Our chapter this week talks about education and focuses on Christian schooling. Here is a quote from the chapter, “The Christian school educational environment is not perfect…but… it is nearer what God would have us provide for our children than is available in the secular educational world, where God and His Word are not welcome. (pg. 241).” All three of my children attended Christian schools for all of their primary and secondary education. My husband and I made great financial sacrifices to provide them with this opportunity. However, as my children reflect back on their experiences, they do not always see this as an advantage and feel that the restrictive environment of the Christian school was actually harmful to them in many ways. I struggle with this concept. Should we take our kids out of public schools and isolate them in the Christian school environment? How harmful is the Dewey concept that was discussed in this chapter that forms the basis of public education; that is, that human nature is basically good and that the child will naturally seek the highest level? Most of you have either had public or private education, though perhaps a few were homeschooled. What do you think about this idea and about the things discussed concerning Christian schooling in this chapter?
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I have attended in both public schools and Christian private schools. If I were sending my children to the schools later, I would also send them to both schools because in younger age, the role and the impact of education is very important to the children. It means the human nature can be influenced where you are learning. The role of the schools not only include the academic improvement but also the socialization. Therefore it is important to learn as a child about “how the world and the people from the world communicate.” Thus in the younger age(middle to high schools) especially public education is helpful
To attend a Christian school is also a part of the best choices in my life. Most of my friends attend in a University, where they never teach the gospel. However it is important not to run away from the world.
The education in the Christian schools should be a preperation ‘into’ the world.
I attended public schools my entire life and am extremely glad that I did. I learned so much from being in that enviornment. I was constantly challenged to know what I believe and why I believe those things. It gave me an opportunity to be a light for Christ in the midst of a dark world. I felt that I was able to share my faith with others through the choices I made regarding the way I conducted myself daily. It is important not to isolate yourself from the world but to learn how to live as ambassadors for Christ in the world. I feel that had I gone to a Christian school while I was growing up, I would not have missed out on many opportunities to share God’s love with others. However, I am thankful to come to a college like Cedarville now where I can learn how to practically combine my faith with my future career goals and to be encouraged and challenged by being surrounded by so many awesome people here.
I went to a Christian school until I was in 5th grade and then I was homeschooled until I graduated. I don’t think that someone needs to go to a public school to learn about the rest of society. TV shows, movies, books, advertisements, and music all can give us a good look at the sin in this world. I don’t think it is a bad idea to be somewhat naive to the evil in this world. I know that I am… and I’m not upset about it. Actually, I am grateful that my parents didn’t send me to a public school. I feel blessed. I do need to add though, I don’t think that you should box yourself up in a Christian enviroment. We need to be out in the secular community, living our faith…we need to be making disciples.
I went to a small Christian School for pre-Kindergarden through Senoir year, and even my mom was my 5th grade teacher at that school. I feel that there are benefits and disadvantages to going to a Christian School. The benefits are that a student is submerged in the Christian environment which helps produce spiritual growth; a student finds quality Christian friends; and a student gets the benefit of a Christian education. The disadvantages are that within Christain Schools there is this idea within students that rebellion is seen as cool; Christian Schools cannot offer all the extracuricular activities or AP classes that Public School can offer; and there is not the chance to make non-Christian friends as there would be in Public Schools. Now, when I look back at high school, I see that my education was a priviledge and continues to be a priviledge within Christian Education.
I also attended small Christian schools all of my life, with a brief one year interlude of home schooling due to a movie across the country. I am so grateful to my parents for their sacrifice to send me to these two different schools. I know that I received a good, quality education, and for that I am grateful. However, since graduating, I have become disillusioned with Christian schools. I think the concept is great (otherwise I wouldn’t be at Cedarville), but I think that so often in high school particularly, Christian schools are viewed as the “fix it” schools. So many of the students at my old school are not Christians and they think that Christianity and Christians are nothing but hypocrites. The only reason they are there is because they were expelled from the public school for some reason, and their parents thought that a Christian school might be able to fix them. It should seem like this would be the perfect place for them, but they end bringing everyone else with them, rather than being influenced by the love of Christ. I know that this is not the case is every Christian school, and I know that there is value in a Christian education. Since I’ve graduated, my siblings have switched to the public school. My brother graduated from the public school and is currently attending a state university. And my sister is still in the public high school. Both are doing great. They have been challenged to live out their faith and grow closer to God through it. For me, I think that Christian education is valuable and important, but if it does not challenge the students to be “salt and light,” then I think something has gone wrong.
