Bethany Discussion Forums

It's me, the one who likes polls and also likes to plan ahead Answer the question with what type of school your child will be attending this fall.

Trying to decide what to do...and yes, I know I have a few years but I want to get all the info I can.

Let me know your experiences, if you home school what curriculum you use, if you started off home schooling and changed to public or vice versa, etc., etc., etc.

Thanks!

Our Girls started Public School yesterday.
Last year was their first year in public, and I was so worried about them being there.
But
when both of their teachers told me about them being little evangelist, I knew everything would be ok.

So we are doing the Public School thing, for now.

Both Jacob and Ryley have attended our Christian school and we've been sooooo happy. I love how they can squeeze God in to every nook and cranny of their learning! Even math! We haven't paid much attention to where they stood in the standings compared to other schools (because they were only in 1st. and pre-K) UNTIL we got their testing results and saw that they were above grade level in all aspects. Because our school is small they are able to get one on one teaching! I also love that our teachers pray with and over each student. PLUS.......(sorry) most of the teachers attend our church so it's nice that we can know them outside of school. We've talked of moving them to public schools when they hit third grade so that they can play sports. We're not sure what we're going to do. Our public schools are great too!
Sorry if I babbled!

Hi Kathy,

We have used a Christian school for the kids. It goes through 8th grade, so Andi is now in public high school (will be a sophomore). Ryan will be in 7th grade in the fall. Daniel & Carina will also be attending the Christian school, but we have no idea what grade. The principal and teachers have been so encouraging and excited about Daniel & Carina joining the school. They might start with half days or who knows, might want to stay all day. I am very lucky in that my best friend is the art teacher at school so she will be able to see them everyday and keep an eye on them.

Public school for high school has been okay. Andi has her spiritual and moral foundation so she has been unable to sift through some of the unpleasantness of the public school curriculum, etc. If there was a Christian high school here she would definitely be there.

I have friends who home school and it is quite a task. The concern I always had with home schooling is that my child is only going to learn what I know and not benefit from someone who has been educated and trained to teach. You don't need to home school to teach your child. You will be the #1 teacher your child has in the examples that you set and the activities that you do with her.

Wow --- you really are planning ahead. Do you have her wedding dress picked out already too? ( )

Lori

Since I am a public school teacher, I advocate for public schools. I see benefits of both. However, if you ever have children with special needs, I find (from my experiences) for their to be more aide for students with disabilities. I have also taught in a private school.

You have to know your kids and their "perfect fit". For now, I am depending on the public schools to help with speech/language for Will. So Will will be attending public school in the fall when he turns three.

Now potty training advice... I will take any and all! Amy and I have had this conversation.

Growing up I went to Christian School. My oldest daughter started first grade at our neighborhood public school yesterday (SO early!), and I've actually considered home schooling.

I personally think it has a lot to do with where you live and what the schools are like. If I was in a place where the schools were questionable and unsafe....I would home school or drive a ways to a Christian school.

We are blessed with a great public school system in our area, so I haven't really had any concerns so far. We've already had to have several "talks" about things she heard at school that we didn't morally aprove of....but I think it prepares her for life and is teaching her how to make good decisions.

I've recently met a few families that homeschool and they have the GREATEST relationships with their kids and their children are unbelievably social and intelligent. It would be a lot of work , but I definitely have it in the back of my mind. My degree is in education, so I keep thinking I should do SOMETHING with it.

Hee hee....as for potty training~ I'm at a loss right now cuz I'm in the midst of it too with my 2 year old. I thought the 3rd child would be a breeze. She did great for about 2 weeks and now just says "NO" every time I ask her if she wants to sit on her potty. She's just too busy to care about sitting long enough to go right now. Diapers are more her "speed". My friends keep telling me boys are even harder....so I guess the worst is yet to come.

Hi, I seem to be the only homeschooler that voted in the poll, and wanted to speak up. My kids have always been home; my oldest will start 6th grade in two weeks. Not trying to create a debate, but someone did mention you can only teach your kids what you know and public school teachers are better because they are trained to teach- I only have an associates degree in human services, yet somehow when my son was in 4th grade he tested at an 8th grade reading level, 6th grade social studies level, and grade level for math and science. (sorry, we homeschool moms are used to having to defend ourselves to family, ps teachers, and society in general)

My husband is a public school teacher and he advocates for homeschooling. A lot does depend on where you live- what the school system class sizes are, what the curriculum is...

My children absolutely do NOT want to go to public school. We have a support group, co-op, lots of field trips public schools simply could not afford, flexibility with scheduling, and my kids are able to do community activities (scouts, little league, gymnastics) without being stressed about rushing home, doing homework, doing those activities, and getting to bed on time.

KellyL

I have to agree with Kelly. Even though we don't have kids yet, dh taught public school and this is my 5th year in public school. Dh and I made a commitment years ago to never put our children in public school. I've taught in three systems/two states in elementary, middle and high school and in very affluent all the way to very low socio-economic schools! It's all the same. Very political and screwed up! Lots of wasted time and children who get neglected either b/c their gifted or special needs.

