There is a lively discussion on he topic of Christians and Public Education over at Jesus Creed. I wanted to point it out for the interested.
Christians and Public Education
Posted February 12th, 2008 by Emerging Parents
There is a lively discussion on he topic of Christians and Public Education over at Jesus Creed. I wanted to point it out for the interested.
May 9th, 2008 - 8:17 pm
it is all well and good to “go into the world’ but throwing small children in as fodder is a very bad idea. I am all for adult mature Christians who feel called to teach in public schools to follow that calling. However, to expect a small child or even a teen at that impressionable age to be able to resist the desire to fit in with one’s friends and not give in to peer pressure so as to avoid being tormented seems like cruelty or even emotional abuse on the part of the parents. It is sacrificing your child for the sake of your “ideals’. There are parts of the country where the public schools are still OK. I am from MA and I can assure you no child of mine would be attending a school where they have assemblies to let kindergarteners know how “wonderful” it is that some classmates mommy just became a daddy (true story in Brookline MA) my first responsibility is to my kids. If I fail them then really what does it matter if I save the world
July 17th, 2009 - 9:59 pm
I personally do not see anything wrong with the pressure to fit in, what would concern me is that parents do not take time to teach kids to tell right from wrong and operate within the legal framework.
This makes public schools a difficult place to work. Teachers have to play the role of classroom educators and parents, a role that quite frankly, some are not qualified to perform, but have to do it anyway because parents have gone AWOL in their children’s education.
August 8th, 2009 - 4:52 pm
the greatest gift my parents gave me was staying in our school distict rather than participate in the white flight that hit our area. my classmates from different backgounds taught me the lessona that have made me the loving christian i am today. also i hope that maybe i encouraged others, including teachers. i believe that being allowed to think for myself from an early age was a vital part of my christian formation. my afterschool talks with my mom ran the gamut of topics. i do not claim to be able to make the call for anyone else. i just wanted to share what a key part of my christian life my public school experience was.