I have often wondered how different I would be if I had not attended my rather strict Christian school kindergarten to graduation. I see negative and positive affects of this. Christian friendships are so important. However, if you go to a church with a strong, active youth group I think it wouldn’t be so bad attending a public high school. However, I am very thankful for a Christian college to attend.
Children will naturally be sinful. Dewey’s teaching is very dangerous to children. If they naturally gravitate to good, then why is there any need for God or discipline?
I would definitely send my children to a Christian school if possible that does not compromise education and is doctrinally sound.
Though I see there may be a need for Christian schools in some intances and I do not look at them as if they were a bad idea, I myself am not too fond of them. I feel that, though many parents have the best intentions in putting their children through the Christian School system, they are also afraid of letting them be intertwined with the nonChristian world that they one day will be living in as well. I went to a private Christian school until I was in 2nd grade and I think that it helped shaped me to who I am today, but I feel blessed to have been in a public school system for the rest of my life. I grew up understanding what it truly meant to stand up for what I believed and having to make sacrifices choosing certain friends over the other. I also had the opportunity to share my faith with many, and yet I feel that it was not enough. I feel that in many Christian school, things are harder, more difficult because we are not perfect and never will be, and Christian schools try to be too perfect, then do not recognize their flaws or the flaws in the students. I feel that in many instances parents view the school as taking the place to educate their children on the Bible, when in reality this needs to be done by the parents, it is their job and their duty. And honorable duty. I do not feel that Christian schools are necessary, but I do know that in the home and in the church, the Bible MUST be taught and we Christians MUST be prepared to give an answer for what we believe wherever we are.
I attended both Christian school and public school. Having seen both sides of the issue I can see the benefits of both systems. I appreciated both types of schools and when I have children I will probably send them to both types of schools. The ability of Christian schools to enforce their rules and the impact that has on students and their learning is a main benefit of why I would choose a Christian school for my children early in life. Public school though provides students more oportunities to learn in different subjects. That is why I would choose to send my children to public school later in their education. Having had a firm foundation formed in Christian school when I attended public school it allowed me to focus more on my education than being distracted by the stupid things that many high school students participate in.
I believe that every child is different, and while one school may be right for one child, another school may be just as right for another child. There isn’t one flatline answer across the board. I wouldn’t change my education at my Christian school for the world. I also wouldn’t change being here at Cedarville for anything. However, I am also transferring for my last 2 years to Ohio State… so I will then be able to compare the two. I know that there are positives and negatives to being in either school. It can also really depend on the school and the leadership of that school. I think this decision should be bathed in prayer by each individual family. Childern are obviously not inherently good and it’s a dangerous state of mind to be in if one believes this.
I have attended a Christian all my life and am thankful for that opportunity. I know my parents sent me to the place where they thought I would get an excellent education. I think there are advantages and disadvantages to going to a Christian school. Also, from my experience there are as many problems, if not more, in Christian schools than public. We had various issues at my school and I think it was partially because of the standard that is put on the students. I think the parents need to do what is best for their children, whether that is going to a public or private school. It is important to stand firm in your faith no matter what kind of school someone is to attend.
I attended public schools K-12 and at this point, I am absolutely sure that I will send my own children to public schools as well. It was so good to be exposed to different ways of thinking, especially in high school, and seeing them paralleled with my own philosophies. It was also very helpful that I was involved with my church youth group which was like an anchor for me. Our entire lives are going to be living in a secular world while holding on to our own beliefs and it has been my experience that the best way to learn how to do that is by being placed in that kind of environment during schooling.
I attended public school my whole life until now. I myself struggled a lot in my faith especially in my middle school years. Even though I was attending church and youth group I lived two completely different lives. So, I think that it depends on who the child is. For me I feel that it may have been different for me if I attended a Christian school during middle school to help shape and confirm what I believed as I was strongly influence by the world. However, I do think that growing up in a public atmosphere did help challenge me during high school to really understand what I believe and live that way. I have debated on whether I would said my kids to a Christian or public school in the future because I have heard stories from friends who have attended Christian schools and it seems that it can be just a bad an influence. I really think it depends on the child and whether they are someone who is highly influenced or whether they are the one who does the influencing.