If anyone is a reader I highly recommend Douglas Wilson's The Case for Classical Christian Education.

It's important to my dh and I for our children to be taught from a biblical worldview. I advise parents who have their children in public school to volunteer and see the innerworkings. It's a real eye-opener. Even if you're in a "safe" community, how do you know what worldview your child is being continually bombarded with. Dh and I both have degrees in Christian ed. and feel very strongly about the classical Christian ed. model. We have several friends on board who have children around Cana's age so we are hoping to start a school/co-op group.

Can you tell I feel very strongly about this? I could write an essay.[/u]

I think so much depends on your own outlook, the area (district) you live in, and of course, your child. Our kids go to private school. Our own public school district offers an equal, and in truth, probably better, academic education for our kids. But our children would have to give up so much that is important to us.

If, for some reason, the private school didn't work out, I'd try homeschooling - though I think that requires tremendous commitment and discipline. I think we'd only consider our public school for one of our kids if there was a special need that wasn't able to be met by me or the private school. I do see kids in our school whose self-esteem suffers because they really aren't mainstream material academically. Our public school district is well equipped to help these children.

Once your Emma comes home, you'll find out from other mothers in your area how your district is and if it will be hospitable to the values you're teaching her. Our own public school district has a religiously diverse population (Christians, Jews, atheists, etc.), and tries to make children from all families (traditional and non-traditional) feel welcome. The attention our district pays to lifestyles and faiths different from our own is sometimes perceived (fairly or unfairly) by us as hostility toward our family's way of life.

I like that our kids start and end each school day with a prayer. It's comforting to me that when tragedy strikes in one of kids' families or in the news, the kids pray as a class and then are told to pray at home. I love our annual Christmas concert filled with religious and secular songs. Are our kids getting the best academic education available to them? Maybe not. But they are learning how to read, write, and figure, and they're also learning to work hard and turn to their Faith when times get tough. And that's enough for us.

We are definately going to look for a Christian School. Teachers have such a huge influence on their students - having teachers who support our Christian life is so precious - also the Christian friendships are so vaulable.
Yes, not all Christian schools have the extensive staff and sports programs that the public schools may have, but the everyday spiritual lessons are sooooooo much more important. Children are so impressionable and I pray that our children will have Christian teachers and friends to help them grow in their faith. I want my children to be ready for the "real" world before I send them there.

I feel so blessed to have gone to Christian Schools. My Christian Schooling has provided a foundation for me to face the world with confidence. I also have made life long friends who offer Christian support in time of need.

I have several friends and family members who teach in public schools and they all say that they would NEVER send their children there. So public school is definately out of the picture in my mind.

If a Christian school was not available, I would homeschool. I went to college with a couple of people who were homeschooled and they were the smartest and most hard working students. I really don't think homeschooled children suffer at all academically. The independent learning enviroment really helps to make them successful throughout life.

Sorry, I am a little late on this topic, but I just had to comment....
I also grew up in the Christian school and then taught there for five years as well. I have to agree with the things others were saying about Christian schools. Kids are soooo impressionable and teachers are their role models. If I was in a place that didn't have a Christian school, I would somehow want to make sure that their teachers in the public school were Christians. If I had any doubts, I think I would have to homeschool. We just moved, so I will be subbing in the district here. I look forward to it, because I think it will be an eye opening experience like someone mentioned.
The awesome thing about Christian ed. is that you KNOW the educators are on the same page as you, the parents, and are your partners working with you to bring up your children in the way of Christ.
One other thought, though. most Christian schools are not near as culturally diverse as public schools, even in the culturally diverse neighborhoods. I wouldn't trade my Christian ed for anything, but it was so homogenious and sometimes I felt like I didn't have as many opportunities to get to know people from other cultures. So, I encourage you, if you do decide to go with Christian ed, be sure to get involved with the community too, because there may be some rich opportunities there that your child might need, being from another country and everything.

I guess in conclusion, my vote would be for Christian education, and even though you will become involved with the Christian school community, don't neglect your own neighborhood community, for there are many resources there, too.
Okay, enough rambling!
Tieneke

Hello there!
This is an interesting poll to think about...especially since my DH and I are on the waiting list and we talk about things like this. I guess at the moment, I'm pretty glad that we moved into a town that has a good public school district. We're considering having our child go there because of the small townism place we live in and the attention they would recieve.
I understand how some have been blessed with a good Christian school. I would like to commend them for that. I have to admit, I would search high and low and ask every question under the sun before allowing my child to go to a Christian school because I would want to make sure it would be a good fit. I attended a Christian school for a year when I was a child and unfortunately had a bad experience with it. (It's a long story) My parents enrolled me there because they had the same hopes that you (fortunately) are currently experiencing. So, I would have to use my personal experience as a learning tool if I did want to pursue the possibilities.
Such a great question! Thanks!
Dorothy