George Washington Carver once said, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”

Carver was a faithful, hard-working educator who understood that when teachers pass on knowledge, they must rely on discernment from Almighty God. Without it, the door to freedom could easily become a path to chains.

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What would Carver say about the public education system today? Likely, he would be speechless after observing the ungodly agendas which have hijacked the true purpose of education. Instead of freeing the minds of students, the schools have become breeding grounds for the latest political and globalist narratives. The goal isn’t to educate, but instead to indoctrinate.

As an educator who taught in the public schools, I can say with confidence that I too, am bewildered, troubled and at times appalled by what I see happening in the classrooms on a daily basis.

The Life of a Teacher

I am no stranger to the life of a teacher. My parents were both educators, and my young life revolved around listening to their experiences. Later, I grew up to become a public school elementary education teacher. I did this faithfully for 15 years, and it was truly a challenging job.

As a teacher, I was up at 5:45 a.m. and out the door by 7:00. Once I arrived at school, my duties were non-stop. Lesson planning for at least five subjects, making copies, grading papers, setting up numerous activities, going to meetings, checking and answering emails, making phone calls and filling out paperwork were part of the short list. The most important part of my job, of course, was teaching and monitoring a roomful of children throughout the day. It was rare for me to sit down and take even a short break, as I was constantly helping students with their work, or managing behavior. Each afternoon I came home exhausted, all the while knowing that I still had a long list of tasks to complete before the next school day. Yet those were some of the best years of my life and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Teachers’ Plates are Full

Teachers today are no different. They have just as much work, if not more, than I did. Truthfully, their plates are fuller and more complicated than mine was. I would go so far as to say that their plates have overflowed and spilled onto the floor.

The public school teachers of 2024 are not just teaching core subjects such as reading, writing, science, history and math. Their classrooms have become the testing grounds for progressive, liberal, anti-biblical agendas. Over the years, classroom curriculum has morphed into a confusing and disturbing litany of critical race theories, gender ideologies, and climate change creeds. To make matters worse, some school libraries contain books with sexually explicit content that would make the average adult cringe. All the while, many teachers are being trained to accept and support these ideals without questioning their veracity, or the detrimental effects on the character of our youth.

Many Public School Teachers Disagree with Liberal Agendas

While it may seem that most public school teachers are just going with the flow, I can assure you there are countless numbers who are not on board as they witness the educational system’s titanic and deliberate movements toward an iceberg built on deception and immorality. Inside they are saying, “Iceberg dead ahead,” but perhaps they are too frightened to raise their voices loud enough to be heard. The consequences for such a move could result in being labeled a racist, a hater, a homophobe, or a “religious” fanatic. In the teachers’ lounge, it might be said that these teachers are unkind, intolerant, and heartless when, in fact, they love the children they teach, and their greatest hope is that their students will be successful, happy, and able to tackle the world’s challenges.

Many Teachers Are Also Deceived

Certainly, there are also teachers who are completely on board with anything and everything “progressive” and liberal. Whether it’s “my body my choice,” or hosting an after-school drag club, they are fired up and ready. Flying LGBT flags may be more important to them than honoring the American flag, and calling students by preferred pronouns might supplant the need to focus on actual grammar skills.

Do we give up on the teachers who seem to be given over to the plans of the enemy? Do we throw up our hands and declare that they are lost?

What about the teachers who are against these “progressive” agendas, but still remain in a den full of lions? Do we tell them to get out while they can because hope will never be found?

Never Give Up Praying

Certainly, we should not give up on praying for these teachers no matter what views they hold. Even if our children or grandchildren do not attend public schools, we must keep in mind that the vast majority of students are being shaped in some way by the public schools. They will become tomorrow’s community leaders, business owners, and government representatives. With that in mind, we should pray for all our teachers who educate in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as our universities and graduate schools.

How Do We Pray for Teachers?

As a former public school teacher, I can tell you that the need for prayer is huge. I cannot begin to cover all the bases, but here are some areas to focus on when considering the current state of the public educational system.

1. Pray that God would elevate TRUTH in the hearts of teachers so they would become propagators of godly principles, rather than false narratives.

2. Pray for our Christian teachers to become “Joshuas and Calebs” in the wilderness. Pray they would find extraordinary ways to share biblical truths without fear and become role models for morality. For teachers who are not Christians, pray for their salvation as well as a radical transformation in their character which can only come from Jesus Christ.

3. Pray that teachers would develop networks with other teachers so they can work as a team to push back on progressive agendas. Pray they would not have to fight alone, but would find principals, school board members, and educational leaders who would stand with them and give support and direction. Pray that parents and pastors would be willing to publicly support them as well.

4. Since laws, rules and guidelines vary from state to state, pray that the teachers who live in very liberal states would be able to resist the waves of opposition that will come when they choose to do what’s right. Pray they would be a bright light in a dark room. For those teaching in less liberal states, pray they would hold back any further infiltration.

5. Pray for God to place godly school board members and superintendents in the schools where they can support teachers who are fighting against progressive agendas. We also pray for more organizations (such as Moms for Liberty) who actively work to empower teachers and parents as they stand for biblical truth.

The Bible tells us that the ability to teach is a gift. Romans 12:6-7 reveals, Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching.

 Intercessors, we should pray that teachers would use the gift God has given them to do what is right in His eyes rather than man’s.

Should Christians Teach in Public Schools?    

I have been asked by many people if I could ever go back to teaching in a public school. I must be honest and say that it’s highly unlikely that I would ever go back. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t support those who choose to stay and fight the good fight. Yes, many of these teachers are in the midst of Babylon. Yes, they are teaching in a system that is trying to mold them into secular humanists. Yet if these teachers determine that they will serve the Lord, rather than a progressive agenda, then there is much fruit that God can produce through their presence in the lives of children who might otherwise have no contact with a godly, moral follower of Christ.

I would like to offer some words of encouragement to those of you who are teachers in public schools:

While you may not be preaching the gospel with your words, you are living out your faith through your actions. The public school is a mission field. You have the ability to plant seeds in your students by clothing yourself with Christ. Seek the things that are above rather than the rhetoric encircling you. There may be a price to pay when you do this, but have peace knowing that Jesus is in control no matter what happens.

Lord Jesus, thank You for our precious teachers. We know they are being pressured from every side. Infiltrate the public schools with a spirit of truth, repentance and revival so the door to education is aligned with freedom instead of slavery. Help our teachers become a godly refuge for their students.

What are some other ways we can pray for our public school teachers? How we encourage those who are trying to live out their faith in the classroom?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus, and her first children’s book, Hallelujah’s Great Ride, was released in September 2023. Photo by LexScope on Unsplash.