Private, Public or Homeschool?

[matie-k]

:goodpost: Kevin!

[Timothy]

Really, we are responsible to God for our children (only if we have children, that is ). God sends children to parents, not the other way around! What we do to them (or should I say with them) is very important--God is watching.

Other than that, I would like to say, "Praise God we have the liberty to homeschool!"

[HappyChristian]

Homeschooling is good, and so is private, or christian school; but, I must be brutally honest, the reason that public schools have gone the way they have is two things, one is liberalism, and the other is that christian parents have taken their kids out of the system. My wife and I have raised our family and now have 10 grandkids, so we are not novice at this. But you cannot take the salt away and expectgood results. Most of the parents, that I have met over the years that take their kids out of the public schools do so for other reasons than "christianity". I have heard everything from...I don't like the system, to "color" issues, to my little Johnny is too smart for public school , etc.

If we really do dislike the unGodly influence of the world, then quit your job and tell your Pastor that he needs to give you a job at church so that you won't have to be subjected to the world. Then be prepared to live on all that they can pay you. I am sick and tired of "christians" trying to justify themselves because they do not have backbone, nor fortitude to trust God to take care of them, their family and their possessions in other than "controlled circumstances". Yes, public school stinks now, even more so than when our kids were in school; but, you simply cannot turn your backs on the lost and "hope" they get saved one day. Your attitude is God send them a witness, but not me or my kids.

Grow up and trust God

gatorpreacher

In actuality, the public schools began to turn from God and go down hill before Christians began leaving. That's one of the reasons they began pulling their kids out. And a poor academic atmosphere is a very legitimate reason to pull a child out of school as well (whether it's public or private!).

The Bible tells us to "learn not the way of the heathen." And, unfortunately, public schools are in many ways heathen. My son never went to one. Hopefully my granchildren never will either, but that will be my son's decision.

The parent is the one who is ultimately responsible for the training of the children...and that includes academic. Therefore, the parent needs to make that decision based on how God is leading them. Not everyone will homeschool, not everyone will put kids into a private school. Some will opt to put children in a public school. If God leads that way, so be it. But to tell someone to grow up and trust God because they don't put them in the public school is the wrong attitude, IMO.

As far as being a witness in public school - how in the world can you be a witness when you aren't supposed to bring a Bible, pray at meals, talk about Jesus? Sorry, but the state that the majority of public schools is in would preclude me from sending any child there.

As far as expense - yes it is costly. But homeschool can actually be very inexpensive. Making good use of the library helps defray lots of expense...I know that from personal experience.

Again, the parents need to make the decision, based on God's leading. We need to realize that God works differently in different families, for the plans He has for those children. That's the beauty of individuality!

[chev1958]

Also, children are spending more time in public school than with family and church. Think about my situation: I arrived at school by 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Classes all day until 3 p.m. Band and sports until 5 p.m. Homework until about 9 p.m. That means I was involved in public education for 12 hours a day, five days a week. Remember that 6-8 hours of those nights were spent sleeping. My time spent with family was one hour daily for dinner, Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays was when things around the house got done, and Sundays were three hours of church, then visiting grandparents between the morning and afternoon services.

I wasn't saved until I was 23 years old, but I was raised in church and had a good, strong moral upbringing. But when I reached my high school years, I began questioning that upbringing, because my teachers and my fellow students weren't living the way I was raised.

Who had the greater influence? Public education did, and to think that children (even Christian children) can stand up to that kind of constant bombardment is naive. Eventually, their minds will break down and begin questioning. Yes, God can protect them, but He gave the children to you. That's almost like saying, "It's OK for my children to play in the street, because God will protect them."

I feel for families that cannot pay for homeschooling or Christian schools (frankly, I would avoid 99 percent of the Christian schools too). It's sad when parents say they don't have the patience to homeschool too - in my opinion, they shouldn't be parents because it takes a lot of patience just to raise a child. Think how much easier it would be if you could immerse your children in the way you see things. You'd probably find out you need less patience with them if you homeschooled.

Due to some circumstances, I understand that some Christian families may have to send their children to public school. But that doesn't mean just drop them off at the front door and forget about them. Those families should be heavily involved in what goes on at their kids' public schools. Know who their friends are, know their parents, go to PTA meetings, sit on the school board, sit on the curriculum committees. Those types of things don't cost anything other than time. And if you don't have time for your children, then you shouldn't have had them in the first place. Don't leave your children to the wolves; continue to fight for them and with them. Your children need your help in being the light for public education.

But, public school should be the last place you send your children, and they should only go there when that's absolutely the only alternative.

Mitch

[kevinmiller]

Also, children are spending more time in public school than with family and church. Think about my situation: I arrived at school by 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Classes all day until 3 p.m. Band and sports until 5 p.m. Homework until about 9 p.m. That means I was involved in public education for 12 hours a day, five days a week. Remember that 6-8 hours of those nights were spent sleeping. My time spent with family was one hour daily for dinner, Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays was when things around the house got done, and Sundays were three hours of church, then visiting grandparents between the morning and afternoon services.

I wasn't saved until I was 23 years old, but I was raised in church and had a good, strong moral upbringing. But when I reached my high school years, I began questioning that upbringing, because my teachers and my fellow students weren't living the way I was raised.

Who had the greater influence? Public education did, and to think that children (even Christian children) can stand up to that kind of constant bombardment is naive. Eventually, their minds will break down and begin questioning. Yes, God can protect them, but He gave the children to you. That's almost like saying, "It's OK for my children to play in the street, because God will protect them."

