Should christian children go to government schools? (Full Version)

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Leslie_JnJs_mom -> Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:27:30 PM)

In some places our schools have become so hostile to Christians I really wonder if it is even ethical to have our children listen to the teachers that hate our faith all day long. Just look at what the public school system has done to Christmas. So should parents of kids who live in these area's where the school is so hostile to Christians consider other options for their children's education, even if that includes moving?



JimboFletch -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:31:14 PM)

Several of my good Christian friends are teachers in our public schools. We still open and close PTA meetings with prayer. Arrangements of hymns are played in all concerts and in highschool halftimes. Sorry if you're schools don't reflect your community's values, but ours does.



earthless -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:31:59 PM)

I was a product of one of the largest public school systems in the country. From Kindergarten to graduation of high school... my faith was my own and not something the school hindered or prevented to the point where I no longer was getting instilled with Christianity by my family.



stellaluna -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:35:34 PM)

The idea that a public school would interfere with one's faith is completely foreign to me. My two years in a private Christian school very nearly drove me from my faith.



KuKu -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:38:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Leslie_JnJs_mom
In some places our schools have become so hostile to Christians I really wonder if it is even ethical to have our children listen to the teachers that hate our faith all day long. Just look at what the public school system has done to Christmas. So should parents of kids who live in these area's where the school is so hostile to Christians consider other options for their children's education, even if that includes moving?


If the school system you are in is hostile, yes, I would definately find any option necessary to get them into a better system- any school system that way probably has other problems as well[;)]

... but if the hostile ones are simply individual teachers within a system, there are many other choices (ask for a different teacher, if there are multiple schools, choose another one)... I have many friends who are Christian teachers in public schools, friends and family who are studying to be Christian teachers in public schools, and I have known Christian teachers in Christian schools that I would never, ever, under any circumstances want any child I know under...

Our local public system has 2 of 3 principals who are outspoken Christians, a minister who teaches HS science, many many Christian teachers in all grades in the classroom, and a general positive attitude toward religion (for lack of a better word). I am fully aware that not all systems, or states, are like ours, but we are blessed.

I am a product of public schools, and a missionary... Christianity and public school can coexist.



Leslie_JnJs_mom -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:40:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Several of my good Christian friends are teachers in our public schools. We still open and close PTA meetings with prayer. Arrangements of hymns are played in all concerts and in highschool halftimes. Sorry if you're schools don't reflect your community's values, but ours does.

Actually our PS is really good. We are blessed to live in the heart of the bible belt where our little town schools can have open talk of Jesus and the Bible. Other places are not so fortunate. I have seen on the news and heard on the radio of schools that are very anti christian. I am about to move to a bigger city where this may be what goes on.



earthless -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 5:45:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

The idea that a public school would interfere with one's faith is completely foreign to me. My two years in a private Christian school very nearly drove me from my faith.


Heh, ironic huh?

Another ironic thing is how all of the kids I grew up with at church whose parents paid so much to send to private schools.. well they were the ones to get pregnant out of wedlock, not claim to be Christian, be sexually active, get locked up after high school, not go to college, etc..

Those parents should have spent that money on cars or something else.



cow451 -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 6:27:18 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

Those parents should have spent that money on cars or something else.


Still mad about that, earthless?
[sm=angertalk.gif]



earthless -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 6:59:34 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cow451

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

Those parents should have spent that money on cars or something else.


Still mad about that, earthless?
[sm=angertalk.gif]


Mad about not having gone to a private school? Nope, thank God my parent's didn't shelter me like that.



GroupW -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 7:06:50 PM)

I'm never short on opinions, so here comes another one:

Christians should never abandon any area of public life and leave it to the forces of chance. The more Christians in the public schools, the better. My son tells everyone he knows that he's a Christian & is sincerely concerned for those who aren't. Just as importantly, he really tries to put some legs to his faith and do the right and loving thing. (I love my kid, can you tell?)

He is being the arms and legs of Christ in that atmosphere. I wouldn't pull him out. Those kids need to see him. Personally, I'd like to see fewer Christian schools and more Christians in public schools.

That's just me.



phosadaud -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/2/2008 11:30:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GroupW
Personally, I'd like to see fewer Christian schools and more Christians in public schools.

That's just me.


Not just you. [;)]I would to. If the schools are hostile, there is no one to blame but us. How can we expect schools to have Judeo-Christian values when we aren't on the PTA, when we aren't teachers, when we aren't volunteering in the schools?

I'm not saying there isn't a place for Christian schools or homeschooling (although I think most folks would be ready for a rude awakening if they thought they were "sheltering" their kids by doing that [:D]). However, if we lose in the public sphere, it's because we left. Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world. [;)]

For the record: I have only attended public schools - Kindergarten through college. I don't regret that for one second.



zamdad -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/3/2008 12:11:42 AM)

If we're going to pull out of public schools, why not join the Amish? Our values have to be lived out in the home to be taught effectively. Our kids need to know that others are going to teach a different message. They need to know how to respond to that differing message. We parents have that responsibility.



upNORTder -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/3/2008 12:17:29 AM)

A Christian (LCMS) education from kindergarten to eighth grade was one of the best things my parents did for me and my brothers and sister.



phosadaud -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/3/2008 3:35:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: zamdad
Our values have to be lived out in the home to be taught effectively. Our kids need to know that others are going to teach a different message. They need to know how to respond to that differing message. We parents have that responsibility.


That's how my parent's raised me. We talked. We shared. They helped me learn how to make good decisions. They helped me learn how to deal with people who were different from me or drove me nuts. They helped me evaluate positions that were in opposition to what we believed in. They built within me a foundation that wouldn't be shaken the first time I had to deal with someone who had a wacky idea or someone who was hostile to who I was. I am so grateful for that.



kernsfamily -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/3/2008 5:12:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Several of my good Christian friends are teachers in our public schools. We still open and close PTA meetings with prayer. Arrangements of hymns are played in all concerts and in highschool halftimes. Sorry if you're schools don't reflect your community's values, but ours does.


I would think long and hard about continuing with such an arrangement.

What are OUR "community values"? Allowing our children the freedom to (or not to) practice their religion. And, if they feel so led, let THEM share their beliefs with others. Entirely student-initiated. There really hasn't been any "anti-Christian" anything at school....as we all respect everyone's belief at our very diverse school.

when one says "hostile to Christians"....what does that mean? to many that means that Christian beliefs and theology cannot be taught from the P.A. system (such as prayer), and taught by teachers in the classroom. That's not being hostile to Christians. That's being respectful of others beliefs....and, allowing parents to guide their kids in religion...the school being NEUTRAL with regards to religious matters.....and, yet, those very parents, who DO want "prayer" spoken from the P.A. system, would go ballistic, if it wasn't a prayer of THEIR specific faith!

why did I say "think long and hard"? As great as it sounds to open up PTA meetings with prayer and all....will everyone who thinks that's great, be equally supportive when a prayer "not of their faith" is spoken to open up a meeting as well? It just opens up a far much larger "can of worms" than is really necessary....there are enough differences amongst people without having to bring religion into the mix.

sadly....many Christian 'personalities' have made it their business to perpetuate the myth that 1) prayer is BANNED in school, and 2) Bibles are "outlawed". Neither could be further from the truth. Even the ACLU isn't after students for free expression/practice of their faith. It's only when the school decides that one religion is "preferred" over all others......

this makes for interesting reading (the link below)....starting back about 1993, the U.S. Dept. of Ed. was getting frustrated with school administrators that were totally clueless with regards to religion in schools. So, they created a "Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools" document.

