Homeschool vs public school? Private school vs public school? Which education option is right for your family? This guide co-written by Gina of GinaMPoirier.com and Brittany of EquippingGodlyWomen.com will help you decide which education option is right for your family.
“Will you consider homeschooling?”
Gina: Even before my husband and I were married, it was important to him that we start talking about our kids’ education.
We weren’t planning on having babies right away and their school days would be even further in the future. But he wanted to know upfront if I would be willing to homeschool our kids.
This question was certainly not what I was expecting.
I had attended public school. He had been homeschooled. I had no idea where to begin! But, true to my promise, I started researching the homeschool vs public school possibilities when our kids were little.
Ultimately, I decided to try homeschooling and have stuck with it for six years with three kids (now in fifth, third and first grade).
Brittany: Like Gina, I also grew up going to public school, and it was a very positive experience for me. When I was younger, I just assumed that someday I would send my kids to public school as well.
I even got my degree in Elementary Education so I could be a public school teacher too!
My husband did ask once if I ever wanted to homeschool our kids. After all, I am a trained teacher, so we were both confident that I could do a great job.
I did research homeschool vs public school, but as our family grew and we got to know each other and our distinct personalities, we knew: Homeschooling is not the right option for our family.
Instead, our children go to a private Christian school during the school year, and I homeschool them during the summer to help them retain their learning. This combination works really well for our family!
In the current climate of social distancing with unknown implications in the coming months, many parents are reconsidering their school choices. There are a lot of pros and cons of homeschool, public school and private school. And while some people clearly know what they want for their family, it’s not always a clear-cut decision—even within the same household!
We’ve compiled the pros and cons of these schooling options to help you consider what’s best right now for your family.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps cover the many costs of running this site and allows me to help provide for my growing family. Thank you!
How Can You Find (and Follow!) God’s Will For Your Children’s Education?
Your children’s education is about more than just where they will learn reading and math — it’s also about your needs as a mother and wife (and maybe teacher!), and your family’s culture and values.
It can feel overwhelming to think of all the possible outcomes of your choice for your kids’ education. How can you know if you are following God’s will or your own?
My newest book offers encouraging guidance and practical tips that you can use today, as you discern what is God’s will for your children’s education.
Practical, encouraging, and full of biblical truth, Follow God’s Will: Biblical Guidelines for Everyday Life (along with the Follow God’s Will companion workbook) is designed to help you answer questions including:
- What does God want me to do?
- How do I apply the Bible’s instructions to my life today?
- Where is God calling me personally?
- How can I make a difference right where I am?
- How should I navigate relationships with those who think, act, or believe differently than I do?
- And so many more!
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Simply enter your first name and email below, and I’ll send you an exclusive “first-peek” right away, right to your inbox!
Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
Gina: After six years of homeschooling, I’ve become very familiar with the many options available and the pros and cons of homeschool. I’ve have built my confidence, discovered my preferred educational philosophy, found a community and a curriculum I love, and identified my kids’ individual learning styles. I love homeschooling, but I also recognize that it’s not a good fit for everyone.
Here are the pros and cons of homeschooling you need to consider:
Pros of Homeschooling:
- You are in charge of your child’s learning. Being a homeschooling parent is somewhat like providing your child with private tutoring. You can adjust your curriculum and teaching approach to their learning style and pace. This is especially beneficial for kids who have learning disabilities, or are ahead or lagging behind their peers. There is less pressure to “keep up” and less time wasted in class since you don’t have to cater to a large group. You also have more freedom to explore your child’s personal interests.
- You can build your homeschooling schedule around your family’s needs. Imagine getting up in the morning and not being in a rush to make it to school dropoff because you can start school whenever you want. Whether you prefer year-round school, travel school, or one of the many other options, you have the freedom and flexibility to make your school schedule work for your unique situation.
- You can prioritize your family’s values. Educating with a biblical worldview is a huge reason many Christian families decide to homeschool. If you’re concerned about the material and values that a public school education promotes, homeschooling is a viable alternative.
- You have more opportunity to build family relationships. When your kids are at home most if not all of the day, you have more opportunities to strengthen family relationships, from parent to child and also child to child. While there are also more opportunities to argue and get on each other’s nerves, homeschooling families tend to be close and connected due to all of the time their members spend together.
- You can protect your children from negative social influences. Bullying and peer pressure are problems all kids can face in a classroom environment. While you can’t shelter kids forever, keeping in the home more does limit some exposure to negative influences.
