SCL

It's all been said but if your kid is in public school, see if you can provide alternatives to classes to which you object.

They offer VERY frank and liberal co-ed sex classes in 5TH grade here (putting on a condom, AIDS, masturbation, homosexuality) which I didn't think my child was mature enough to handle. We were able to opt out and did a class at home for that.

Daughter said the other girls confessed their mortification to talk about these things with the boys in their class and wished they could have opted out too.

My husband and I are both grads of public schools and did college at cedarwhat. The grad school was at state schools
We sent out kids to public schools and have always been glad we did. They got a great education there with very few problems. However we lost any number of friends whose kids went to private christian schools, we just couldnt handle their clique-iness, most of their social activities suddenly revolved around school and we were out. I taught at a private christian university for a number of years and they treated me like crap. Even though i had been there for years and years they dismissed me because my kid was in the hospital and I choose to be with my child. They didnt even mind fessing up to that either-no sense of shame on their part. My kids-one will be at a private universities but not christian ones and that makes me happy, and the other at a state school and thats fine too. The education is NOT better at a christian school just because it has the label christian. Someone once gave the example would you rather have your child taught by the worlds best piano teacher or a kind teacher with poor technique who was christian. Well of course-the best teacher. And that MIGHT be a christian school OR it just MIGHT be (gasp!!) a public school. And its different for every kid.

Seems like you hit a chord on this one! I think no matter what the choice is, there's a smidge of guilt, but it goes away pretty quick. our kids go to a christian school and let me tell you it's been pretty eye opening. Course we now live in one of the least churched cities in the country, so I shouldn't be too surprised. I feel guilty saying they GO to a Christian school! I'm all for all three choices. the christian/private sector, my nieces and nephews are home schooled and I went to a public and later Christian school (and my husband was a minority in the inner city public school he went to…and he's alive to tell about it). Do what you feel is best as you're the one raising your princess and no one else. my three and a half cents.

Jon-you missed an entire catagory. the parent s who PROUDLY espouse NO schooling. As in "We no school our kids". We have met more than one family of this persuasion. the family we know best that espouses this has a kid who is 8 and doesnt yet read, because as the parents say "he will know when he is ready and interested". Studies show that if a child doesnt read by age 8 he wont ever. And these parents think this is a viable choice???Yeesh!

Your #1 stereotype for public school could not be more wrong. Darwinian Dodgeball could never happen since kids might get hit with the ball. Maybe Darwinian Roll-the-Ball?

Do you read all these comments?

I was homeschooled for kindergarten and 1st grade, and then went to public school from 2nd grade through the public college that I am at now. The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I seriously considered doing a homeschool program that I could do by myself online. I did it because I wasn't very connected at my school and the idea of doing my own schooling interested me, but I'm so glad that I decided against it, because I ended up loving my years at high school after that. I learned about evolution and sex and all that in high school, but it was always presented in a way that made it ok to disagree with it. I even took the initiative to look into the science behind evolution myself and bring concerns to my science teacher. Now I am going to school to get my teaching degree (for elementary school)!

Great post!

Here's what I think it comes down to. Parents need to be involved with their kids' education. We need to guide our children in truth without raising them in a bubble.

This means that any of the options are totally acceptable but we shouldn't ignore the possibility that they may not all be good options, for all kids.

The hardest part of all of this of course is that we as parents need to not only know the truth, but we need to live it out. We all learn best by example.

For the record, I went to public school up to grade 7 and private through 12.

My wife and I have labored over this for the last 5 years, since our first son has come. We've decided to try (try!) homeschooling. The conversation with other parents who choose differently is really like a…lose-lose.

If I say that we want to try this right now because we love spending all the time we can with our kids while we can, it's not implying that you don't love your time with your kids.

If I say that we are trying it because right now we can…and we want to develop our relationship with them through education, it's not bragging and it's not implying that anyone is a better or worse parent.

If I say that the school disrtict is great but we'd like to keep them from some of the things that inadvertently happen and other things that purposefully happen in a public school setting, it's not implying that we're out to tell (brainwash) our children what to think instead of actually teaching them (how to think).