I was homeschooled from second grade through high school. I think this did provide many advantages and I enjoyed being homeschooled most years. I think that it is best for children to spend their younger years in private school or being homeschooled, because they are easily influenced at this time. Once the children are older and have a firm foundation, their parents should be able to determine which form of schooling is best for them. I think that homeschooling, private school, and public school each have their advantages and disadvantages, so it really just comes down to the individual child.
I have found that homeschooling was advantageous to me because my parents were able to filter what I learned and I was able to work at my own pace. For most of my life, my parents gave me the option of attending public school instead, so it ended up being my choice to be homeschooled. I have seen that when done well, a homeschooled child will still end up having a social life and be able to participate in a variety of activities while developing spiritually and academically. Unfortunately, some parents use homeschooling to shelter their kids too much. These kids end up interacting only with other Christians, and they end up knowing very little about the world.
I have attended both a Christian school and public school. I think a choice of school for my children depends on two points: First, before they can make a dicision, as a parent I need to meke a dicision about their school for education. For some place of education, I can make a dicision about which place is the best for their education by considering to educational environment, faculty, and staff.
Second, if they have intellective thinking skill, I think we need to pass our dicision to our children. They can make a dicision about their educational place by themselves. but if their choices are over usual morality just for joyful or more comfortable without improvement of their educational skills, we have to advice about their choices to go toward the best way for them.
I really think it depends upon the individual and upon the child’s current stage of life. I completely agree with Daniel (the first post) when he said that “human nature can be influenced where you are learning,” especially during the younger years of development, in which the child is so moldable by their environment. Since a child is so easily molded by their environment during their younger years, I believe it best to send young children to a school that will teach them how to relate to others in the way that Christ has commanded, rather than in the way that the world tells us is appropriate. I have a good friend who attended public school until high school, at which point he switched to a Christian school, and the days he spent in public school left him with a great deal of emotional scars and a huge amount of regret.
At the same time, I have also seen someone very close to me decide to walk away from Christ because of her experience in a Christian high school. Based on her individual needs and personality, she needed to get out of a Christian school by the time she got to high school – for many complicated reasons.
It is definitely a complicated issue, but all this is to say that the choice to school a child in a Christian or secular environment must be a careful, thoughful, and individualized decision.
I attended public school K-12th grade and it was a great experience. I attended fairly large schools and had many educational opportunities not available in Christian schools. I do not like the idea of isolating all Christian kids and removing them from the public schools. I don’t think that Christian schools are necessary in the K-12 years. Children should learn about God in the home and at church. Parents should take the responsibility for this rather than saying it’s the teachers’ job. Even though God’s Word is not taught in public schools, students are always free to express their beliefs and even hold before or after school Bible studies.
Just because someone attends Christian school does not mean that he/she will be any “better” than someone at public school. I have had several friends that attended Christian school who have walked away from the faith.
As an education major, I believe in our public schools and don’t want to abandon the Christians who are there, trying to make a difference for Christ.
I strongly believe that public schooling has great advantages over Christian schooling. I, personally, went to public school and loved it. It was tough and I struggled a lot and went through a lot that was not good but i think it kept my eyes open to the world. I think it is important that a child grows up knowing biblical principles and knowing who Jesus is and what place he should have in their lives BUT I do not believe sending a child to a Christian school is the way to do it. I think that is the parents job. I think school should teach a child about the real world and should give them a chance to interact with people as they will when they grow up and i don’t believe Christian school does that. I have a friend that was homeschooled, public schooled, and private schooled and she liked the public school the best. I feel like by placing a child in a Christian school, we are sheltering them from learning about diversity and about how to handle themselves when around others that don’t think like they do. Plus, the Christian school that was in my area was just as messed up with kids sneaking around and giving Christ a bad reputation. I grew up in the inner city and our school seemed scary sometimes but I am so aware of the many different types of lifestyles and backgrounds that are out there and I think I learned that from being around people of all different types of backgrounds and religious preferences and lifestyles.
I went to a public school for my elementary education and private school for middle school and high school. So, I had somewhat of both worlds, and I have friends from both social groups. In addtion, I thoroughly enoyed both experiences, but I do not think that I would have preferred to stay in public school throughout highschool. While I have an excellent upbringing, I know that temptation would have been much greater in public school and I do not know that I would have always resisted it, because I do not believing that children always choose the highest good. We have a sin nature and it takes a strong relationship with God to live according to His plan.