These benefits of homeschooling are great options for families to think about when choosing homeschool vs public school vs private school.
Cons of Homeschooling:
- It’s a huge commitment for parents. I’m not going to lie; there have been days when I would look longingly at the school bus and wonder whether I was really cut out for this. As a homeschooling parent, you are sacrificing much of your free time and other interests in order to prioritize your children’s education. It’s important to recognize that commitment and do what it takes to stick with it.
- It can be expensive. This may come as a surprise, but when you add up the cost of supplies, curriculum and fees for co-ops and enrichment activities (not to mention extracurriculars), you can easily spend hundreds, or thousands, of dollars per child per year. There’s also the cost you may incur from not being able to work (or work more hours) if you would have otherwise been able to.
- There may be fewer elective options. Especially as your child gets older, you may find that they aren’t able to participate in certain activities and classes they might be interested in. These might include school sports and certain performing arts.
- It’s possible for kids to fall through the cracks. While most homeschool parents are dedicated to providing quality education (homeschool students typically score higher than average on standardized tests), it’s possible that they aren’t able to provide all of the resources their children need to succeed academically. Depending on where you live, you may or may not have access to special education, college and career preparation, and other specialized resources. Some parents might also have difficulty teaching core concepts.
- Kids have less peer-to-peer social interaction and “real-world” exposure. This is a common concern about homeschooling, as students will not have the same opportunities as kids in classroom environments to interact and work with their peers for several hours a day. It’s debatable how damaging this can be in the long-run, as many homeschool students are involved in daily social interaction in other ways, including co-ops, extracurriculars, volunteering, playgroups and employment when they’re old enough. If socialization is a concern for you but you’re still interested in the benefits of homeschooling, you will have the make the effort to provide social interaction and real-world experience outside of the home.
Pros and Cons of Public School
Gina: Both of us attended public school and thrived. So while it may not be an ideal choice for everyone, both of us can attest that you can go to public school and be a well-educated, faithful Christian as an adult.
Brittany: Personally, I loved public education because it really highlighted my faith and helped it grow. When I attended a Christian college (where everyone believed the same thing), it was easy to take my faith for granted. It didn’t feel as “real.” Attending public high school forced me to know what I believe and why, it gave me opportunities to share my faith with others, and it helped me develop confidence to share God’s Word with people who don’t agree.
Obviously, you have to balance that with the very real risks of public education. (You have to know your kids.) But it was a very positive experience for me.
Pros of Public School
- The teachers are qualified. All public school teachers are required to have undergraduate degrees, and many have additional certifications. While a degree doesn’t guarantee an excellent teacher, it does guarantee someone who is trained as an educator.
- There may be more resources available. Since public schools are large organizations that are funded by the government, they may have more access to a wide range of resources to meet students’ needs than other options. This is especially important for kids who may require special education and individualized attention for learning disabilities and special needs. What’s more, students may have more opportunities to participate in more activities like sports and the arts.
- Kids get exposure to the real world and social experiences. Kids in public schools will naturally have more exposure to a more diverse population than they would in a private school or homeschool. They’ll get real-world experience in dealing with difficult situations and aren’t as likely to be surprised by the challenges of the real world after they graduate. They also have more opportunities to stand up on their own Christian faith rather than that of their parents or teachers.
- It’s free(ish)! While any parent can tell you that supplies and fees can get quite pricey, public school is still less expensive than the alternatives. Plus, it gives parents the option to work while the kids are at school.
These amazing benefits of public school are good to consider when researching homeschool vs public school vs private school.
Cons of Public School
- Classes are not taught from a biblical worldview. This can be a big hang-up for Christian families who are concerned about what is being taught and how it is affecting their children.
- Classroom sizes are large. The larger a class is, the more difficult it is for a teacher to focus on each student and address their educational needs. Depending on what resources a particular school has, some students will be left behind and others will be bored and understimulated.
- There are more negative social influences. Bullying, peer pressure and negative messaging can come from anywhere in a child’s life, but they are especially prevalent in public schools. The problems can be worse in large student populations that are difficult for teachers to regulate.
- It’s driven by standardized testing. While accountability for school districts and teachers may be necessary for some amount of quality control, many schools’ number one focus is getting students to pass tests. This can be frustrating for teachers and students alike and can suck the joy and creativity out of the learning environment.
- The quality can vary significantly. Public schools are not one-size-fits-all across the country. There are many excellent public schools and many terrible ones. There are also excellent teachers and terrible ones within the same school. Whether a public school is beneficial for your family may depend on where you live.