If I say "we're not worried about this socialization thing," it's not a claim that we think our kids will always and forever be perfectly adapted to every situation. It is saying that if "socialization" means cliques and bullying and popularity superiority/inferiority games and peer pressure and jackassing around like it typically does in any school setting, then yes, fine, we'll have our kids remain unsocialized for now. They will have plenty, tons, of opportunities to learn how the "real world" works without this socialization.

If I say that weird home schooled kids probably came from weird parents doing the homeschooling, I'm implying that the type of schooling is not the issue. If our kids turn out weird, it's because of Amy and my weirdness that no type of education could save them from.

I was homeschooled, and I homeschool my kids. (ages 9,7 5, and 2.)

I attended a private (non-Christian) college, and graduated with an A average.

I, and my children, have friends with different last names.

I have never worn a denim jumper.

I don't grow my own food.

And I don't agree with people judging how parents decide to educate their kids.

I decided to homeschool.

This does not mean I think that everyone should do it.

I think that God leads us in different paths; as long as our desire is to follow God, that is what matters.

If a parent feels public school, Christian school or homeschool is the best for their family, don't think they made that decision lightly!!

Let's support each other!

Hubby and I went to public schools, but we unschool our children (like homeschooling, except that all of the curriculum is child-initiated).

I like the stereotypes you listed and I think for a lot of people they're true…they wouldn't be stereotypes if it wasn't a common occurrence. Still, you forgot the stereotype that all homeschoolers have 12,000 children. Even my parents asked us if we were going to "breed like bunnies" when we told them we were going to unschool. And what about the stereotype that all homeschoolers keep their kids home because of religion? We're Christian, but that has absolutely NOTHING to do with why our children aren't in public school.

No one should be given a hard time about how their children are educated. That is an extremely personal decision that can only be made by the parents involved, and there is no "best way", just a "best way for US".

haha, LOVE it. Some of those stereotypes are so "true" in the sense than any stereotype holds true sometimes.

I was homeschooled. Good experience in some ways, but looking back I hate homeschooling because, for me, it truly did stunt me socially/academically (in some areas of study)/etc. Then again, there are problems wherever you go. I'm just bitter because I can be.

Anyway, great list! I'll leave the parenting advice to everyone else, except to say that no matter what choice you make you have to play the main role – parent. Dont trust the authorities just b/c they are the authorities. Your family is yours alone to care for.

yuk!
We have less than a year to decide what to do with my four yr old girl and eventually her little sister…… I find myself avoiding 'the school conversation' with friends right now.

Actually, if we become the owners of a home two blocks from a public elementary school that I have heard great things about…. that might decide it for us…..

I know a home-schooled kid at our church. His parents believe that he would be exposed to the wrong element of people in either a private or public school.

He draws pictures during church service. Sunday it was a picture of a demon in the balcony shooting the pastor with AK-47.

I'm convinced that there is no being, be it man or beast, more dangerous and deadly than a roving pack of jr. high girls at a christian school. I could tell you story after story of how clickish and horrible they are. Kids who are pretty good at going along with the program tend to do great at christian schools. I would have probably gotten kicked out… not because I was bad, but I would have been asking why too many times.

I teach music privately now and teach home school kids, private school kids and public school kids. I didn't used to see much difference between them. Now the public school kids tend to be way overscheduled and fried from the 70 extra activities they have every week.

The homeschoolers who's parents aren't wound too tight are actuallyy the most ballanced over all. They aren't normally overwhelmed with their school work and bizillions of activities.

I went to public school and grew up in a non-christian home. Public school was great for me because it too much of a pain to half way follow Jesus.

I think it really depends on the kids and how they are wired.

Great post, good to see so many people commenting as well, as with most I think the most important factor is the child and what they need!

I go to a public school, and it's really not that bad. I know with the Christian shool most of my friend go to, they've know each other since they started school, 12 years ago. Which to be honest, sounds uninviting, know the same people your entire schooling life, with no different groups of people or changes in friendships or anything. My friend that goes there really wishes he went to my school. And my school isnt that bad, I just guess it depends on the suburb you live in.

"private Christian school" is redundant. Have you ever seen a public Christian school?