Under no circumstances would I say that Christian schools are “Nearer what God would have us provide for our children than is available in the secular educational world…” I would urge anyone with this view to consider the importance of witnessing in a public school environment. I was blessed with that opportunity and would honestly not want it any other way. Children who have always been in Christian schools tend to be a bit sheltered from the rest of the world. I have to wonder how these children cope with the real world once they are out there on their own. I am not saying that they will not make it, but I can’t help but think that it would be more difficult for them to adjust. In the end, though, I believe that every parent should seek what God would want them to do with their child’s education.
I also attended a public school my whole life and am happy that I did. I definatly do not apply this to everyone who didnt attend a public school but the social skills that you gain in public school are priceless. I learned how to deal with people who had different beliefs and were just completely different than me. When students grow up with kids their whole lives who are exactly like them I think they can grown complacent and in their faith. But i think the same thing can happen to kids in public schools too. I think that what is good about public schools is that it makes the students make their religion their own. you educate them at home and at church as much as possible ofcoarse but i think they have to feel like they are making the choice and not the parent. Ive seen a lot of people rebel when this is the situation probably just for the sake of rebelling. some buddies that i played club soccer with who attended christian schools told me they don’t think God is real because the “power of the mind is so strong” So I am ceratintly not against christian schools but I plan on sending my kids to a public school.
God has entrusted the family structure with the responsibility of training up children in the correct way (I believe the Church also has a responsibility to children).
With this in mind, a parent must be extremely careful where their child is educated, what they are being taught, how they are being socialized, and the beliefs and values they are influenced by daily.
I agree with those who say that public school can be a great opportunity for witnessing, but some other factors of public schooling are less agreeable. For instance, the quality and morality of public schools varies in different communities. Some may be located in a very spiritually oppressed area, and a six or seven year old child who will attend school for the next 12 years can be very adversely affected. Also, someone mentioned how students at Christian schools may desire to rebel, but that is the same everywhere, whether in public or Christian settings, and in a public school the standards to rebel against are quite likely lower.
I do not want to be misunderstood as condemning public schools. Parents need to be very careful in where their children are educated and what they are exposed to, whether they are homeschooled, educated in a public school, or attend a Christian school.
While it true that some parents shelter their children from the “real world” and the children will grow up and eventually have to face it, this may not be a negative situation.
As a homeschooled pastor’s kid, I was told that I was sheltered, and now I am very glad that I was. I know a plenty about the secular world, but I wasn’t pushed into it by my parents and told to go against the flow with so many opportunities to fail in my Christian walk…of course I managed to sin plenty without some of the extra temptations available to “exposed” children.
Anywhere a child is educated there will be opportunities to do wrong, but as Christians we are to avoid temptation, and as Christian parents consider where their children should be educated, it may be important to consider where they will be protected from temptation as they mature their own ability to be self-controlled.
I have attended public schools my entire life up until college and I wouldn’t change that. This is in part because if I had attended a private school it would have been Catholic because that is how I was raised and also in part because I felt that I learned a lot by attending a public school. I was saved when I was 16 which placed me as a sophomore in high school with an already set group of friends and my salvation rocked my world hard in that area of my life. God taught me so much through that time because I was all of a sudden seeing my non-christian friends rejecting me and standing up for what I believed. For me, the public school system was exactly where I needed to be because of what God had to teach me there but I think it’s different for different people.
I went to a public high school and I think that I would prefer it that way. I am definitely glad that I went to a Christian College because secular college life would be pretty tempting. Although I did not use the opportunity in high school to witness to people, I was not tempted by the secular culture. I just don’t think that one should be in Christian school from kindergarten until college. I do think that if the public high school in your area is of low quality, you should spend the money on a Christian school, but I quality high school is a good way to be socialized along with guidance from parents and the church.
I attended a public school all of my life and I would have to say that I am very thankful for that. Of course the public school system was harmful to me in some ways but it was also helpful too. In a way, I am thankful for being exposed to the secular world because it has helped me to build a wall against it so that I don’t conform to it. If I had gone to a private school I think I would have been too sheltered because I would have been so segregated from the rest of the world. Going to a public school has aided me in my relationship with Christ.