Related reading: Five Prayers Every Christian Momma Should Pray for Her Kids
Pros and Cons of Private School
Brittany: For some, private school may feel like the “best of both worlds.” Your children get to go to school with other children and receive a quality education but without quite the same level of “risk” as public schools. Not all private schools are Christian (many are, but not all), but it may be easier to find a close-knit community of loving teachers who truly care about your kids in a private school than a large public school.
Pros of Private School:
- The quality of education is high. While there’s no guarantee, chances are that if you’re willing to pay significantly for private school tuition, the school should be offering high-quality education. Good private schools have smaller class sizes, highly qualified instructors and a range of options for students.
- Kids have positive social influences. While bullying, peer pressure and negative influences aren’t entirely avoidable, you may find less of them in a private Christian school. Your children may have more exposure to kids from Christian families that share your values.
- Parents can leave their kids with caretakers they trust. If you as a parent need to work during school hours or care for other children, you might feel more confident leaving your school-aged kid under the supervision of a Christian-led organization instead of under the supervision of government-run schools.
These benefits of private school can help guide you decide which is best for your family: homeschool vs public school vs private school.
Cons of Private School:
- It’s expensive. You can spend thousands of dollars per child per year on private school tuition. While prices vary and sometimes scholarship opportunities are available, private school isn’t even an option for many families due to the expense.
- It’s not an impenetrable bubble. While private elementary schools and private high schools may be Christian, not everyone who attends is. And not everyone who considers themselves a Christian cares to act like it either. Especially when they have uncles and older cousins and friends from their neighborhood who make a rebellious lifestyle look so cool.
- It may not prepare students for the “real world.” What happens to your kids when they graduate from a private Christian school and head off to a secular college? Suddenly, the rule book is thrown out the window, everything is different, they’re a little disoriented (and probably a little insecure because while they’re technically adults, it sure doesn’t feel like it at 18!), and not everyone around them is looking out for their best interests.
- Resources may be limited. While you might find highly qualified instructors in a private school, it may not have all the resources that a public school would simply because it is a smaller organization. If your child has a specialized need or has certain interests, the options might be limited in a private school.
Brittany: Personally, we LOVE both the Private Christian preschool our children attended and the Private Catholic school they attend now. The teachers are wonderful, and we trust them to not only help our children get an education but also turn into good people.
No Christian school is perfect. Even in the great Catholic school our children attend, our kids have been exposed to plenty of things I don’t agree with — both from the students AND the teachers. You’ll have that at any school. But it’s been a really positive experience for us overall.
Benefits of Christian Education:
- Your children will receive religious education classes. Sunday School is great, but it tends to be a mix mash of random lessons and Bible stories. A quality Christian school will provide your children with a great framework for truly understanding the Bible, including major stories, verses and themes, as well as Christian theology and history.
- The curriculum won’t contradict your religious worldview. It’s crazy how much anti-Biblical content can find its way into public school textbooks–even in the lower grades! Christian school curriculum undergoes a screening process before selection, however, so you’re far less likely to see questionable material pop up in your first grader’s homework.
Related reading: 10 Back to School Bible Verses to Memorize with Your Children
How to Decide: Homeschool vs Public School vs Private School
Gina: It can be tough deciding which education options are best for your family. You may find that what is best for one child isn’t the best for another, and you may not stick to the same option from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Choosing between homeschool, public school and private school should be done prayerfully, and the decision probably needs to be revisited regularly as your kids get older. But here are some questions that can help you be more confident in whatever you decide.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- What are your top priorities in your kids’ education?
- What do you hope for your kids by the time they graduate?
- What are you as a parent willing to commit to when it comes to your kids’ education (financially and with your time and energy)?
- How important is a biblical worldview in your kids’ education?
- What are the social, emotional and spiritual needs of your children and where will they be met?
- Are you and your spouse (if applicable) in agreement? If not, where can you make compromises?
Discover God’s Will for Your Home and for Your Children
How can you follow God’s will for your family when faced with life’s big questions? How can you hear God’s voice and follow His will as a mother in all the busyness and noise of school, sports, friends, and growing?
I share my experience with these questions in my brand new book, Follow God’s Will: Biblical Guidelines for Everyday Life, along with the Follow God’s Will companion workbook.
Practical, encouraging, and full of biblical truth, Follow God’s Will is designed to help you answer questions including:
- What does God want me to do?
- How do I apply the Bible’s instructions to my life today?
- Where is God calling me personally?
- How can I make a difference right where I am?
- How should I navigate relationships with those who think, act, or believe differently than I do?
- And so many more!
Want to start reading for free?
Simply enter your first name and email below, and I’ll send you an exclusive “first-peek” right away, right to your inbox!
When you consider Homeschool vs Public School vs Private School – which education option sounds most appealing to you and why? If your choice has been narrowed down to Homeschool vs Private School – which do you think you will choose and why?
Gina Poirier is a happily married mom of five, stress management coach and writer who helps overwhelmed, exhausted moms find peace and purpose in the everyday. You can find her at her website, GinaMPoirier.com.
I homeschool my kids. I was also personally homeschooled. Yes, homeschooling and private schools are bubbles.
My thoughts are:
1) There is no formula for making sure our kids come out on the other side as Christians. (I wish there were)
-There is no right or wrong way to school them. Each is called differently.
2) We homeschool partly because we have the opportunity to talk them about all the issues every single day.
-We talk to them about sex, smoking, alcohol, etc, etc when it comes up. We don’t want them to hear about these things from their peers first, if at all possible.
3) If we ever chose a different schooling method, we will continue to be proactive about these conversations.
4) When one of my children ask a question, (no matter how awkward) I answer it age-appropriately. I don’t skirt issues.
Does all this mean they will turn out the way we hope? No, it doesn’t. All I know is that we do our best and trust God for the rest.
Sounds like you’re doing a great job! (And I’d sure like to know that formula too!)
what program do you use for homeschooling?
Hi liked the article and the comments were also informative..is it possible to know which homeschool curriculum did you use? Thank you
I read your article with an open heart and mind. I could write a book on our experience with a Christian School education vs. Public school vs. Homeschool. we have done all 3 with our family. Our oldest child and 2nd went to Christian school into High school when we moved her to public school. The move was due to bullying, non stop ostracizing and plain out lying by staff. To the point that suicide was written about by her and we made the move. We so wish we would have years before but thought we were doing the right thing. We saw so much, and your article is right on target. Do not let your guard down, thinking your child is immune because it is a Christian school. Public school was wonderful for her, she became a witness for the Lord and helped start a Bible club. Looking back, we would have done all differently. We now have one in public and one homeschooled. Public school has been fine, because we teach God’s word at home. We know how hard it is in the world and only hope others can learn from your article. We wish we would have read it 20 years ago.
Awww, I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that 🙁 There truly is not one option that is best and unfortunately we never really know which is best except through trial and error!
Thank you for this thought provoking article! I really appreciated reading it!
Thanks Melanie! I’m glad!
The whole reason that parents send their children to private schools is because they know that their children are getting a better education. I know for me that public school is not even an option. By paying nearly $20,000 a year, I know that my child is getting the best education. I also don’t believe that parents that send their children to private schools are trying to shield them, its more that all the kids are there to learn not play. Also private school is 10 times harder than public schools ever thought to be. Also the whole bubble thing is true for homeschooling, but not true for private schools.
Well, I think that really depends on the parent. For us, we choose private school because I subbed in the public schools and did not want my kids going to the ones by us. So, I’m not trying to shelter them, per se, but it definitely is a matter of bringing them up around the right influences. I’m just glad we have the freedom to make that choice for any reason! Lots of people aren’t so lucky.
The public schools in our area perform as well if not better than the private Christian schools in the area. I attended private Christian school my entire life and was taught private Christian school was superior to the public school system. I completed my student teaching in my local public school and was shocked at how rigorous it was. The focus on collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking was definitely superior to the private school I attended. Also, I was impressed with how friendly and accepting the students were to others with disabilities and differences. I’m not saying all public and private schools are as I experienced but I truly had an eye opening experience and am a little ashamed at how naive I was about the local public schools.
That’s awesome! And the truth is, you never really know until you spend some time in the school yourself (which most people aren’t lucky enough to get to do).
Just came across this article as we have 3 public school girls going into 10th, 8th and 3rd. In our area the public schools are actually ahead of the private schools academically. We live in a very liberal area where doctors and lawyers send their kids to the public schools. We are considering switching to a Christian school because of drugs, sex, lack of morals, lack of God as he doesn’t exist to the liberal public school kids. Science proves that and these are very educated people who know this as a fact. They have no problem engaging in demoralizing behavior because we are all just an ape that mutated, right? If they want to smoke marijuana at school or have sex, they should do it because they don’t need to feel guilty. There is no God waiting to judge them one day! Do as you wish. If you get knocked up, go pop a morning after pill or get an abortion. You will have no guilt because women have been oppressed for so long, they deserve a little sex with no guilt as its just a sac of cells, not a baby. That is why right now the local Christian school with less educational benefits sounds pretty good. Kids need to have a God to face one day otherwise we are all doomed as a society.
So… honestly… I almost didn’t allow this comment to be published but I will. Missy, please be very careful with (and I say this with much love), how you are stereotyping the other side. Yes, you don’t agree with their views – I don’t either – but to lump all non-Christians together as “They have no problem engaging in demoralizing behavior because we are all just an ape that mutated, right?” — simply isn’t fair to anyone and it doesn’t help the cause for Christ. As Christians, we are supposed to show people the love and truth of Jesus – not just dismissively refer to them as a group of people who have no morals, basically… That doesn’t help anyone. Again, I say this in MUCH love and kindness.
I think Missy was not so much talking about people as the ideology that is spread to people.
I found her comment offensive too. As a l highly educated liberal feminist Christian married to a highly educated liberal feminist agnostic I guarantee you neither of us advocates or encourages our children to experiment with sex, drugs or alcohol. In fact, none of my friends, regardless of education, faith, or political stance, wants their kids to smoke, drink, get high, have sex, have abortions, etc. Either Missy is way off base and making hugely unfounded assumptions, or she lives in a really weird place. (FWIW I love in Australia but was raised in the US and can guarantee you, your average conservative Australian is more liberal than most liberal American. Very few Australian aren’t socialists – including conservatives – but my husband and I are definitely liberal by Australian standards, which, by American standards, pretty much makes us . . . Well,pretty much pariahs.)
Well said! Thank you for this comment… I fully agree!
I was always in the other side of the fence, I swore I would NEVER send my kids to public school because of my horrible and ungodly experiences in public. I blossomed completely when my parents took me out of public and sent me to private. I sent both my children to private for a few years to see how it went. The education was NOT better, the school was small and quaint which made it feel like a family, but there was still drama and issues all under the “Christian school label.” And for all that I was PAYING! It wasn’t free. We live in a great district, so we descided to try it out because the private school was a far drive, and low and behold its been great. The lord is with us wherever we go. The first two weeks were very trying for my daughter, it was a culture shock. But through prayer and teaching her what life is all about, she overcame. She LOVES school and just yesterday on Columbus Day, she asked if she could go. God is good.
Yes, you have to do what is right for YOUR family! Christian schools aren’t always, automatically best just because they slap the “Christian” label on them and have Bible classes. I’m glad she’s doing well now 🙂
Hi! I wanted to respond to your comment because I am reading all of these comments and this article word for word, trying to make a good decision for my children. We’ve already paid the admission fees for our local Christian private school ($$$!!) but I’m having serious second thoughts! And here’s why: we happen to live in a very liberal state, but the education (aside from some weird gender theories, etc. and a new sex-ed initiative) is outstanding. We also happen to live in the wealthiest school district in our area with an almost brand new elementary school (and I’ve heard that the best teachers from the district flocked to this school), a brand new middle school, and a new high school set to be built by the time our oldest is ready for it. And, our school district pays teachers 7% more than any other school district in our area. So, for us, private school really seems to be a risk. My husband attended the private school for years, and was persistent that the educators are sub-par and the pool of kids to make friends with is so much smaller, that it is very easy to feel left out. He has said that it is much easier to find a friend in public school. He has also said what the author said about the bubble and how many of his former classmates absolutely lost their minds when they were released into public colleges or the real world. I, personally, attended public school, and was curious about the private school kids, and viewed them as superior to us. I wanted to send my own children to private school for years. And for years, that seemed very out of reach. But now, it is doable for us, and I jumped right in without really thinking it over. I’ve only ever been to the school once! I don’t know if anyone will read this, but I’ve exhausted my personal resources and the people around me have made their stances well known, so I suppose I’m hoping to speak with other mothers who have gone through similar experiences…
I live in NZ. We recently took our children out of public education and put them into private Christian education. It was the best decision we ever made. I wish I had decided sooner. Yes teachers may be better and content might be superior in public schools but God has never be interested in achievers. He is interested in those who love Him and are willing to walk according to his ways. God has been removed almost entirely from public education and in its place all sorts of things including mindfulness. In which you are your own God. I believe that although not perfect, it is important to have your children where their/your values are within the majority not the minority. Not all students are strong and resilient and can handle the public system and yes some may choose to try drugs, sex and all sorts of things in Christian schools but they are the minority, not the majority (whereas in public education it is the norm) and the teachers will walk with you/them to get you through it. Whereas in public education you are on your own (as that is all considered normal behaviour)
Good Christian education – such as the one my children are in equips children for the world today. There is no intention to hide them. It is about discipling them to be Christian leaders and stewards. My experience has also not at all been second rate. Thankfully we are blessed to be in a school where the results are some of the top in the country. But God comes first. Matthew 6 v 33.
