Parents have the choice to send their children to traditional public schools in their communities as a result of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. These schools, however, must offer students a quality education. When they do not, parents have the right to choose other alternatives to educate their children. One alternative is a charter school. This type of school is operated as a school district, part of a school district, for-profit organization or non-profit organization without micromanagement by the government. For this feature, the critical questions to be asked are: Why should churches have Christian Charter Schools? How should children be trained for life? As a candidate for president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., what is Reverend Dr. R.B. Holmes’ vision for Christian Charter Schools?

To answer these questions, The Holmes Education Post (THEP) released its new book, “How to Revitalize the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.” The National Baptist Convention is the largest predominantly African-American Christian denomination in the United States. THEP’s new book is written to serve as a model to support the needs of the churches of the National Baptist Convention. In this book, Reverend Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr. discusses his “12 Point Vision Action Plan” to become the next president of the convention, and why churches should have Christian Charter Schools?

According to Holmes, “We have been called and commissioned by God to ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6). This is an awesome responsibility for both parents and preachers. God has given us a mandate and a mission to train children in the right way. It is asinine to think that we can get this job done once a week, in Sunday School, for about 30 minutes. The training of a child to walk right, to talk right and to do the right things is a lifetime job.”

Further Holmes says that in the book of Deuteronomy (6:7-10), Moses laid out the instruction that the Jewish people were to provide for their children: “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children; and shalt talk of them while thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Thus, Holmes believes that through Christian Charter Schools, we have to teach the word of God; teach the importance of excelling academically; and to teach our own history, from a spiritual and Afrocentric point of view.

Charter schools are the largest vehicles for school choice to parents. There are over 5,000 charter schools serving over 1.5 million students according to the National Center for Education Evaluation. As a part of Holmes’ “12 Point Vision Action Plan,” the National Baptist Convention would help churches create Christian Charter Schools. To learn more about Holmes’ presidency for the National Baptist Convention or order the book, “How to Revitalize the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.,” visit Authorhouse.com; Amazon.com; or Barnes and Noble or call AuthorHouse Book Order Hotline at 1-888-280-7715. All proceeds will benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities affiliated with the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of six books, “Education Questions to be Answered,” “Current Issues and Answers in Education,”  “How to Eradicate Hazing,” “Professional Career Paths” “Your Answers to Education Questions” and “How to revitalize the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.” He is publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper.  Holmes is a former teacher, school administrator and district superintendent. He can be reached at [email protected].