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html



Sideways -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/3/2008 9:29:04 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kernsfamily
What are OUR "community values"? Allowing our children the freedom to (or not to) practice their religion. And, if they feel so led, let THEM share their beliefs with others. Entirely student-initiated. There really hasn't been any "anti-Christian" anything at school....as we all respect everyone's belief at our very diverse school.

sadly....many Christian 'personalities' have made it their business to perpetuate the myth that 1) prayer is BANNED in school, and 2) Bibles are "outlawed". Neither could be further from the truth. Even the ACLU isn't after students for free expression/practice of their faith. It's only when the school decides that one religion is "preferred" over all others......


I agree with these points absolutely. I think a lot of ultra-conservatives like to scare Christians with exaggerated stories of the horror of public school. When I was in a Christian School we were actually told that in Public School kids had to spit on the Bible or else be beaten.

I believe that ALL students in a Public School should be free to practice their faith at their own discretion. Making Christianity the "official" faith of the school through prayers at halftime and Christian hymns is not a student-initiated practice of faith; it's the school officials pushing their own agenda.

I later on attended Public School, and we were never prevented from praying, carrying a Bible or attending after and before school Christian clubs. How exactly is that hostile to Christians? Of course, nowadays, Christians are prevented from harassing their homosexual classmates, maybe that makes PS hostile to Christianity?



Focusing -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/5/2008 7:56:51 PM)

Parents always have a choice whether to send their children to public school, private school (Christian or not), or homeschool. It's a personal choice that each family needs to make, and there are many issues that need to be considered ... oftentimes these issues will vary from family to family.

I do not see it as an ethical issue. Whether we send our children to a small private Christian school or to the large public school down the road from our house, it is still our responsibility - as the parent/s - to teach our children about God. That is our responsibility ... not something that is left in the hands of others to teach our children.

Also, there are Christian teachers in the public schools. My son has been blessed to be in classes with Christian teachers in his public school. My Bible study leader is also an elementary school teacher. Despite the fact that he cannot discuss the Bible, he is still in a position to affect many lives by the way he conducts himself.

A friend of mine firmly believes in sending his children to public school so that his children, who he is raising in the faith, can be lights in the darkness.



car2ner -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/6/2008 9:55:00 AM)

I taught in a public school the last two years... it was tough when a student asked about Jesus and I had to refer them back to their parents. Yet on occasion I did tell them what I personally believed. It took some judgment as to when I could discuss my beliefs and when I had to pass the question back to their home.... but I think with God's help, I hit the mark more often than not.

In private school I loved teaching about our faith. We need both options as well as homeschooling in our society. I am glad that we have those options.



phosadaud -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/6/2008 11:08:57 AM)

I know there are times public school teachers can share their faith as I have quite a few teacher friends who teach in public schools. It can be very difficult though knowing when it's ok though. The good news is that you can pray 24/7 for your public school students so you are making a difference for the Kingdom even if you never get to share the Word verbally. [;)]



bzirk -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/6/2008 11:11:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

The idea that a public school would interfere with one's faith is completely foreign to me.


I understand. It was foreign to me too. I wish the idea of that was still foreign where I live.



edgibson -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/8/2008 11:54:35 AM)

I think that it is a bit much to expect a school to educate my children in their faith. I want a school to educate my children in academics, I will take care of the faith education.

That being said, my children have both been in either private or charters schools for their entire education. My middle DS is currently in a Christian academy and my oldest is in a charter school after attending the same Christian academy. They are in the school that they are in for the same reason: They teach on the level that they need to learn.

Our zone schools are horrible. The elementary school has lost it's accreditation due to poor test grades, and the middle school is run like a prison.

The Christian academy has a better teacher to student ratio, and a better curriculum. The charter school is the only school in the area that can keep up with my oldest boys math skills. (2 grades above his current, in honors, and still can sleep through the class and get A's)

So, just as I don't expect my mechanic to handle my investments, I don't expect a school to teach my children about God.



car2ner -> RE: Should christian children go to government schools? (9/8/2008 1:44:03 PM)

Faith, like every other part of life, has to be a subject that is covered at home. Sure, the teacher may remember her algebra better, or he may remember some dates in history better, but the most successful children have parents who fill in the gaps and help the subjects come together in real life.



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