I’m so glad that you found a school you love! I would be careful about saying that the majority of public school kids are getting into trouble though… I went to public schools myself and that was not at all the case where I lived, or in the schools that I taught in. More prevalent? Probably. But definitely not the majority. <3
Lauren, your situation is the same as mine! I’m so confused and desperately want to make the best decision for my kids. What did you decide? I wish I had a clear answer.
Hi Danielle! We ultimately decided there was no question, we will continue to send our kids to public school.
My husband and I visited the private school the week following parent-teacher conferences with our kid’s public school teachers. Ultimately it came down to the level of experience and education of the teachers. Really the deciding factor for us was a poster on the wall of the private school at the end of our tour. It was a poster of a couple of the teachers and little interviews with them. One of the teachers who would have been our own child’s teacher the following year. She actually wrote that she had interviewed with the public school district, but was not offered a position, so she came to the private school. I grew up in a home with a public school teacher as a parent, so I’ve heard, first hand, many of the issues with public school behind the teacher scenes, and I know they’re not all going for their master’s or really all that knowledgable because they have letters behind their names, but I know that our chances of getting a great teacher for our kids are better in our public school system than private.
Sorry for the lengthy response. It was a huge topic of discussion and turmoil for us for a few months, so I have lots to talk about on this subject 🙂 A family member also just transferred her kids to public school from the private school for similar reasons. Hope this helps!
Lauren – I’m so appreciative of you taking the time to respond. I really appreciate your lengthy attention to my (a stranger’s) concern. 🙂 I’m glad you found peace with your decision!
I have absolutely no doubt the teachers and academics at our local public (charter) school are good. My primary concern was my daughter’s heart and her learning to trust God and to develop spiritual discernment, which I felt could be confusing in an institution that cannot teach about God (and has a few culturally acceptable standards that I feel are contrary to God’s will). But my background is all public school, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. I just know I didn’t come to Christ until college and that certain areas of my life were much more difficult and confusing without having faith and Christ at the center. (of course, there’s always a pull and struggle, but I want my kids to know the truth and to be led toward the things that matter to God, not of this world.) I know there are a lot of ways to bring in faith and God into our everyday lives, and I’m not saying there aren’t believers in public schools – of course there are! It’s just not incorporated into the curriculum. For me, private school has nothing to do with the quality of education – in fact, I believe my local public school is on par or better – it was more about their spiritual growth. With that said, we go to church and we’re believers. And I certainly have fears of them being “left out” or “left behind” to not be in the local public school system. I think that’s really the challenge for me.
Again, thanks so much for sharing your story with me! Best wishes to you and your family. 🙂
If we are being honest education is just another name for brainwashing. Nothing learned in middle school or high school or college for that matter is useful in life. That is because firstly one doesn’t learn in school. One is fed biased information and is forced to regurgitate it on tests and essays. One will not absorb this information long term (which may be a good thing). Schools likewise program kids with a thought process so they don’t think freely and independently but according to their programming. Secondly, what is taught has no applicability in life beyond providing for teacher salaries. History may be interesting to some but what caused the Roman Empire to collapse in the early 400s has little bearing on life today as does all literature and most math. Socialization is a benefit from school but it also can be harmful if around the wrong people and in the wrong environment.
We as Christians need to stop assuming the institutions and concepts which exist are noble. Given the way mainstream society is today whatever goes on in schools is not conducive to anything good. Parents are responsible for raising kids but when they are sent off 5 days a week to a negative learning environment it is harmful. Even Christian schools are detrimental because they are teaching the same nonsense and wasting valuable time in a kids life when they can be kids instead of being bogged down 7 hours a day in a classroom.
Us christians ideally should home school but for social reasons if kids want to go to school let them go. Tell them the truth that there is nothing noble or good about schools. Tell them that intelligence and wisdom are completely separate and independent from school or education. The society we live in requires certain academic performance for high paying jobs so try to get good grades. If you don’t you can get high paying jobs in some trades and even a lot of high paying software jobs require experience more than college. With information from multiple sources avaliable in a multitude of formats at your fingers the concept of physical schooling is obsolete. To live in this society we have to go through the motions but let’s stop worshipping education when it has produced the mess we have today.
