The Reformed Presbyterian on the importance of education to the Scottish Reformation - (Reformed Covenanter Quote)

The Reformed Presbyterian on the importance of education to the Scottish Reformation

In 1837 the American Covenanter Reformed Presbyterian periodical, edited by Moses Roney, published an article by a man called Dr Humphrey on 'Education in Scotland'.  This article helpfully points out that the universal diffusion of education was one of the leading principles of the Scottish Reformation. How sad it is that men who claim to stand in the tradition of the Scottish Reformers would decry this system were it upheld today (this includes those who think public education is inherently wrong and that home-schooling is the only biblical form of education):

The parochial schools of Scotland have been the admiration of enlightened men in all countries, for two hundred and fifty years. Like civil and religious liberty and all the noble institutions of that country, they are the offspring of the Reformation. Before John Knox rolled back the thunders of the Vatican upon the Pope and his Cardinals, and blew that mighty blast which shook down the walls of spiritual Babylon in North Britain, the people were as deeply sunk in ignorance, as they were in the superstition and idolatry of the great anti-christian apostacy. Very few, except the nobility, could read, and almost none could write. But as soon as Scotland had thrown off the Romish yoke, or rather, while she was struggling for life with 'the man of sin,' and the faggots were scarcely quenched in the grass market of Edinburgh, the Reformers were busily employed in maturing a plan for the universal diffusion of letters throughout the country.  They rightly judged, that to eradicate the errors of Popery, and instil the faith of the gospel into the hearts of the rising generation, the establishment of schools under pious teachers was essential. How anxious they were to see a school-house planted by the side of every kirk, and to make sound learning the hand-maid of pure religion, is strikingly manifest in [Š] the 'First Book of Discipline,' drawn up by Knox and his immortal compeers, and presented to the nobility in 1560 - almost three centuries ago.

- Reformed Presbyterian, Dec. 1837, p. 304.

Note: approving public education in the abstract does not mean we are condoning the current system of public education in either the United States or the United Kingdom.  We are merely pointing out that any argument that public education is inherently wrong is contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Scottish Reformed.

- Reformed Covenanter