What is Truth in Education? – Dr. Brenda MacMenamin

Pilgrims onshore at Plymouth, from “Of Plymouth Plantation”

If you knew that our history has been re-written in the early 1900’s would it matter to you? Does Truth Matter?

Recently a friend mentioned that the Pilgrims tried communism and that it failed for them. This is true, but what some do not realize is that this communal life was forced upon them. They had sold all that they had in Holland to venture to America. As the Pilgrims were closing their deal with the Virginia Company, Robert Cushman changed the original agreement, whose terms were broad and vague but were understood to be free enterprise. Among the “new conditions” were:

#3 said that “all profits and benefits… shall remain in the common stock until division.”
#5 “… the capital and profits… shall be equally divided…”
#10 “That all such persons as are of this colony, are to have their food, drink, clothing, and all provisions, out of the common stock and goods of the said colony.”

The Pilgrims appealed to the Virginia Company. They sent back letters stating their concern about the new conditions, “which all are against.” But at this point, they had nothing to go back to and had the vision to go to America.

“… having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia…” ~ Mayflower Compact

Of course we know that having lost valuable time and resources in waiting for the Virginia Company to finally send them, they arrived late in winter. Half of them passed away within 3 months from inadequate food, sickness and harsh weather. The Lord did send the miracle of Samoset and Squanto (which is another delightful story!)

But they could not prosper living under the communism forced on them by the Virginia company. Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” shares his perspective:

All this whille no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expecte any. So they begane to thinke how they might raise as much corne as they could, and obtaine a beter crope then they had done, that they might not still thus languish in miserie. At length, after much debate of things, the Govr (with ye advise of ye cheefest amongest them) gave way that they should set corne every man for his owne perticuler, and in that regard trust to them selves; in all other things to goe on in ye generall way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcell of land, according to the proportion of their number for that end, only for present use (but made no devission for inheritance), and ranged all boys & youth under some familie. This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corne was planted then other waise would have bene by any means ye Govr or any other could use, and saved him a great deall of trouble, and gave farr better contente. The women now wente willingly into ye feild, and tooke their litle-ons with them to set corne, which before would aledg weaknes, and inabilitie; whom to have compelled would have bene thought great tiranie and oppression.

The experience that was had in this com̅one course and condition, tried sundrie years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanitie of that conceite of Platos & other ancients, applauded by some of later times;—that ye taking away of propertie, and bringing in com̅unitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy and florishing; as if they were wiser then God. For this comunitie (so farr as it was) was found to breed much confusion & discontent, and retard much imploymēt that would have been to their benefite and comforte. For ye yong-men that were most able and fitte for labour & service did repine that they should spend their time & streingth to worke for other mens wives and children, with out any recompence. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in devission of victails & cloaths, then he that was weake and not able to doe a quarter ye other could; this was thought injuestice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalised in labours, and victails, cloaths, &c., with ye meaner & yonger sorte, thought it some indignite & disrespect unto them. And for mens wives to be commanded to doe servise for other men, as dresing their meate, washing their cloaths, &c., they deemd it a kind of slaverie, neither could many husbands well brooke it. Upon ye poynte all being to have alike, and all to doe alike, they thought them selves in ye like condition, and one as good as another; and so, if it did not cut of those [164]relations that God hath set amongest men, yet it did at least much diminish and take of ye mutuall respects that should be preserved amongst them. And would have bene worse if they had been men of another condition. Let none objecte this is men's corruption, and nothing to ye course it selfe. I answer, seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in his wisdome saw another course fiter for them.”  (Emphasis mine)

Well this was obviously before the Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary! But you can see, that they were suffering under communism. They did not choose it but they had signed an agreement and were trying to honor that agreement. If communism could have worked, wouldn’t it have worked for this hardworking, God-fearing people? But Bradford says that as soon as they required each man to work “for his owne particular”, that “it made all hands very industrious… whom to have compelled would have bene thought great tiranie and oppression.”

Bradford asserts that the Virginia Company thought, “ye taking away of propertie, and bringing in com̅unitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy and florishing; as if they were wiser then God.”

Translated this means:

…the taking away of property, and bringing in community into a common wealth (communism), would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser then God.

WOW!!

He then closes this section with this glorious and instructive phrase:

I answer, seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in his wisdome saw another course fiter for them.”

Is this what we learned in high school? Probably not, although there have been some teachers teaching from original documents in every season. But very few are learning this now. Doesn’t learning this way bring His Story alive!

Will you be intentional in your child’s education? Will you determine now before God Almighty to learn and teach this way? Let’s ask for His help!

Father, we cry out to You, help us educate our little ones. Anoint us to teach the “Mighty Deeds of God” (Ps 78) to the next generation. Lead us by Your Spirit. You are our Waymaker. We thank You in advance for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ glorious Name we pray… Amen!

Would you like to join me in this quest to Renew Your Mind? I am hosting an online “Renewing Your Mind” that starts this Monday! Please join us.

Renewing our minds is a transforming process which begins right at our commitment to Christ’s salvation and Lordship of our lives. We receive His Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We then begin this wonderful journey to know Him and the power of His resurrection. We grow as we read His Word, begin to understand, know and practice it. What an adventure!

Would you like to join me in a study to do this? This is the first baby step that we guide you into to develop your own Biblical Philosophy of Education.

I hope you join us!