I was thinking of posting a similar reply. You make a number of excellent points. I was shocked to see that this article started by saying that there is nothing inherently wrong with public schools. If you want your children to receive godly instruction, you absolutely must remove them from the godless, humanistic public school system.
This sermon has really good resources. It’s been helpful to our family.:
http://subspla.sh/165eac7
Thanks for sharing!
Hey Brittany, I am a recently saved (5 years) Special Education teacher at a big high school in Wisconsin. It pains me to be in the public school and not be able to help each child with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m on my way to becoming a principal and have it on my heart to start a Christian School! A “real” Christian school where the bible isn’t a class, but is the starting point and perspective of everything we do. Your article was extremely helpful and I thank you for it. Do you have any resources, people, or advice as I continue on this journey of faith?
First of all, I would encourage you not to discount the public schools. I actually have a teaching degree too (that I’m not using), and I WANTED to be in the public schools. That’s a serious mission field there! And you’d be surprised how much you really can share. You can’t preach, but you can answer questions.
For example, you could say “How was everyone’s weekends? What did you do? … We went to church. I love going to church every weekend because…” <-- That's not preaching, that's a statement of fact. You could bring your Bible in the class and let them see you reading it. When they ask questions, you are allowed to answer them. (Though you should choose your wording carefully, like "Well, Christianity teaches...") That's so exciting that you want to start a Christian school in your area though. Are there any other Christian schools around you currently? I would definitely try to connect with other Christian school principals - either locally or online - to see what kind of advice and encouragement they can give. I'm sure you could easily find many who would be more than willing to share!
I agree Brandon. I see why you would want to work exclusively with Christians, there is no shame in that. Yes, the public schools are a mission field, however the Lord might not be calling you to that. Lets not forget, the Christians and private schools need teachers too! Go with your heart and where the lord is leading YOU!
I myself went through private school and am now going through public school. I went to private school until 6th grade at which point I moved to public school where I now am. Public school was very challenging but then again I am in advanced placement but regular placement still looks decently tough. In private school my faith was shaky but not broken. But when i when to to public school and stopped going to church my faith dropped. I learned about eveloution and sex Ed. I am now an agnostic atheist. Which means I basically don’t believe in a God but I may be wrong. My private school almost had an impenetrable bubble. My first year in public school hit me hard with different religions, sex, and bullying. It wasn’t until public until realized how cringy I was in private school (not talking about faith, talking about how I acted). I have come to prefer public school. I always hated my religion class and was bored. I found this article and it is amazingly spot on. Many people think it is unfortunate I have lost my faith but I don’t. Everyone have an amazing day.
I’m sorry to hear that was your experience but I really appreciate you sharing your perspective.
My kids go to private Christian school and have since kindergarten. Over the summer, I started realizing how much of a “bubble” we are in. We go to church, my kids friends are all believers, and they are never challenged or questioned. I started to think of how complacent I’ve become because I am never challenged. It’s nice and idyllic to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ, but I know that God is calling us to more than that. My kids will go another year to private Christian, just because I’m not ready to make the leap yet, but this year I will be praying for clarity on what to do. I used to think that if you have the funds to send your kids to Christian school, you absolutely should. I don’t really believe that anymore. It’s up to each family to pray and allow God to show you what He has planned for your kids education. Thanks so much for your article. I agree wholeheartedly!
I know exactly what you mean! I don’t know that not attending private school has to be the answer — there are plenty of ways to get involved while still going through route — but it’s definitely something we have to be intentional about!
Let’s be like Jesus. He had a small group of believers that he kept with him no they weren’t yet complete believers but they were of the household of Israel. They had the same context and understanding of God except Jesus understand of course that he was the son of God. They do spend a lot of time just together in their “bubble”. However than they did things together that reached out to The community. They served others prayed for others taught others. Being in a Christian Bible is OK as long as you are not only doing that. Our church goes out every six weeks to the streets as a whole entire body. We do a lot of out reach. That’s with the body of Christ is supposed to do. The school really has nothing to do with that Innoway. Yes public school can be a constant out reach. I think you have to look at the Haaretz sometimes kids will get swallowed up in the lies that are taught in public school as the earlier person evidenced. Other times their Faith will be strengthened. I appreciate the discussion and perspectives.
