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Should Christians send their kids to public schools?

D

Dave Slayer

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Should Christians send their kids to public schools? Is it Biblical in principal?
 
I think a biblical principle to be considered is "bad company corrupts good character". I'm not necessarily talking about other kids but the teachers in public schools.

I do not have children but if I do they will not go to public school. It will be either home school or Christian school. The secular, post modern, curriculum in public schools certainly flies in the face of what Christianity teaches. I don't want any kids of mine to come home each day only to "unteach" them all the liberal unchristian garbage being taught there.

Regarding the home school issue, I don't buy the "you shouldn't shelter your children" argument. Home schooled children consistently score higher on standardized tests and things like the ACT or SAT. If I know something is poison (i.e. the secular school morals and teachings) than I think the only responsible thing to do is not expose them to it. When they reach the age of maturity, they will be more than ready to handle the outside world with a faith and morality grounded in scripture.
 
Armor of God said:
I think a biblical principle to be considered is "bad company corrupts good character". I'm not necessarily talking about other kids but the teachers in public schools.

I do not have children but if I do they will not go to public school. It will be either home school or Christian school. The secular, post modern, curriculum in public schools certainly flies in the face of what Christianity teaches. I don't want any kids of mine to come home each day only to "unteach" them all the liberal unchristian garbage being taught there.

Regarding the home school issue, I don't buy the "you shouldn't shelter your children" argument. Home schooled children consistently score higher on standardized tests and things like the ACT or SAT. If I know something is poison (i.e. the secular school morals and teachings) than I think the only responsible thing to do is not expose them to it. When they reach the age of maturity, they will be more than ready to handle the outside world with a faith and morality grounded in scripture.
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Here we go again with the liberal is the same as unchristian crap being thrown around. That really gets my goat. Big time!

My kids attend public schools and have had a great experience. The values that their mother and I have bestowed upon them have remained intact even though the "evil, liberal, unchristian school" has gotten their hands onto them.

A good school does not teach "values". That's my job. A good school stays away from religion and morals and ethics and teaches them subjects like Math, Chemistry, History, etc.

Just my two cents.
 
If you have the money to put them through private christain school then sure but if not it not a big deal to send them to public schoool as long as you give them the proper bible teaching at home.
 
some schools are downright dangerous ie in bad neighborhood or has a high crime rate then if possible to homeschool then do so, but that decision should on the parents not forced by a pastor as not all parent can homeschool or pay for private schools, but they can teach the bible to them, dave did we already discuss this in another thread called should pulic schools be closed?

jason
 
I go to public school...it has been difficult but it in a way tests you. It gets difficult at times but as God is still there by you...it gets easier.

So I see nothing wrong with it. I also agree with others if you want kids to go easy route send them to a Christian School..but from experience it only does a little difference. There are still bullies at a Christian School. There are still peer pressures you will face at Public Schools.

So that is what I have to say. Hope that helps Dave Slayer.
 
Aero_Hudson said:
Here we go again with the liberal is the same as unchristian crap being thrown around. That really gets my goat. Big time!

My kids attend public schools and have had a great experience. The values that their mother and I have bestowed upon them have remained intact even though the "evil, liberal, unchristian school" has gotten their hands onto them.

A good school does not teach "values". That's my job. A good school stays away from religion and morals and ethics and teaches them subjects like Math, Chemistry, History, etc.

Just my two cents.
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So you think, as a Christian, telling Children, as young as 12, to just use a condom to have sex is acceptable? How about those homosexual feelings are "OK" because some people are just "born that way". How about joining wonderful school clubs that cater to gay and lesbians, Wicca, or atheists? How about teaching evolution and we evolved from monkeys? I can go on and on. All of this is the liberal, post modern garbage that a secular school teaches.

Where do you think rebellion comes from when kids are told all day long by teachers, who are people in positions of authority, that all the things I mention above are OK when as a Christian you know they are wrong?

That is what our secular post modern schools are teaching. And as much as you might want to protest, it's the liberal position that's destroying the morality of this country and rotting our churchs with false and perverted doctrine.

Secular humanist liberal values of public schools and Christianity are incompatible.
 
I agree with Aero. It's called critical thinkiing people! Let the kids be faced with all sorts of different views and opinions and theories and then let them make the decision for themselves.
 
I went to a public school and my children go to a public school. I live in a small community in Nebraska, so I'm sure my experience and my children's experiences from school are alot different than someone going to a very big school. (I had 13 in my graduating class!)

I feel it's whatever the parent decides is best for their child and what they feel God is leading them toward. For us, definately public school. I would have a very hard time teaching my own children and the only private Christian school that I know of even close is 1.5 hours away!

Why do we always have to be so critical of others and what they do?
 
beckyleigh said:
I went to a public school and my children go to a public school. I live in a small community in Nebraska, so I'm sure my experience and my children's experiences from school are alot different than someone going to a very big school. (I had 13 in my graduating class!)

I feel it's whatever the parent decides is best for their child and what they feel God is leading them toward. For us, definately public school. I would have a very hard time teaching my own children and the only private Christian school that I know of even close is 1.5 hours away!

Why do we always have to be so critical of others and what they do?
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Wow, that's a small school. My school has about 200 + people in each grade, so we've got about 1300 kids plus 150 staff in the whole school. I prefer a larger school. There is a school near us (boys only school) with 2000 kids! (that's just insane).
The thing is, it's not like there's no schools in our area so they're all going to the one school because we've got soooo many schools in the area and they've all got high numbers of students!
 
I agree with Aero. It's called critical thinkiing people! Let the kids be faced with all sorts of different views and opinions and theories and then let them make the decision for themselves.
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I couldn't disagree more. You think children as young as 10-12 years old, are mentally mature enough when told by an adult in their school that homosexuality and premarital sex are acceptable to debate that topic? This is the age children are being exposed to these ideas.

You state: "Let the kids be faced with all sorts of different views and opinions and theories and then let them make the decision for themselves." So according to that logic, I should be teaching my nephew that Jesus is the only way to salvation but Mohammad, Buddha, Wicca, and atheism are all equally valid paths and they should just make the decision for themselves and pick the one that makes them feel right. That is how secular school presents the topic of faith!

Would you join a church that undermines scripture and actively teaches evolution, performs homosexual marriage ceremonies, and condones pre-marital sex and unmarried couples living together? I think most Christians wouldn't join a church like that in a million years with that ideology and yet they see no problem sending their children to a school that does teach that ideology. Don’t you see the mixed message that kids get?

You are living under a rock if you think kids are not picking up worldly values from secular school and that they don't undermine Christian teachings at home. Yes, eventually kids will grow up and live in the world but I think parents should do everything in their power to create an environment where they are exposed to as much truth as possible.

I spent most of my life as an unsaved (and very liberal) person who though I knew it all. I use to vehemently argue against Christian values. It wasn’t until I accepted Jesus as my savior and began to conform my will to His that I saw the evil in worldly values and the love and truth of Godly values. As a believer, until you can stop hanging onto worldly values you will never have a truly blessed and meaningful relationship with our Lord. My goal is not to have any kids in my circle of influence waste 35 years of their life like I did before knowing Jesus and living for Him. A big part of making that goal sucessful for that child is who I choose to allow in their circle of influence and school is at the top of the list.
 
I understand where you are coming from but as all Christians go through it is a test of our faith. Yes they may not be able to comprehend what is going on but that is why we have our parents to help us. That is why God grants us with people like our parents that are there for us to help us in times like that. But once you reach 13 and 14 that is when it is almost time for us (the kids) to learn how to fly. We need to learn what is a test of faith and what isn't. Public school is a great way to do that.
 
It depends on the child. But I would advise parents to skip junior high for their children. This time is more for experimentation with drugs and sex and such. Where we live there is no academic value in the first 3 secondaries. I don't know about elsewhere. Home school is great for these three years at least. This is not a rule...but a suggestion of course.
 
armor of god you said what i was going to say, but i've got to say that decision must be up the to the parents, truthfully the parents can influence their child more than the goverment schools can if the parents are willing to sacrifice the time and live the life of jesus and many godly parents do. Homeschool and private schools/christian schools aren't always viable options due to finances, and the parents may not be good teachers.


colton b armor of god is right you don't have to teach your children the opposing views the world will ensure they hear it, no i'm not saying that children shouldn't be taught about the other worldy views only when the time is right and they are mature enough (in the faith) to understand the false doctrines that exists, certainly not ages under 13 imho.

jason
 
I don't think 12 is too young at all. 10 and 11 maybe but 12 should be able to witness some of it. But what I don't get is that you say you don't want them to experience that when Christians like us do it all the time. We do some of the things you don't want your kids to see.


But you are ultimately right. It is up to the parents.
 
Colton B said:
I don't think 12 is too young at all. 10 and 11 maybe but 12 should be able to witness some of it. But what I don't get is that you say you don't want them to experience that when Christians like us do it all the time. We do some of the things you don't want your kids to see.


But you are ultimately right. It is up to the parents.
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interestinf you say that when i was 10 unknowingly i was exposed to porn in it'smost evil form a movie called heavy metal, and quite demonic, i watched it on hbo by accident, my brother aslo 8 at the time saw it, and he has kids and ensure they will never see that movie until they are of legal age when they decide for themselves legally, it has effected me.

at 10 yrs old i went to a sex ed class taught by a doctor and he only eplained the act not the morality of it, thank the lord i did get enough influence by being a jw. they taught that being a virgin is godly until marriage. i dont think that schools system today do that at all, imo.

i've seen young kids drink and smoke at age 10, it's there and i'm not saying that you should shelter them forever but at least wait to either they ask about sex and you feel they are ready to hear the lords pov.

many schools are rife with drugs and sex and such like, but with a good upbringing those pitfalls can be avoided , but the parents must decide when and where to do that. I see a potential and truthfully to blame some of the parents also(if they aren't investing in their children), the schools cant do it all.

even in christian schools there's sin, sin goes everywhere even the church. a parent must be vigilant
 
Exactly. Sin is everywhere. All those things you listed are still at Christian Schools. i know from experience.
 
You know, when I was in kindergarten, and first and second grade we said prayer in school, and the teachers would lead the grace before we ate our food. Kids today know nothing about that at all.
 
Well I did that at Christian School but they were quick prayers like "God is great God is Good let us thank him for our food"
 
Colton B said:
Well I did that at Christian School but they were quick prayers like "God is great God is Good let us thank him for our food"
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I was in public school, I am talking about the years of 1960 to 63, teachers freely talked about God, a Christian God.
 
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