I have been wanting to write a post about this for quite some time now, and since I just got back from a teacher's conference I figure now is as good a time as any!
When it comes to making choices that will affect your kids, no parent wants to rush into a bad decision! Everyone wants the best for their child, and we all have pre-conceived notions as to what that means. So decisions are made with the best of intentions, and we all hope that our children will be better for it! Will I work when I have kids? Will I breastfeed or bottle feed? Who do I trust to babysit? When should I start potty training? To spank or not to spank . . . ? What kind of school - home, public, or private?
As I mentioned, usually these decision are made based on pre-concieved ideas. We all have them, because we were all raised with a unique set of situations that have helped mold us into who we are! I grew up the daughter of young christian parents. My mom was a teacher, and my dad . . . well, he was a man of many trades! I was little miss social, and even though the thought of homeschooling crossed my mom's mind a few years into my elementary career, she knew I enjoyed school way too much to make me stay at home. Towards the end of high school, I was involved in a great youth group. Many of the kids went to public schools, but there were some who attended a small Christian school. I made the decision to attend college at a Christian University, and it was refreshing to find myself surrounded by believers! This was much different than the public school setting I experienced up until this point! While in college, my husband (future husband at the time) and I met a really great family who homeschooled their kids! Currently our pastor and his wife, as well as several others in our church, homeschool their children. Finally, God has my husband and I both teaching in a public school. So that's my experience with all the different types of school, and I am sure you each have your own story. Now that you understand where I am coming from a little, allow me to talk briefly about each type of school.
Public School
Many parents choose to send their kids to public school. After all, public schools are full of certified teachers, and you pay taxes to insure that your child's education is funded properly. Having grown up in a public school, I can say that it all turned out ok, and I haven't been "ruined". However, I do know that many kids who attend public school, regardless of their Christian upbringing, tend to fall into the trap of peer pressure, and secular philosophies. Although this is not the case for every child, I think it would be wise for parents to consider the atmosphere they send there kids to for 8-9 + hours/day. This much time will have a profound influence on your child. It is up to parents to insure that this influence is good and not bad. My advice, if you plan to/or currently send your child to public school, is; (1) Make sure you get involved with your kid! Know your child's teachers, friends, and most importantly their heart! Have one on one time where you find out what is going on in their life, and help them work through any tough stuff they may be experiencing (this is important no matter what type of school your children goes to). (2) Don't just assume that schools are teaching your child morals, and Christian values. This is most definitely NOT the case in many public schools. Be sure to talk to your child about your family's values. Get your kids highly involved in your church. They need to see adults, mentors, and other kids modeling the lifestyle you wish for them. (3) Realize that even the best teachers cannot meet all the needs of every child in their class. You will need to spend time with your child on his or her lessons or homework to make sure they are gaining an understanding of the material. (4) Don't send your child to public school expecting them to be a missionary. Even as a teacher in the public schools, I feel the oppression and burden that exists in a secular environment. If as an adult, I feel the weight of all the yuck . . . I personally do not want to send my child into this battle, when he or she is still very impressionable, and has not yet completed proper training for such. (5) Definitely check out
Gateways to Better Education! This is a great site, full of wonderful material on keeping the faith in public schools! Take prayer walks around your school, give your teachers resources about teaching Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Make sure you know what is legal and isn't - students have much more freedom than what many think!
Christian Private School
Private schools can be a great alternative to public school! Especially if both parents have work obligations. However, keep in mind that private schools are not perfect, and many of the things I mentioned above for attending public school still apply! Here are a few things to keep in mind concerning private schools; (1) Everything mention in # 1 and #3 above. (2) Be sure to chat with the administrators and bring a list of questions concerning your childs education. For example you may want to ask about curriculum, discipline procedures, how to get involved, extra curricular opportunities, etc. If the school does not offer what you are looking for, check out some others options. (3) Regardless of the Christian atmosphere encouraged at private schools, it is inevitable that your child will come across peer pressure, or values your family does not promote. Make sure you are not naive to this. Continue to train your child in the way he/she should go, and do not assume a Christian school will provide everything they need. (4) If there is a great Christian school in your area, but the price is simply too much, don't count it out completely. Pray to God and see if He won't give your family opportunities to bring in the funds! (5) If you are fortunate enough to be part of a close knit community of believers at a private school, be sure not to forget about the world. Sometimes it's easy to get caught in a bubble, and forget about the world around us. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. Take initiative to get your family involved with sharing the love of Christ to the people in your community.
Homeschool
Many families have felt led to homeschool their children. Here are some of my thoughts on this type of schooling: (1) The number one advantage of this, from a teachers point of view, is the one on one attention your child will receive. Not only this, but the potential of creating a loving enviroment that nurtures your child's abilities, while addressing his or her specific needs is most effective in this type of environment. Although some may not feel qualified for such an important task, keep in mind that a loving parent with a desire to give the very best to their child has a tremendous advantage over a classroom teacher with 20 + students to think about. With a little research you can teach your child, and learn some new stuff yourself! (2) Homeschooling has really gained a lot of support in the last several years. With that support has come an array of homeschooling curriculum. Look for the best curriculum online, and perhaps you can find a Homeschool convention where many companies will be selling their resources! (3) Also thanks to the number of people starting to homeschool, most places have homeschool co-ops. Here students can meet up with other homeschoolers 1-3 times per week and parents teach a variety of classes for the group! Some homeschool co-ops even have extra curricular activities and sports teams! (4) The biggest complaint with homeschooling is that kids will not be able to socialize with others. Do not completely dismiss this. It is important for your child to get involved at church, and/or some outside activities where they can meet friends! Otherwise homeschooling can become the opitome of the "bubble" I mentioned with private schools. (5) Most states allow homeschool students to attend classes of their choice at the public school in your district. You may want to sign your child up for band, art, maybe even an upper level math or science course. Some states will even allow participation in after school activities!
So those are just a few brief thoughts! I would love to hear your ideas! Do you send your child to public school or private school, or did you decide to homeschool? What advice can you give?
