Replies

Pandora, you go, girl!!!! :o) :o) :o)

Nmh, a good Christian school is sure better than a public school and you sound veeery well informed and caring of your child. I know you're doing what you feel is best and that's great!

But for others here trying to decide whether to homeschool or to pay for their child to attend a Christian school, here are some thoughts to consider. (Nmh, please understand that what I'm saying here may not apply in your situation at all and my words are only meant for others who may read this while trying to make a decision. Nothing I say applies to your or your daughter! The last person I want to offend is you, my friend - so please understand my words do not apply to you.)

1. Some parents with kids who have had behavior problems in public schools put their kids in Christian schools in the hope the school can "fix" them.

2. There is a tendency for some parents with kids in Christian schools to "assume" their children are receiving a quality education with Christian curriculum. I've heard some real horror stories about some Christian schools, so keep that in mind. Your parental responsibility as primary teacher of everything doesn't go away just because your child is in a private Christian school.

3. Christian school classrooms are modeled after the same pattern as public schools. This pattern lends itself to boring students silly and can be quite rigid. That's a whole other topic!

4. If you are particular about not wanting your child to learn inappropriate sexual material, then keep in mind that just because someone else's child attends a Christian school does not in any way mean that the child is not being exposed to movies or magazines with explicit sexual material in their own home. Children will bring what they learn at home into the school. Not everyone placing their child in a Christian school is necessarily a strong Christian, in other words.

5. Studies show that homeschooled children have high exposure to a variety of people of different ages and a diligent parent can expose their child to adults of upright character in their Sunday school, at church, or in community or homeschool activities on a frequent basis. Private schools are not the only place a child can mingle with positive adult role models.

6. Due to local homeschool groups hosting lots of different activities for children to participate in such as science fairs, art shows, drama teams, sports activities (even at high school level), bands, play days (for younger ones), co-ops focusing on certain topics, international days, etc. etc. - children without siblings can enjoy a lot of exposure to other children. This exposure is not exclusive to an institutional school setting.

7. Private schools cost a lot of money that could perhaps be spent in other areas of value.

8. For Christians reading this thread there is a scripture in Deut. 11:19 speaking of the many blessings you can receive from "teaching your children as you sit in your house, walk by the way, lie down, and rise up in the morning." We live in a society where people put their kids in public school saying they can have "quality" time in the evening with their children. But evidently this scripture indicates that God counts "quantity" time very, very important. Only homeschooling affords that kind of time with loved ones.

All that said, each parent is given the responsibility to choose what he or she feels best for his own children.