A question about Education. Private vs HS

[etexas]

I am aware a number of my friends here with kids that are in Home-School. Since becoming PCA my wife and I noted a lot of folk in our Church HS. I have been a supporter in the past of Parochial Education. I attended both Catholic (say what you like Catholics do give good educations!) and a private Episcopal School. I am simply curious and really have no conclusions as HS is "new" to me. What makes it preferable to a private Christian Academy? (Oh, and yes I know, I put this in General, the Education was "Private" and I could not put it there.... snobs! (Kidding) Really I would like to here pros-cons, draws. One note, I would like tuition and money not be a "primary" focus. I know man who is an ER Doc who heads up the ER department in a large Hospital, he could have sent his kids to any of 5? good local Christian Schools all 3 of his were Home-schooled. So, for arguments sake let's minimize tuition as know with Dr. G. and many others that was not much of a factor.

 

[Scottish Lass]

We plan to homeschool because we'll be able to choose the textbooks, structure Grace's day, adapt to her learning style and pace, use everyday "teachable moments", find like-minded parents for co-ops, etc., relate what she's learning to God''s Word and the world around her, and so on. Money has very little do with our choice.

 

[jwithnell]

We've tried our best to match our child to the education best for him or her. That has meant a combination of home schooling and private Christian schooling with a smattering of help from the public schools with our special needs child. At some point, I have home schooled every grade!

Home schooling enables you to be intimately involved with everything that is taught to your child. In my experience, a lot of Christian school material is developed by broadly evangelical folks if not out-right dispensationalists. Many a time I've skipped a lesson or changed the text mid-sentence to reflect a more accurate view of the scriptures.

Also, you can match your child's progress -- are fractions slowing her down? Take the extra time to get it right. Is she reading three grades levels ahead? Great, keep on going!

The Christian schools can provide specific support, like testing and participation in groups like chorus or maybe sports. In our case, it was helpful after our oldest went to college to send our second-oldest to the school since she was really unhappy without her sister around and wanted more interaction with people her own age. We have our third-oldest at the school now to give me time to work with the younger two and I'm beginning to think that boys in particular might benefit from the natural competition that develops with other guys around.

 

[Mushroom]

Public schools out of the question, private Christian school financially not an option so never considered (sorry - reality, Dr G notwithstanding), HS logical conclusion.

 

[Montanablue]

Since most people are giving reasons to home school, I'll give some reasons that a family might not. (And I was happily homeschooled so don't think I'm against it)

- Some parents simply aren't teachers - or at least not good ones. Teaching is a gift. Some people don't have it.

- Career - You really need to have one parent who is willing to stay at home full time to teach.

- Supporting Christian schools - some families who have sufficient money to put their kids in a Christian private school feel that its good to do this. Supporting a Christian school means that that school can offer scholarships to other children.

- Insufficient education - some parents may not have an adequate education to teach their children, especially when it comes to the higher grades and teaching things like calculus or physics.

- Lack of resources - a family may live in an area where there are few resources available to homeschoolers - no sports teams, music groups, academic clubs, or co-ops. Its extremely difficult to home school successfully without these things.

 

[etexas]

Public schools out of the question, private Christian school financially not an option so never considered (sorry - reality, Dr G notwithstanding), HS logical conclusion.

OK Brad. Dr. G gives you a BIG bag of green! Do you still HS????

 

[Reformed Thomist]

People with deep pockets send their offspring to private schools for a reason: the higher quality of education.

 

[TimV]

Public schools are like homeless shelters. You use them if there aren't any other resources. There have been Christians who have been forced due to circumstance into homeless shelters, and they shouldn't be despised, but it should be avoided where at all possible.

 

[TaylorOtwell]

In my opinion, parents are the ones entrusted by God to educate their children. God delegates responsibility to many different people and groups of people. The civil authorities hold the sword, for example. I believe authority to educate children is given to parents, and that they should not give it someone else (in the same way that the civil authority shouldn't pass off its authority to the church).

Another reason to homeschool is discipline. Parents are taught that if they train their children to walk in the Lord's ways, they will not depart from them. But, there is a difference between teaching and training. I need to promptly and consistently be able to discipline my child (with a rod) when he disobeys, and I'm not able to do that if he is at a private school. I also need to be able to teach him personally and individually after he has disobeyed, as well as reaffirm my love for him. I can not do either of these things if he is at a private school.

Also, we're not simply after a high standard of education. I'm not trying to raise little Thomas Jeffersons, I'm trying to raise men and women of godliness. Do I want them to be sharp, and well educated? Absolutely! But, my first priority is their discipleship and godliness.