You forgot the one where homeschoolers are automatically mini-geniuses just by virtue of not having been in public school. I get tired of the assumption I must be Einstein because I was homeschooled.

Personally, homeschooling was a great decision for my family and I benefitted a lot from it. I DO feel more prepared than most of my college peers for university life, and real life in general, but this I attribute to my parents' excellent upbringing. I am pretty sure public school would have been very detrimental to me because the friends I have who are of similar temperament to me who went through the local public schools ended up being shoved into lockers, and things like that. Besides, I would not have been able to read nearly as much as I would have liked.

I admit, more than anything else, homeschooling stereotypes get on my nerves because there is no "definitive homeschooling model". The only thing that homeschooling kids all have in common is that they're *not* in public school — at least, not all of the time. It seems unfair to compare the student who worked through a distance-learning curriculum to the guy who had a private science tutor to the girl whose education centered around interactive learning through travel.

But that's what stereotypes are for! Being unfair.

I think a lot of people are reinforcing these stereotypes because of their own experience. Just because you met a "bad" public school kid, or a "snobby" private Christian school kid, or a "socially awkward" homeschool kid doesn't mean that all of those kids are that way. I've met all sorts of people like that and it had nothing to do with where they went to school. Parents, don't stress. God loves your kids way more than you do. He'll show you what to do. Be involved with your kids their whole lives (not just up to middle school). Love Jesus with all you have and love your kids. God will take care of the rest.

I went to public school K-12; both of my parents worked and we definitely couldn't afford private school. I was lucky that public schools in my town were very good- I got into the number 4 school in the country for college- a private university. Yes, I did know where I could get drugs and alcohol by the time I was 11, if I had wanted them. But that's the thing- it didn't hold any allure for me because my parents and church were actively involved in my life. I also felt looked down on by my aunt and uncle who sent their kids to Christian school and now Christian college but I definitely worry about when/if they hit the "real world" how they will handle it. Being a Christian in a public high school and private university was different and it was fun to see the bond between people who would have never been friends if not for their shared faith. Today my closest friends are Christians from a variety of denominations from both high school and college- we just managed to find each other.

Each child's needs are different and each family situation is different. While sterotypes can be based in truth, I would just caution expressing the feeling that one is better than the others (just in general) because kids pick up on it and then perpetuate the ideas.

Great article. Love that you break it down between all the choices the parents have to make. Parents always want to make the best choices for their children & every child is different. For better gaming choices, that help you to make a positive choice, visit http://www.leftbehindgames.com

Thanks for the great post.

My husband went to public/private schools. I was homeschooled. We will homeschool our children.

There are many reasons for this, academics being one of the major ones… public schools just don't have the same great teacher:student ratio that homeschools do!

As far as being judgmental… I think most people are, one way or another. I even see it on things like nursing vs. bottlefeeding… (aka, you're a HORRIBLE mother to choose breastfeeding, because you'll give your son a "boob" fixation… vs. you're a HORRIBLE mother to choose bottlefeeding, since you're denying him the best nutrition and bonding time).

As far as school goes, I *do* believe that nearly every family could manage to homeschool, despite financial situations, if they are willing to scrape a bit. Often those who say they "can't afford" it CAN afford to get cable TV or a host of other things. (Note: I do see that some who are actually financially destitute, aka poverty line, might not be able to afford it… but often times, those are just the families who DO homeschool or send their kids to a private school, because they value education more highly than others.)

I also am highly skeptical of the claim that we should "send our children to be a light" … as I have seen a ton of kids in the church youth group who went to public school and crashed and burned. This can work, but the children must be grounded well BEFORE attending or the world will put out their light.

And the claim that "well, we went to public school and it didn't hurt us" is only valid if the public schools are the same as they were back then. For instance, when my dad was a kid, they could BRING guns to school if they were going hunting afterwards, and school shootings were a thing unheard of. This insistence on standardized testing wasn't there, so students actually spent time LEARNING. A lot of the reason that people (not just Christians) are turning to homeschooling is not because of the faith issue but because of the academic one.

