So very often, people don't really understand what I'm talking about when I say that Carter and Abby attend a Christian school and that Mike is a principal there. I see in their eyes they are thinking "ohhhhh, snooty private school, you must be rich!". Hmmm, no, that isn't it at all. Many of my friends and family don't understand the what and why's of Christian education so I thought I'd give a whirl at explaining it. Probably the easiest way to do this is to explain what Christian education is not.
1. An exclusive private school for people to keep their children away from "bad" kids.
There is a big difference in exclusive private schools and Christian schools. Our school strives to be available for many families who are sacrficing and struggling to pay tuition. We do not aim to be an Ivy-league prep school. We aim to reinforce to children that Jesus is active and intimately involved in every aspect of life: home, academics, athletics, fine arts, and fun. Literature is evaluated through a Biblical world view, Physics is taught and demonstrates our God of order who created every molecule, the gospel is presented before the high school's production of Narnia. Children spend an average of 130 hours a month at school. It is nice when they are learning the same things taught at home.
2. So, you guys think public schools are not good.
Certainly this is not the case. Mike and I have been to 10 countries, between us, and have seen that America's free and appropriate education is a huge blessing. Did you know that Haiti has a dismal 50% literacy rate? We are supportive of children all over the US receiving an education, not based on finances. Our son Dillon goes to public school because they have the services he needs, like speech therapy, content mastery, and more specialized services. We happily pay the same taxes that everyone else pays,
and we pay for private school tuition. There are some awesome public school educators who do really great jobs at teaching kids(Dillon's school is especially warm, efficient, and well-run).
3. The only things that make a Christian school different are the uniforms, tuition, and chapel.
I wish you could spend a day at our school. You'd see that those are the outside, inconsequential differences. The differences are actually in the details. Science fairs with Bible verses that the kids choose to reflect how God's intricate hand made everything and keeps everything working together. A time of prayer requests for the teenagers to share with their teachers and classmates the areas in their lives that they need prayer. A parent-intensive atmosphere that realizes that parents are the primary teachers and the school comes alongside the family. An atmosphere where sports and jocks are not the heroes of the school. Principals who help lead children and teens to a saving knowledge of Jesus every year. Principals who call teen's parents in for conferences when there is talk of rebellion and disobedience in the life of their child. Principals who know every kid by name. Classrooms with 15 second-graders, not 25. I bet you didn't realize that Christian schools get zero funds from the state. State benchmark tests are not the goal when teaching the kids. The flip side of no state monies means that the teachers make 1/2 of what public school teachers do, so they really want to be there and consider it their ministry. Of course, that also means that the only funding comes from tuition and fundraisers(we only do 1 a year). Therefore, many of the amenities, like instruments,dance classes, and busses, just aren't possible.
4. Here's a classic line " some of the worst kids I know go to Christian school!"
I can't speak to the kids you know, but I can say, that just like churches, Christian schools are full of regular humans. Humans make mistakes and bad choices sometimes. Yes, students at Christian schools blow it sometimes. However, in 11 years, Mike has had about 4 of the "big-time" problems with teens(like drugs, fights, teen pregnancy,weapon at school). I think those are great statistics. The neat thing is that the Bible is the ultimate authority to the morality enforced at school.
5. And, finally, there is the argument that "if you take all the Christian kids out of public schools, who will share Christ in the public schools?" I agree completely. Where your family and children serve Jesus is between you and the Holy Spirit's leading. If you strongly feel that your child needs to be a light in public schools...great! Teach your child how to stand tall and strong for Jesus' love. If you feel that God is calling your family to Christian Education...great, be prepared to make financial sacrifices to be way more involved(as far as time comittment as a parent) than you would if they went to public schools.
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