I went to a Christian school my entire life, and I would not change that for anything. It gave me a good foundation so that I could be more prepared when I am placed in situations where I had to defend my faith or witness. I do feel it is important to put a child into a Christian environment especially when they are baby Christians, so that they will have a place to grow in Christ with good, strong Christian teachers and leadership. Some children can possibly do fine in public schools and will be able to remain strong in Christ, however, some may not. I feel that every child is different. What was a great witnessing opportunity for one child might be a falling point for another. Not every child will be able to go to a public school and remain a strong for Christ. This also depends on how strong of a foundation a child receives at home and in church. It is a case by case issue. Whether or not the family wants or can financially afford to send their children to a Christian school is a decision for that individual family to pray about. Our human nature is not inherently good, but it is inherently bad.
I went to a public school K-12, I feel that it was a good chance to be able to see the world for what it is. Our world is no way perfect. Looking at other peoples comments I feel that everyone thinks that if was a good experience for them weather it was a private or public school. I personally don’t think there is anyway to judge this, everyone is different and everyone will learn and act different. For some the private school is where there learning and growing with God will be better, but then for others public schools is where they can learn and hold onto a strong relationship with God. Overall I think it’s important for parents not to shelter there children from the real world, because one day we all have to face it and no one wants to have the evil of the world thrown into their face.
I had the rare opportunity of being homeschooled in elementary school, going to a Christian school in middle school, and attending a public high school. I experienced what it was like to undergo all three forms of education. Honestly, the Christian school was my least favorite school. It was definitely restrictive and limited–both in resources and in education. The building and library materials were terribly outdated, and only one class per subject was offered. Essentially, everyone took the same classes. There were no AP classes or advanced classes. This might have to do with funding, but my Christian school undoubtedly had several disadvantages in the realm of education.
In addition, I left feeling like my Christian school was narrow-minded and naive. The Christian school fostered the idea that people that went to public schools were evil and that we should not associate with them–not that we should reach out to them and love them. There was a clear-cut “us verses them” mentality. I remember that when I told my friends I was transferring to a public school, they gasped in disbelief, as if I was doing something wrong.
The public school allowed me to put my faith into practice. The lessons that I had learned in elementary school and middle school and the foundation that was built through each allowed me to “get a taste,” so to speak, of the real world. I am very glad that I went to public school, as many of my Christian school friends have major problems in their secular colleges and in their jobs. They do not know how to relate to others, nor do they wish to relate. They are perfectly content to stay in a Christian realm, but that is not what we are called to do.
If I had to do it over again, I’d do it the same way. All three forms of education taught me valuable lessons and prepared me for my life now.
I’ve been in the christian education system since kindergarden. A lot of times i look back and think that through my whole life, i was sheltered from the secular world. i think about what my life would be like if i went to a public school and wonder if that would make me a stronger person. I am not saying that being in christian schools all my life have really dragged me down, but that it is important to get outside of that bubble every once in a while; get out of your comfort zone. I think that though i would do fine in a secular college, i am glad that i am at Christian University, but i always try to get out of my confort zone.
I attended public school until senior year of highschool, and that was not exactly respected by my second youth Pastor. He, along with others in the church felt that the only proper education was a private Christian education. I do not agree with this. I feel that christian education does work, but a lot of times it restricts and shelters children and when they enter the work arena or when they go to college, they do not know how to react and sometimes rebel and turn in the opposie direction. I am glad i went to a public school because i know that it made me stronger in my faith. I was often given many opportunities to share my faith and be a good testimony for my schoolmates. Obviosly there are some exceptions to everything, but the world we live in is definately not “christian” so secular education is appropriate in most cases. I am glad that I am at a Christian University now, but I am thankful for my public school experience.
I was home schooled from first grade all the way through high school until college. I loved it but I may not repeat it if/with my children. I think there is a definite need to be grounded in your faith before going out into the world. I think it has to be decided on an individual level when a child is ready for the world. If they are well grounded and read then send them but if they are not then it can be a very bad experience.
i went to a catholic school all my life pre school-12th grade. i know this is much different from most of the others here but i went because of the education offered and the fact that most of the public schools around me were not very good. i loved going to catholic and i would definitely send me children there. it gave me the opportunity to share my testimony and it also gave me the opportunity to get a great college prep education. i think it prepared me well for college and has disciplined me well for the work load and other things that comes along with college.
I went to a variety of different school when I was younger because of my parents occupations. I was homeschooled, attended a missionary school, an international school and a christian school. In the end, I wish I would have attended a public highschool. My highschool career was an excrutiating experience that I would never want my children to experience. I don’t believe every christian school is the way my highschool was, but I would not want to take the chance. I believe family life and the church family should be at the root of your spiritual life and growth, and that if that is a strong influence inyour life you should attend a public school.