 

[kvanlaan]

I have an opinion. :shocking:

1. If I did not believe that Homeschooling was my God-given job as a parent as per scripture, we would not do it. It is hard and takes most of my wife's day and energy. She likewise sees it as her God-given job.

2. If there is no discipline from the parents, it will fail. I know of a HS failure (a massive train wreck) where the biggest issue day to day was that there was no discipline in the home - this meant that whether the children had gone to private/public school, it would have been a disaster. This, to me, is the largest challenge for a parent, not whether or not they're 'cut out' to do the job. I know people with a GED that are not teacher-types who give their children extremely fulfilling educational experiences.

3. Public school is not an option to us. In the event that we are destitute and both must work 24/7 in order to put food on the table, I would sooner go hat in hand to the deacons/my father/my brother/other family and beg for funding than put them in a public school around here. It is not the area (and thus the quality of the public school in question), it is the curriculum. I would have to echo Tim's opinion: They are homeless shelters; not to be looked down upon in times of absolute necessity, but an avenue of last resort, when every other avenue has been exhausted.

 

[etexas]

Great feedback so far! OK, what of my situation.......as a "child of the 70's" we (at least in this area of Texas my sector of East texas to DFW....most people really only were aware/or thought of 2 options, Public or Private (while I AM growing to appreciate the merits of HS and Parental mandate!) IF in my "time and place" an option for Christian Private School would under those circumstances (a choice in my case for Roman Catholic and then an Episcopal Education) be a wise option for a Parent? (As far as my Catholic/Episcopal Education, while not being Reformed, WAS in a climate of Christian Ethos, that is to say Bibles were in abundance, if my friends and I "acted up" even in Catholic School, Father O'Hara would begin to rebuke us with: Is THIS Godly Christian behavior Gentlemen? Again not a HS vs Private question, simply a best "call"......

 

[TaylorOtwell]

Great feedback so far! OK, what of my situation.......as a "child of the 70's" we (at least in this area of Texas my sector of East texas to DFW....most people really only were aware/or thought of 2 options, Public or Private (while I AM growing to appreciate the merits of HS and Parental mandate!) IF in my "time and place" an option for Christian Private School would under those circumstances (a choice in my case for Roman Catholic and then an Episcopal Education) be a wise option for a Parent? (As far as my Catholic/Episcopal Education, while not being Reformed, WAS in a climate of Christian Ethos, that is to say Bibles were in abundance, if my friends and I "acted up" even in Catholic School, Father O'Hara would begin to rebuke us with: Is THIS Godly Christian behavior Gentlemen? Again not a HS vs Private question, simply a best "call"......

In my opinion, "no", and this is because "education" is more than "education" - it is discipleship, and discipleship requires loving, consistent discipline from the child's parent. A teacher is not as effective, loving and consistent of a disciplinarian as a parent, simply because it is not their child. I believe it would be best for the child to have a teacher who knows their "coming out and their going in". In other words, the parent is closest to that child, and can provide loving, tender, affectionate guidance and training in a way that a teacher outside of the home cannot.

 

[etexas]

Great feedback so far! OK, what of my situation.......as a "child of the 70's" we (at least in this area of Texas my sector of East texas to DFW....most people really only were aware/or thought of 2 options, Public or Private (while I AM growing to appreciate the merits of HS and Parental mandate!) IF in my "time and place" an option for Christian Private School would under those circumstances (a choice in my case for Roman Catholic and then an Episcopal Education) be a wise option for a Parent? (As far as my Catholic/Episcopal Education, while not being Reformed, WAS in a climate of Christian Ethos, that is to say Bibles were in abundance, if my friends and I "acted up" even in Catholic School, Father O'Hara would begin to rebuke us with: Is THIS Godly Christian behavior Gentlemen? Again not a HS vs Private question, simply a best "call"......

In my opinion, "no", and this is because "education" is more than "education" - it is discipleship, and discipleship requires loving, consistent discipline from the child's parent. A teacher is not as effective, loving and consistent of a disciplinarian as a parent, simply because it is not their child. I believe it would be best for the child to have a teacher who knows their "coming out and their going in". In other words, the parent is closest to that child, and can provide loving, tender, affectionate guidance and training in a way that a teacher outside of the home cannot.

Have to disagree...to a point my Brother.My father owned 3 Publicly Traded Companies as I was growing up, my mother provided a wonderful nurturing home....and the Christian Schools worked very CLOSELY with my parents. (Please Brother, you need to be fair in this before judging my parents, AGAIN, I am of another generation...HS....I never met an HS until the 90's! It was not around my neck of the woods at least, so I thank it may have been a good call...A Classical Christian Education IN a Christian Ethos vs.....PUBLIC......Taylor..I am not sure you can call that a "mistake (in the 70's!) I GET where you are coming from but like I say, please do keep my "era" and location in mind and the larger "equation". Pax Est Bonum.

