Commentary

Week: July 14th - July 18th, 2025

7/14/2025 - The Founders’ Reliance on Providence

America’s Founders often referred to Divine Providence instead of using the word “God.”  For example, in the Declaration of Independence the Founders express “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.”

In today’s world, students might simply think of that as luck or fate. History teachers should have them read a portion of the Westminster Catechism which the Founders believed. It states: “God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.”

If students are truly to understand the thinking of the Founders, they need to understand their faith.

It can happen, and you can be the gateway to better education for students at your school. To download a FREE copy of our devotional, Faith of Our Fathers: Family devotions from the words of America’s Founding Fathers visit www.GoGateways.org/download.

7/15/2025 - Talking to a Principal

School principals hear a lot of complaints from parents. If you need to talk to your child’s principal about a concern, there is an approach that just may break through all the chatter.

Approach the principal as a friend and supporter of the school. Begin the conversation by saying, “I thought I should alert you to a potentially embarrassing problem.” You’re not there to cause a problem, but to help the school avoid a problem.

Explain what you discovered when you talked to the teacher, which you’ll need to do first. And then ask the principal’s advice for how to resolve the problem.

You may also want to bring a friend or your spouse along. You will feel less intimidated, and if you get flustered, your partner can help you express your concern.

When you have a concern about your children’s school, you can be a gateway to better education. For help, click HERE.

7/16/2025 - Religious Freedom Fosters Peace

Throughout history, there has been great conflict – even wars -- because governments have attempted to control religious practice. For example, in the 1600’s, Quakers were not allowed, by law, to preach in public. When they would not comply, they were flogged and hanged.  

In Luke Goodrich’s book, Free to Believe, he explains that when a government “pressures someone to go against their conscience” it is treating that person as “less than fully human.” That is an injustice. As human beings we are wired to seek ultimate truth. It is an unalienable right to have religious beliefs and live by those beliefs.

When governments decided to protect religious freedom, rather than control it, things became more peaceful. To download a free copy of our devotional, Faith of Our Fathers: Family devotions from the words of America’s Founding Fathers, visit GoGateways.org/download.

7/17/2025 - Home Economics & Worldview

Home Economics doesn’t seem like a subject that would be harmful to a student. However, it is subject that usually is taught as though a person’s religious faith has no bearing on it. In other words, students get used to seeing the world only from a secular viewpoint.

Home Economics is a class that prepares students for their domestic future: it addresses marriage, family, child rearing, values, decision making, and the like. Religion has had a lot to say about these topics, but you wouldn’t know it in most Home Economics classes.

Many students come to school with religious backgrounds. It would be very appropriate – and more educational – to challenge students to think about how their beliefs impact the topics in class. That’s a well-rounded education.

You can be a gateway to better education. For helpful articles visit our HOME PAGE.

7/18/2025 - Our Rights & A Higher Power

When America’s Founders were forming our government, they believed that there was something bigger than government that we answer to -- a higher power.

They wrote about inalienable rights. The word inalienable means “incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred.” If rights are given to us by something above the government, then that means they cannot be taken away by the government.

The idea of inalienable rights comes from the religious belief that there is a higher power that gives us those rights -- a high power above government. Without religious freedom, government is the higher power.

To download a free copy of our devotional, Faith of Our Fathers: Family devotions from the words of America’s Founding Fathers, visit GoGateways.org/download.