‘No one can do that better than a parent’: FRC President Tony Perkins discusses the state of American education

As the longest serving president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins has spent his career defending families and advocating for public policies consistent with biblical values.

“We [at FRC] believe that if the Bible and the principles of Scripture were good enough to build a nation upon, they’re good enough to guide a nation today,” Perkins told Chris Stigall, host of the Making the Leap podcast.  

As a homeschool father of five, Perkins is particularly concerned about the nation’s public schools, calling them “centers of indoctrination.” 

“I do not think we should abandon it. We need to send young people who are called to teach into the public schools as missionaries to take the light into a very dark place,” he said, referring to Christian educators. “We need to run for school boards. 

“We need to influence that system, but not with our children! We need to pull our children out of the public education system.” 

School choice programs, which have skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic, offer an off-ramp to families who might be financially burdened by the cost of private or home education.  

But homeschool families are often wary of government dollars – and the strings attached to them. Perkins understands those concerns, but says good policy can overcome them. 

It was why, as a state legislator in Louisiana, Perkins favored tax credits over vouchers: most new school choice programs are tax-credit-based, and funds go to families, not directly to schools.  

Accordingly, Perkins urges school choice advocates and policy makers to be thoughtful when they craft new programs. 

“We do have to look long-term,” he explained. “I think we need to be mindful that what we see today is not what we’ll have tomorrow. We need to try to structure our public policy so that it is resistant to those who would be hostile to our values.” 

Stigall concluded the interview by asking Perkins what his advice would be to current homeschool parents. 

“Do it one day at a time, one year at a time. Don’t get lost in what’s down the road,” he encouraged. “This is your most important responsibility and opportunity as a parent, to train your children – not just to do calculus not just to know American history – but to know the Lord, to walk with Him. 

“And no one can do that better than a parent who knows the Lord.”