This is a very common reason women choose to work.
They are convicted that the Lord would not have His children educated by the government (Caesar) so they work to afford private Christian schooling for their children. From the outward appearance, this might not seem like such a big deal, especially if the mom is free when the children are out of school.
There are several considerations that must be given to this decision.
1) First all Christian schools are not the same. There are some that are no different from any other private school. Often a Christian School may even use the typical curriculum and just add in a Bible Class. The really good Christian schools tend to be very expensive and/or small and hard to get into. Often they are both! One of the best Christian schools in Birmingham had such a long waiting list that once your baby was born you needed to call about being put on the list. See good schools limit the teacher / student ratio so as to insure a better quality education.
There are other Christian schools that really work like a group homeschool. The students use a homeschool like curriculum and teachers are just available to help if needed but not actually teaching. That is a lot of money to pay for something you can do better yourself.
2) One matter that using a Christian school does not solve is peer pressure and the influence of peers. See just because the school itself might be very high quality that does not mean that the home life of the children is any different. As we found, even children from church, regular church member’s children can share much more information than we would desire with our children. I remember a 5 year old several years ago that was about to explain ‘French kissing’ to some classmates at church. I nipped that in the bud real quick, and shortly thereafter eliminated much of our children’s group activities unless a parent could be right with them.
Christian school teens aren’t necessarily any different than the teens in an average Christian youth group at church. If you don’t realize the issues with many Christian youth groups just volunteer to help teach and supervise the kids for a year. I think then you will be made aware of the problems with grouping large numbers of youth together.
Christian Schools vs. Homeschooling
“… I found that most (not all of course) of the students in the Christian schools I attended did not have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Many had simply learned the art of looking churchy and saying the right things in front of the teachers.3) Another issue is that for some reason students educated in Christian schools often end up with a much lower Biblical worldview than students educated at home. Although Christian school students do end up with a more Biblical worldview than public school children, they fall quite a bit behind those who were homeschooled.The school I attended in sixth grade only went to eighth grade. Even at that age the students were involved in drug and alcohol use, pornography, satanic heavy metal music, lying, watching R-rated movies, and sexual activity.
Their parents, of course, would have defended them to the death, insisting that they were “good” kids. I don’t mean to imply that this behavior never happens in a homeschool family, but I do believe that homeschooling parents are more likely to know what their children are doing and could at the least keep their children from directly having these kinds of hoodlums as companions and role models….” Continue
Posts
6 comments:
Amen!
Christian schools can be worse then all options for a number of reasons:
Hypocrisy: In the life of 'peers' and or leadership disfigures the glory of Christ and makes Christianity about forms.
Qualified leadership: If the school follows the norm of most churches then the hiring process is quite loose, I wonder if they have a plan in place to monitor it's teachers and what is being taught. Consider the fact that many stellar universities/colleges that were biblically solid institutes at one point have become nototious for their liberalism and lack of truth, WHY? Because wolves came into those places and were not thrown out!
I for one have seen the lives of many church youths and I can testify to the typical naiveity concerning youth (from suburban to inner-city settings) the story is the same, the majority are a group of actors/actresses who know their parts but among themselves aren't too distinguishable from the typical LOST teenager.
I went to a "Christian" school for half of my hish school and the 'hidden' lives of the kids are typical public school immorality!
BW,
This is so sad, but so true. The ones who are being deceived, though, are those parents who also many times are deceived (or maybe just don't want to accept the truth) about their children's lost condition! I have seen this scenario, too. The child keeps on exhibiting the fruit of a "bad tree" but the parent keeps on insisting that the child is really "good" and keeps on "saving" the child from the harsh consequences of his behavior! Seeing no connection between cause and effect, they go through life thinking they can do anything and since they've been told all their life by reputable sources (their parents) that they're saved, they have no reason to disbelieve it, repent and be truly saved! The Christian School truly is a youth group, just on a much larger scale, and the proverb, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." (Proverbs 13:20) still holds very true.
Wendy
Yes, I spoke to a sister in Christ who sacrificed to send her children to Christian school. Apparently, their experience in the Christian schools was no different from that of their public-schooled peers, and this dear woman is only finding that out now, so many years later. Her daughter is grown and has children of her own now, and has said that she will be sending those children to public school, because she refuses to WASTE the money on Christian school.
My older child is 3, so I pay close attention to all the discussion regarding homeschooling. I know with certainty that I do not want to send my children to public school (I taught in public schools and am all too aware of what goes on in those places). Before I had that conversation with that sister, I really thought Christian school was a great idea.
But what Julius said about the hypocrisy making Christianity about forms, I think, wow, that is the most dangerous part of all. In sending your children to school, you're trusting their spiritual education to people whose beliefs you cannot be sure of. If those people do not truly believe what they are teaching, the children WILL pick up on it and learn that Christianity is about saying one thing and thinking another. I cannot stomach the thought of my children becoming people who have mastered "the art of looking churchy."
May God bless you all,
Celeste
Julius,
When I've been questioned by others I have always said that I would still choose to homeschool even if the best Christian School was available for free. Partly for the same reasons you mentioned. It is so hard to find good solid churches and good solid Christian Schools are even harder. But like you mentioned it is very hard to be sure of the teachers and what they are teaching. I would rather combat the world than the “gospel lite” that is being offered most places today.
"Christian" kids at school and at church do become practiced in hiding their true character. I was reading last night George Mueller’s biography and how he was an immoral, drunkard who stole from everyone, all while preparing for a career in the ministry. While the Lord thankfully got his attention and the Lord very well may get the attention of others living that double life, we don't have to allow them to be exposed to so much of it. Our children are exposed to a lifetimes worth of sin and deceit right at home with their own families.
Berean Wife
Wendy,
Those you mention who have been told they are saved and yet there is no evidence or fruit, even long term, are the hardest individuals to reach and share the gospel with. They have become so hardened to their own lives and then when they have a doubt what does the average church leader tell them? That doubts are from Satan and they should never doubt or question their salvation. Contrary to several verses that say to "examine yourself" (2 Corinthians 13:5) or "work out your Salvation" (Philippians 2:12).
You are right about “Christian” schools being a youth group, one that lasts 40 plus hours a week.
Berean Wife
Celeste,
I imagine most of our parents would be shocked to find out what we as children experienced in school, public or private. Adding to the insult is paying taxes for public school and working to pay for private school for your children, then still to lose them to the world's teaching.
You are wise to be considering school options so early. Many give it little thought until it is upon them. Often it seems the schooling decisions are made by default. Public school requires much less effort initially to begin but it requires sooooo much more effort over the long haul in fighting the false teachings.
All students learn to give the answer the teacher wants, even in public school, whether or not it means anything to them. The US was full of "churchy" people until recently. Some are beginning to reject all association with church and religion due to that. But thankfully the Lord is calling some out of that "Churchianity" into the real Gospel of Christ.
Berean Wife
Post a Comment