so many ample, creative, and appealing options, that I am somewhat overwhelmed.  I could tick off hundreds of reliable persons and sources, for parents and students to know and understand the Catholic Faith or be freshly taught in classical education.   Fortunately, just one of these gems often leaves bread crumbs to others.  

 
Multitudes of these experts and reliable content are on line.  Such knowledge will also help you to assess Catholic, as well as public, education in your area, the caliber of the administration and teaching staff, and even lead to an academic or theological degree or master’s for yourself! (Do not neglect to check the Archdiocese syllabuses for objectives and texts.)

 
Moreover, more good news awaits you, as several dioceses are cultivating genuinely Catholic schooling.  Check to see if your Archdiocese is employing administrators who have attended (online) Pontifex University’s masters program for Catholic school administrators or similar programs.  Have Catholic Schools offices invited or are open to The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (catholicliberaleducation.org)? 

 
Build a library!  This need not be heavy in material texts, but it must be organized.  Catalogue helpful YouTubes and videos.  Investigate what educators who teach teachers utilize.   See resources in Teaching the City of God in the City of Man:  Pursuing Salvation Education—author; Consult Educating for Eternity:  A Teacher’s Companion for Making Every Class Catholic,  Dr. Brett Salkeld; and Renewing Catholic Schools:  How to Regain a Catholic Vision in a Secular Age, Dr. Jared Staudt.  Cana Academy and the Catholic School Playbook are two other edifying sites.    

Keep as a motto:  The only way to drive out evil is by continuously, persistently, and pervasively making the good known and expected.  

 
And the good, true and beautiful will triumph.  In Little Shop of Horrors, the formerly weak protagonist defeats the beast and gets the family of his dreams.  We, too, can defeat the horrors in our schools and have that proverbial school house, hopefully with the Tabernacle nearby where daily we can consult our Perfect Teacher.  Pray, pray, pray.