Published on September 15, 2024, 12:42 am

Image source: Fox News

The commencement of the 2024-25 academic year has sparked fresh debate on how Christians, particular parents, should approach public education. The topic is an intense one, with various arguments being made with zeal from all sides. In light of this topic, drilling down further into the narrative would prove beneficial in providing trusted news that presents a Christian worldview.

An article by Stefani McCade reignited the discussion – should Christian parents enroll their children in public schools? Kirk Cameron has suggested that Christian parents sending their children to such institutions equates to “subcontracting their parenting and discipleship out to the government”.

On the other hand, Jen Wilkin argues for public education pointing towards its role as a witness and a channel through which children can gain diverse social experiences and encounter various worldviews. This school of thought promotes a healthy exposure to different interpretations of life.

The debate is laden with personal experience and biases. For instance, my schooling occurred exclusively within Houston’s Public School system between 1952-1965. However, my children who were born in the late ’70s received private K-12 education entirely. Despite my spouse and I both being products of public education (including her brief time at a Christian school), we resolved before having our kids to make substantial financial sacrifices ensuring our children attended Christian schools.

Thus we concurred that even if financial resources had to be balanced between high school prep or higher learning, we would prefer they attend Christian schools at very tender ages rather than when they’re much older; say 18 years old as against eight.

Gratefully, God came through for us financially while trying to sponsor our kids’ tuition (often three tuitions simultaneously). We made do with less luxurious cars and frugal vacations but took solace in seeing our sacrifices pay off as we can celebrate seeing all three children happily married and active within their local churches today.

I firmly believe that for every child, Christian or otherwise, the best avenues for education are Christian schools and home schooling. This perspective is borne from our obligation to guide our children with the principles and teachings of Christianity (Deut. 6).

Sending children to serve as missionaries within public schools often hostile to their faith draws some semblance with the ill-advised “Children’s Crusade” in early 13th century where adolescents were sent unarmed to peacefully convert Muslims in the Holy Land.

Critics often argue that Christian-based education could limit exposure to multiethnic and economic diversity prevalent today – this is clearly an oversimplification. bolstering accessibility of Christian education for diverse communities could be a solution here.

Moreover, every conservative congregation should endeavor in its own capacity or collectively, a functional Christian school and increase their efforts towards scholarship funds for parents grappling financially.

We also endorse tax credits and vouchers enabling parents select their choice of school whether acceptance Buddhist, Baptist, Catholic or a Charles Darwin School belief-systems.

The landscape of public schools has significantly changed since my wife’s and I’s time resulting in parents grappling with how such institutions may erode core family values despite this we must do all we can regardless of if our children attend these institutions to ensure they don’t spiritually or emotionally victimize students in our communities.
This makes it clear that while public schools can be excellent places for educators of Christian faith they are however not suitable for christian student except certain condition acquire.
Public school teachers need to earnestly consider real news like the fact that their profession contains one of the highest percentages of people who send their children to private schools. What do they know about public schools that others might not?

Admittedly terms like “public”  and “Christian” applied to specific education models throw up a broad range; where many so-called Christian educational institutes fall short on their sacrosanct obligations while Public Schools vary wildly by location too.

All said though even in averagely tranquil communities, a truly Christian school would outperform public schools as the former, by its nature would care not just about student academics but ensuring such training doesn’t infringe on parental rights.

In conclusion, I believe we all need to play a role in shaping our children’s future and education irrespective of where we stand in this debate. It is imperative that we seek only the best for them, firmly rooted in the foundation of our Christian faith.