Public school, Christian school, Home school

I recently had a discussion with a good friend who I respect and admire about her choices for school for her children. It was so refreshing to hear her perspective on school. I enjoy hearing from as many people as possible why they choose what they choose.

In this post, I want to examine the arguement that I have heard a couple of times of sending children to public school in order to make a difference in the school system. Many Christians have decided to allow their children to go to public school for this reason and they make many valid points I'd like to examine in more detail. The first argument I hear is that it is unhealthy for all Christians to live in isolation from the world and would not serve the purpose of winning the lost to Jesus. They say that if we are never around non-believers, then we cannot win the lost. This argument assumes the position that if a child is in Christian school or in a home school then they won't be around non-believers. Although upon surface reflection of this arguement, it seems as though it is valid and should prompt others to pull their children out of Christian only environments immediately. However, this is not the case. The Bible instructs us to train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. The reverse of this is also true... train up a child in the way that he should not go and when he is old he will not depart from it. A child is in the formative, learning stages of life and needs adults around him or her that have a common goal - the well being, nurture, care, protection, emotional, mental and spiritual development of that child. However, when the child has spent six to eight hours under the influence of someone other than their parents - usually a hard working teacher who is "ready to go home" - then you have impartations into that child that the parent cannot control. At best, the parent can work diligently at home to reverse the effects of that day. Even with Christian teachers, parents have to do this. However, with people who are Christians and schools that are so committed to students that they operate with no guaranteed government support as many private, Christian schools do, the parents have an ally towards the goal of providing a godly education.

I'll have to post more later because its late and I am sleepy.

:-)