I feel for families that cannot pay for homeschooling or Christian schools (frankly, I would avoid 99 percent of the Christian schools too). It's sad when parents say they don't have the patience to homeschool too - in my opinion, they shouldn't be parents because it takes a lot of patience just to raise a child. Think how much easier it would be if you could immerse your children in the way you see things. You'd probably find out you need less patience with them if you homeschooled.

Due to some circumstances, I understand that some Christian families may have to send their children to public school. But that doesn't mean just drop them off at the front door and forget about them. Those families should be heavily involved in what goes on at their kids' public schools. Know who their friends are, know their parents, go to PTA meetings, sit on the school board, sit on the curriculum committees. Those types of things don't cost anything other than time. And if you don't have time for your children, then you shouldn't have had them in the first place. Don't leave your children to the wolves; continue to fight for them and with them. Your children need your help in being the light for public education.

But, public school should be the last place you send your children, and they should only go there when that's absolutely the only alternative.

Mitch

:goodpost:

[John81]

I can't think of anything more irresponsible than throwing your kids to the world and "trusting God to keep them." Wow, that's just preposterous. Kids are immature, impressionable, and lack a solid foundation. All things that adults hopefully achieve by the time they move into the work force. God made it clear who was to instruct the children. Public education is both socialistic and unbiblical and far more irresponsible than giving them a good, Christian, solid, home education before sending them out into the world. At which time, they should be prepared to handle it.

:amen:

[gatorpreacher]

So, I guess it's okay for everybody else to go to hell in a handbasket, as long as you and yours are okay?????? Believe me, I abhor this world system, but God never told us to not witness, just because we don't like the influence.....doesn't the Bible say..."draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you" Yes, you have more control over what your kids are exposed to by keeping them out of the public school system; but do you keep them completely out of the world???? We have to live in this world, but not become a part of it.

It takes a lot of effort and dedication to make sure that God is in front of your kids in their growing years; and it is to be applauded, but God never said to take away the salt, nor did He say it was okay to hide your light under a bushel.....in the book of Revelation, God said "I counsel the, to buy of me, gold tried in the fire".....simply put in our world, when everything is falling apart and man's ways are not working, people will notice that you are "stable" in the midst of the storm and the fire. This gives the perfect timing for you to witness and let them know "why" you are able to weather the storms of the world.

I know a pastor, who started and grew a local IFB church, that God honored, by "going after" and opening his heart to the people that the other churches in the area did not want. His congregation consists of ex prostitutes, drunks, dopers, poor people, uneducated people, etc. In fact, I do not know of anyone in his church that even has a college education......but you know what?? God loves them just the same.

OUR, problem is that we have (by our actions and attitudes) given our standards precedent over God's standards. Sure, God said not to "go the way of the heathen...but he was talking about idol worship and spiritual adultry.

[gatorpreacher]

Mitch.............I like what you said about parents being involved.........that my brother is the key....

gatorpreacher

[Guest Guest]

Yes, you have more control over what your kids are exposed to by keeping them out of the public school system; but do you keep them completely out of the world????

"Psalm 26:5 I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and; will not sit with the wicked."

Obviously this verse is not saying NEVER do that, other scripture makes that clear, but we understand the point. We are not to be close to the wicked without a very good reason. Most children under peer pressure are going to have a very hard time resisting evil. Many want to be "liked" so much they will go with the flow. It takes a certain amount of maturity to "swim upstream" so to speak. If home schooling is possible it is better and safer so as to reduce the avalibility of evil until some spiritual growth has taken place... Public school is a sink or swim aproach, and often they sink...

"Proverbs 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them."

That is often(of course not always) what happens to kids from Christian families who go to public school.

"Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."

Who is in charge at public schools for the most part?

[kevinmiller]

The simple fact of the matter is that God commanded the PARENTS to raise up the child in the way he should go. I see nothing good being accomplished by sending kids to a public school to be raised up by atheistic teachers and ungodly children. There is a whole lot more to the world than the public school system and being homeschooled does NOT mean that you are sheltered. That's the biggest misconception of all time, with regards to homeschooling.

Let me ask you this: Would you send your child to a Catholic church every week so that he can be a witness to them?
Yet, will you advocate sending them to an atheist "church" FIVE days a week, all day long, where they are required to not only listen but give proper feedback?? :eek

[Bakershalfdozen]

I agree with Kevin and Mitch but do have to acknowledge what you are saying, gatorpreacher. I personally know several people (my husband being one) who went to public school and were a shining testimony for the Lord. They didn't succumb to peer pressure. They didn't participate in the evil and were vocal about why they didn't. The common factor for all of these people though, is that they had strong, loving homes. Statistically though, the majority of kids follow the crowd.

As parents now, we cannot in good conscience send our children to public school where we live. When we lived in WV, the elementary school our son went to was still conservative and had teachers who went to church, talked about God and Jesus in the classroom and were allowed to do so by the Christian principal. Where we live in NC now, that isn't the case at all. I always wanted my kids to go to Christian school but that didn't work out either so we chose to homeschool this year and are glad we did.

[gatorpreacher]

the pros and cons of this could go on forever; It is easy to see and understand both sides of this issue; what my wife and I did, was to put our personal lives on "hold" and made raising the kids our main objective (second only to serving God); as a matter of fact, we have been married for over 33 years and while they were still living at home, we only spent one night away from them in all of those years. I see too many people in the IFB church today running off to every retreat and seminar that they can find on everything from marriage to kids to financial freedom. And all it really boils down to is that they would rather have someone else do their bible study for them

[kevinmiller]

I don't think that there is anything wrong with seminars and such. It's not really any different than listening to a sermon. I think it is important for a married couple to get away every now and again as well. I plan to take about a week-long vacation with just my wife every year. Probably on our anniversary. :saint

[Timothy]

Planning :lol:

[kevinmiller]

I've been planning, man. :lol :cooldude: