Public School, Christian School, or Homeschool?

Apr 28, 2019 | Children's Ministry, Kids & Family

Throughout this month, I’ve been answering your reader questions…

Today’s Question – What are the pros and cons of various modes of education, and how can a parent evaluate which is best?

It’s the age-old question in Christian circles, and everybody seems to have an opinionated answer. So what’s the question? – Public school, Christian school, or Homeschool?… What is the right answer for a Christian family? Is there one?

Let me give you the short answer – Yes, there is a right one for every family… but No, it is not the same one for every family. If you’ve ever gotten into a conversation with other parents about this topic, you might have had to crank up the AC, because things got heated really fast. 😉

Let me start by being very transparent – as a family, we have had our children in all of the above forms of education at different times. And even within just the last 12 months, we have had all four of our children in all three forms of education at the same time. (One homeschooled, one in public school, and two in a Christian school)

I personally was involved in all three growing up at one point or another for different reasons. So I do have personal preferences based upon experience as to which types of education I would favor over others.  

However, for the purpose of this article, my point is not to argue for or against any form of education, but rather, to help you make an informed decision by sharing with you some of the pros & cons of each. Because I believe that an informed parent is more often a wise parent. Some of these things you already know, others maybe not. Here are some important things for you to consider:

PUBLIC SCHOOL

Pros:

  • Free, due to funding through the state government/taxes
  • Bus transportation/meals are provided for those who need it
  • More extensive activities for kids to be involved in (sports, clubs, etc.)
  • Better programs and services for children with disabilities

Cons:

  • Larger class sizes make one on one attention less likely
  • Standardized tests often force teachers to always teach with the test in mind more than the student
  • Exposure to a larger number of children with behavioral issues that can potentially and negatively influence your children
  • More likelihood for there to be teachings contradictory to your Christian beliefs
  • Increased temptation and exposure to worldliness and sin, especially in jr. high and high school

PRIVATE/CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Pros:

  • Often smaller classes with a more personal environment
  • More one-on-one attention is likely
  • Teachers tend to be more like-minded with Christian parents in their philosophy of religion and education
  • A family’s Christian beliefs can be taught and reinforced through their child’s education
  • Often a more safe and protected environment with more Christian peer and leader influences

Cons:

  • Due to self-funding, private schools are often restricted to fewer electives and sporting options
  • The cost of private school is usually significantly higher than the other two options
  • There are usually no special education classes offered
  • They often have a tendency to be either too strict or too lenient in their philosophy and practice

HOMESCHOOL:

Pros:

  • Parents have complete control over curriculum and activity choices
  • Families are with each other all day and have more time to spend together
  • Greater flexibility with daily schedule and children working at their own pace
  • Complete one-on-one attention and hands-on experience
  • There are often a variety of local programs and options for homeschoolers

Cons:

  • Parents have complete control over curriculum and activity choices 😉
  • Families are with each other all day and have more time to spend together 😉
  • Parents must be self-disciplined to stay on track and follow applicable state laws to ensure a well-rounded education and preparation for college acceptance
  • Finding and purchasing material can be costly and tedious, especially depending on the number/ages of the children
  • Students are limited in their ability to regularly interact with other children which can present social challenges for some children as they age

All of the above factors are guidelines and must be taken into consideration of a schools’ location, size, history of success, etc., and should not be considered hard and fast rules for every school model mentioned. There are no doubt many more pros and cons that could most likely be added to this list.

However, the key to answering today’s question for each individual family is this – wisdom and discretion on the part of every parent.

Here’s what we do know – God has given every parent personal responsibility for how they choose to educate their children.

This requires that every parent know what is best and when it is best for their child, based upon their specific family situation and their specific child’s needs. This will not be the same for every family. There is no cookie-cutter formula. Because:

Every family is unique.

  • For us personally, this past year our youngest son was in need of special education for some serious reading disabilities, so we took him out of being homeschooled and placed him in the public school system. They were able to provide what he currently needed, while our local Christian school was not. Thankfully, he has thrived beyond expectations. Prior to this past year, one of our other children was being homeschooled, and the remaining two were attending a local Christian school. Now, all three older children attend a Christian school.

Every school is unique.  

  • There are some local public schools that I would be more comfortable placing my child in than others based upon their size, their history, and their philosophy. There are also some local Christian schools that I would, and others that I would not, feel comfortable placing my child in for various reasons.

Every situation is unique.

  • You may not have a child with a disability. You may not have the financial ability or flexible scheduling to even consider a private or home education for your children. You may not have all the options mentioned above available to you in your area. So your family’s situation and current needs will play a big role in your decision-making, and no two situations are exactly the same.

Because we all operate in a different context, we may each come to a different conclusion about what is best for our family, and that is okay. Some families are adamant that it’s their way or the highway when it comes to the education of their children, and that is perfectly fine… for their children. However, no family should be adamant about that approach with everyone else’s children.

Some parents will try to make this it out to be a hard and fast biblical issue of right and wrong. Are there valid concerns with all three options? Yes, all three have their flaws. And while I would personally lean towards some options over others, I do believe that generally speaking, this is a Romans 14 issue (an issue of Christian liberty). This is not a completely black and white issue with a universal answer for every Christian family.

I also believe that this is not a decision to be made lightly, but prayerfully. Parents need to carefully weigh their decisions in the balances. Your child’s education will directly influence their character and their future, so your choice of education ought to closely reflect your goals and values as a family as well as help you to reach your end goal as a parent of raising godly children. 

Whichever form of education you choose, make sure that it is what God wants for your family. And remember, as parents, it is our responsibility to disciple our children first and foremost in the home, regardless of what type of education we choose.

I have seen children raised in good, Christian schools who have rebelled and turned completely away from God, and I have seen children educated in public schools who have gone on to successfully live the Christian life. I have also seen the reverse of each of these situations. Why? Because the greatest key to spiritual success in the life of any child is not a school, and it’s not even a church, it’s a godly home. 

I hope that these thoughts have been helpful. I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions? Do you agree, disagree, or have other things to add to these lists? I’d love to hear them.
(And if you need someone to give you direction and counsel in this area, feel free to reach out. I’d be glad to visit with you.)