 

[JBaldwin]

To answer the question in the OP. The real difference in christian vs. HS In my humble opinion is the approach to teaching. The model of traditional education is "assembly line". Every student gets the same information, every student is tested on that information, and the goal is turn out students who are basically all the same. In most cases, private christian schools take the same approach only they have a christian worldview.

HS is more a tutoring approach and the goal is not only to give the student information, but tailoring the information to the student's interests and needs. If the parent is doing their job, the student is still getting the basics (three Rs), but it serves as a launch pad for further learning in the area of interest (and at the student's pace) rather than trying to have the same product as everyone else.

 

[Wayne]

I don't think Kevin meant it quite this way, but his post brought this idea to mind, namely

That the public school system is the educational equivalent of a homeless shelter.

Agree or disagree?

 

[Christusregnat]

etex, someone married you!? WOW, there's hope for anyone

 

[Christusregnat]

Actually homeless shelters are sometimes funded privately, not by the strong arm of the state, operating under Marxist mandates, robs from taxpayers to put up shelters. Thus, govt. schools are like markist, thieving homeless shelters.

 

[etexas]

etex, someone married you!? WOW, there's hope for anyone

Cute 5 foot four blond 12 years younger than me! I am the man....

 

[Reepicheep]

I think both private and home school can be excellent choices. We choose a private Christian school. It happens to be our church school and I have pretty close involvement with it, so I like it all the more!!

Both are biblical ways to carry out Deut. 6. Both require heavy involvement and commitment by parents.

 

[Mushroom]

Public schools out of the question, private Christian school financially not an option so never considered (sorry - reality, Dr G notwithstanding), HS logical conclusion.

OK Brad. Dr. G gives you a BIG bag of green! Do you still HS????

Oh, yes. Perhaps make more use of co-op resources that can be expensive. Christian school would only become an option if my beloved bride were so burnt out on HS'ing that she needed a break. They can be some pretty sad places as well, and my wife loves homeschooling.

 

[kvanlaan]

It was Tim, actually, that compared PS to a homeless shelter, but yes, I think that was the basic idea.

 

[lynnie]

It is my opinion, having a 13 year old homeschooling now and four older kids that went to Christian school ( 3 spent one year in public after we moved), that once kids hit 9th grade it is impossible to provide adequate academics from Mom alone, especially if the kids have a scientific bent. Obviously now there are some great internet teaching imputs, but I do not think the home can provide the lab facilties necessary for good biology and physics and chemistry- plus math and foreign languages and art and music and all the rest. When the bible speaks of different giftings and callings, that means that God intended people to be specialized to some extent, and we can't all do everything. If you are strong in one area you'll be weak in another.

Some people put their kid in one or two public school classes. Often there are co-ops and homeschool classes within half an hour driving in suburban areas. Tutors cost big money but they help. Once the kid gets to highschool, I think you have to give serious thought to more than just Mom....maybe even by seventh grade if you have a motivated academic kid who thrives on learning.

 

[Lady of the Lake]

- Some parents simply aren't teachers - or at least not good ones. Teaching is a gift. Some people don't have it. An odd perspective.
What does this say about the children God put in families before there were schools or in places where schools are not available? Does He just make sure that only gifted parents are in such circumstances? Isaiah 54:13

- Career - You really need to have one parent who is willing to stay at home full time to teach.
There are numerous children who have been educated/discipled full-time at home by single parents who needed to work or by parents who were both employed or every family member was involved in a family business.

- Supporting Christian schools - some families who have sufficient money to put their kids in a Christian private school feel that its good to do this. Supporting a Christian school means that that school can offer scholarships to other children.
You mean, some parents choose to send their children to school in order to benefit someone else's children to attend the same school?

- Insufficient education - some parents may not have an adequate education to teach their children, especially when it comes to the higher grades and teaching things like calculus or physics. A sad myth.
God has sovereignly directed the education of countless children of parents without "an adequate education." Some of the most loving and effective ones I know are not college or even high school graduates. The home education world at this point has more than sufficient materials, support and options to cover "higher grades and teaching things like calculus or physics". God's enabling call and confidence in it are the key elements.

- Lack of resources - a family may live in an area where there are few resources available to homeschoolers - no sports teams, music groups, academic clubs, or co-ops. Its extremely difficult to home school successfully without these things. Another sad myth.
Myriad parents across decades have educated their own children without any of these resources. Many were missionaries on fields where such things were not only not available but not considered. As a matter of fact, the American parents who homeschooled in the 1980's and 1990's rarely saw any of these items and many shun them today with increasingly positive results.

Psalm 78 is a great source for defining a biblical education - staff, curriculum, goals, etc.

 

[Montanablue]

Sandra - I wasn't intending to start a debate on whether homeschooling or private school was better. Etexas simply asked for reasons why one might choose not to homeschool and I gave them. Like I said, I was happily homeschooled and its something I would certainly consider for my own children (although I wouldn't rule out a good private or public school in certain circumstances). Since it was not my intention to start an argument or debate, but simply to answer the OP, please forgive me for not responding to the things you bring up.

 

[Pete]

As one who attended school at a "homeless shelter", but had friends and family in private Christian Schools and homeschool, I would like to say that it really depends on the student and the parents. While I have no problem with homeschooling, if it is not a conviction on the part of the parent, I think often times it can do more harm than good. As far as private versus public, I have seen young people at Christian schools doing everything but living for the Lord, and I have seen young people at public schools shining a light to their peers and affecting lives that they would not be in contact with in a private school.

While I would never put my daughter in a school where she would not be receiving an adequate education or would be unsafe, I can imagine no better way for her to learn about sharing the love of Christ with people who truly need it, than by her being in the world while my wife and I teach how not be of it.

 

[kjat32]

It's a good question, and God might be moving you in this direction if you're already asking it. BUT, homeschooling isn't for wimps so make sure you are 100% sure before starting. You'll encounter opposition in the most unexpected places and encouragement from like-minded people all over the world.
As for pros and cons, well pretty much everything you can count for one side can be counted on the other in some way. I wouldn't look at this as a 10-2 decision made on numbers of pros vs cons but as a response to a call God places in your hearts to raise your children the best way you can. Read up on some pro-homeschooling books to get all the pros you need (cons will be brought up by even the paper boy if you need them) and read up on some of the basics of homeschooling like teaching styles, learning abilities, resources, etc. It will give you a good idea if that's the right direction for your family.
Also, while it's good to get your ideas on this started now, you'll need to review it once your child is near that age since some children have special needs that should be addressed (our oldest is an example, made me quake in my slippers contemplating hs'ing him but we're persevering . God bless as you pursue training your child up.

 

[nasa30]

People with deep pockets send their offspring to private schools for a reason: the higher quality of education.

We homeschool first because of the Parental mandate(cost was not a factor), the superior education is just a bonus. With that, I totally disagree with your statement above that private school gives a better quality of education. See this study for some stats. My oldest is a senior this year, (skipped her Jr year) and she has been HS from day one.

 

[TimV]

I can imagine no better way for her to learn about sharing the love of Christ with people who truly need it, than by her being in the world while my wife and I teach how not be of it.

You don't send your young daughter to a Roman Catholic church service three times a week to let her witness, nor do you encourage her to have loose, pot smoking, foul mouthed friends at an early age to lead them to Christ. Childhood in the Bible is a training time, not a time of discernment and leadership.

 

[etexas]

Warning buzzer!

Sandra - I wasn't intending to start a debate on whether homeschooling or private school was better. Etexas simply asked for reasons why one might choose not to homeschool and I gave them. Like I said, I was happily homeschooled and its something I would certainly consider for my own children (although I wouldn't rule out a good private or public school in certain circumstances). Since it was not my intention to start an argument or debate, but simply to answer the OP, please forgive me for not responding to the things you bring up.

My THANKS to the balance of Kathleen! I regret having put (vs) in my Title, I NEVER meant a competition! I only meant I was curious why some opted for HS over Christian Private. I am thankful for my Private, I could sight read Latin in 7th grade I was doing Algebra when my friends in Public were doing long division....MOST of you have been VERY kind! Most of the feedback has been quite good! In fairness to me I have been a gentleman , stating HS was something I knew little about. It is possible to give that feedback without "cheap-shots" at good Solid Private Christian Schools or WORSE making implications that Parents who opt Private are "not acting out a God-Given mandate" .... this is JUDGING. it lacks charity. Brethren. My Friends in Christ! I BEG you!!!! I BEGAN this thread in Charity and simply had questions for my HS Friends here...I still do....HOWEVER.....I will not tolerate any further uncivil speech or harshness! If it happens again...I will ask a Mod or Admin to close the Thread! (I have had it done before.) Please Beloved Brethren it was a very simple question. It is a good topic I am thankful for MUCH of the feedback and would like to hear more. So in Christian Charity............thank you.

 

[nasa30]

Sorry, I thought you wanted to know WHY we HS or chose Christian Private School. For straight facts as to the differences, see the study I posted earlier.

Academic Statistics on Homeschooling