Responsibilities

I recently talked with a young mother who stated to me that she feels sad everytime she leaves her 2nd grade daughter at her public school.  In the progression of our conversation, I think I was able to understand her reasons.

A truly dedicated Christian understands the seriousness of their God-given responsibility to raise their child with a true understanding of where he came from, why he is here and where he is going. 

A child has three major institutions in his life. Two are ordained by God in this order - Home (family)  and Church.  In all likelyhood, God meant for a child's education to be done by these two institutions.  We, however, have added a third institution, the school, and turned it over to the secular, unGodly world to administrate.

When a child begins school, he is suddenly spending over 50% of his waking time five days a week with peers and another adult who has serious influence in his life. Even connected parents have a difficult time knowing what their child is learning from that adult and the peers with whom he is sharing such a major part of his life. Many times, the teacher and most of those peers are products of an unGodly society and that is the influence that is rampant in the school.  In the rare case that a teacher is actually a born again Christian, his or her hands are tied by "separation of Church and State lies" and he can't  have much of an influence for God in any child's life without risking his job.

The time a child spends with his parents on those five days is filled with eating, preparing for school, sports, eating again, doing homework and getting ready for bed.  There is very little time for instruction from the parent - either formal or "life happening" instruction. We dream that we will be able to influence our child for God but, in all honesty, most of the time we spent is stress filled as we try to get everything done in the time we have to do it.

So what is the answer?  The very best answer is for a parent to home school their child if they are at all able to do so. If it is done properly, the child gains everything good. There are so many opportunities available for homeschoolers. However, this takes a major sacrifice and most parents are not able to do it. 

The second answer is to find a good Christian School and allow that school to help you educate your child.  What are the earmarks of a good Christian School?

1. You know and your child knows that Jesus is the head of the school.....that is evident in the behavior of the School Board, Administration and teachers.  It is evident in discipline, in the classroom, and even in the instruction that each child receives.

2. Your child is viewed as an individual and not one of many.  The school is constantly working to meet the needs of each individual child.

3. Everything is consistently Christian - activities, curriculum, conversation, attitudes.

4. Academics are taken seriously because everything is done as unto the Lord!