My parents took me to church where I learned about Christianity and they lived a Christian life in front of myself and my sister. We can’t depend on schools to do our homework. My sister homeschooled her son, he is 34 still lives at home and is addicted to gaming. Her other two went to Christian schools and are doing okay. I feel that if a parent feels their child is in a bubble then for goodness sake do what Christ said “go ye into all the world” show your children diverse sides of life. Get them involved in the community they live in where there are exposed to humans dealing with real life struggles. The world will always be out there however, if we give out children a foundation to depend on they may be able to deal with real life. No matter what ya gotta let them get out there into the deep end of the pool. It’s not easy.
Yes but pray alot I made the mistake of putting my son in a public and soon regret it many teachers are atheist and start confusing them especially if there not well prepare teenage life is harder yes private also has issues but not as bad as public.
I found your article just at the right time. We moved my daughter out of public school to a small private Christian school this fall, but she really misses the larger public school. As you said, there are benefits to both, and thinking Christian schools are a panacea is naive. In just a few weeks, I have learned some of the boys in my daughter’s class are into porn, something my daughter thinks no one she knows from public school is into (which probably isn’t the case either, but at least it means she hasn’t been exposed to it). The public school we are zoned to is very rough, which is why I had pulled her out, but she chose her friends there wisely. The small Christian school is wonderful but doesn’t have the same academic and fine arts options. We are making my daughter stay put for another month, while we pray on whether to send her back to public school. I sure appreciate you sharing your experience as a public school student. It helped me get clarity and feel better about our situation. Thanks!
Oh no! That’s awful! I’m so glad you’re aware of it though and can make a good decision for your family. (Whether that’s public or private!)
My kids don’t go to private Christian schools, but I would love if we could enroll them in one and it’s still in my plans. Not because “they would be safe out of all harm’s way”, but because I didn’t have that when I grew up. I also don’t come from a Christian family, so I believe the more they are exposed to the love of Jesus, His teachings, and like-minded people, the more chances they will have to make their faith their own. They would have church, private Christian school, and us! That’s my dream. 🙂 But I totally agree with what you said. And I will be alert, and I will be intentional with getting involved and teaching them myself! May God give me the wisdom I need for that.
I grew up in a private Christian school along with my four other siblings. Interestingly, I found the environment encouraged me to grow, succeed and become strong. However, that is not the same perspective of all of my siblings. Some may say something like, Christian private school was a bubble and did not prepare them adequately for the “real” world. Today, each one of us could not walk a more different path. I’ll just say, I remain committed to serving and loving the Lord.
As I have observed these differences in our lives I often found myself struggling with what may be the best environment for my children. (I am blessed with three)
For elementary school, we put all of our children in public school. We were impressed with the environment but chose to look at each child individually.
So, out of our three we found one of our children was developing negatively, our oldest, and we decided for middle school it would not be in his best interest to continue on the path that he was on.
After much research, we stumbled upon a high end prep school… christian founded… not a Christian school but promised so much as far as character and self discipline.
We prayed and saved and God blessed us with the money. Currently, two of our children are there and have thrived! Our littlest is still in elementary school and is also thriving.
Now, the reason I was researching public vs Christian is simply bc. even though we have seen good grow from our children in both environments I have come to question if we are ready to make another change.
If you knew me, your would know… I like life to be the same! It frustrates me to make theses changes and redevelop plans but for the sake of my children, a mother will do anything right?
As I reflect on the spiritual strength I feel I was equipped with by my private christian school upbringing I can not help but wonder if my children would not benefit from the same environment. I have only a few more years left with my son at home and the closer we get to that graduation day the more I desire for him to have an environment of Christian friends and bible classes equipping him before he steps out into the Big Big world.
I will begin my touring next month and though we are looking for a spiritual fulfillment at this stage of growth I also have to consider is this school accredited (he wants to go to pharmacy school)
Ultimately, I have decided environment is everything! Children are growing and they need a place to thrive in socially, academically, spiritually and it may not be one school that offers all of those things but maybe one of those things at the right times during their lives.
Part of me felt guilty for being a school hopper but I read an article that helped put that guilt to rest. I now choose to believe we are exercising adaptation skills that will be necessary for the “real” world lol.
At this point my children will have been exposed to every type of school offered and I have found the only magic formula for us is the contentment and progress of my child.
If I am doing it all wrong… well, I can always say, I didn’t take the easy way. I did my best! and from what I can see my children are happy and thriving in the moment… and that’s really all we have anyway 🙂