My husband's schooling experience was horrible, as he was bullied and made fun of, and as a result, left school with a very low self-esteem. I would not want this for our children.

In summary- there is no one reason that people do ANYTHING. Before committing to any type of schooling, the parent should research the options and do what is best for their child, spiritually, physically, and academically.

(My apologies for the rambling-ness above, as I just typed off some random thoughts quickly. I would edit it more, but I have to go take care of my son who has just awoken from his nap.)

I just stumbled upon your blog today and it rocks! I loved this post.
We homeschooled last year for my 2nd and K aged kids. It wasn't for me. I feel terribly guilty for sending that back to public school this year, mostly because of the stereotypes. I wish I could be a homeschooler, I really do. But I have to accept that being a teacher is not something that God has gifted me with, and I'm beginning to be OK with that.
My opinion on the whole school thing is that you have to do what's right for your family. Each family has their own specific circunstances and from those circumstances, they have to decide what's best for *them*, not based on what the next door neighbor does or how they were raised or what their friends think they should do.
I went to both public and private school. To be honest, there were more kids getting in to trouble at the private school than kids I knew in public school.
I wish we could afford to send our kids to a private Christian school, but that's just not in our cards right now. So, it is with faith and hope and a lot of prayer that we send our kids off to public school. We vow to be as involved as we can and trust that God will help them through the tough situations and that we will be able to help them navigate the tough choices they will be faced with.

HAHA! I went to a (overpriced) Christian school from 5th-12th grade. Let me tell you, I remember nothing.
The only awesome thing I can attest to is "Hermeneutics" my Senior year. (I just dropped that word–without Seminary! Hah)

There was 30 of us in my class total, on a good year. So we all got to know each other way too well.
I've been married 3 years now and work part time. I feel that I'm the only one of us in this situation because whenever I see kids from my class, or a grade younger or older than me, they are usually knocked up and single or in college doing awesome in some masters program.
Slight exaggeration, but I think you get the gist.

My friends and I, in our early twenties actually discuss this alot…and i think alot of the stereotypes ring true, but in all honesty I think it is completely relevant to the child and the situation. I would have hated anything other than public school.

It's interesting that so many people list evolution as a sticking point. I went to public school K-12 and loved it (although somehow people from church always assumed I was homeschooled–I guess because I was quiet?). I never really learned much about evolution because it wasn't an important part of most aspects of science classes. I did, however, hear a fair bit about its evils in Sunday School and devotional books, etc. I never realized until I was most of the way through high school that there were actually Christians, some of whom I knew and respected, who didn't have a problem with evolution. And in fact, that's where I stand–it's where the evidence seems to point, and I see no theological reason to doubt it. Just because I don't understand how every single thing I see in the Bible matches up with the world I experience doesn't mean they aren't both true–I am human, and therefore have limited and faulty understanding.

Thanks Jon…for your hilarious, yet so truthful approach to the education options. My husband and I were both products of private Christian education from kindergarten through college. This year we have had to decide to send our older 2 kids to public elementary school. It was a hard decision and we felt guilty for having to make it, but in the end I have peace about it and ultimately…no one else will give account to God for our children's educations, but us…their parents!

This fall I will embark on our 9th year of homeschooling. It will be our son's last . . . . . he's going to a heathen public high school after that.

Let me tell you one thing – there is NO perfect education system on the face of the earth. Period. They all have their pros and cons.

Your post is absolutely correct! All these stereotypes out there = you're wrong with whichever school you chose for your kids because someone will ALWAYS find a 'problem' with your choice!

I'm actually in a weird situation. My kids are in a Christian school and they are being ridiculed because as a Chinese parent, I did *GASP* send them to the 'TOP TEN' academically acheiving school.

The best schools in the state are either chartered school or other private schools… so I got 'attacked' with all the Christian school stereotype "oh you just don't want to teach your kids Christian value and want the school to do it for you; oh I AM not like that, because I will teach my kids Christian values at home AND they won't be weirdos who can't associate with other people".

I have now been 'ostracized' from a group of mommies from church. They are all sending kids to "Harvard medical prep schools" LOL.

Sorry, I mean as a Chinese parent, I *GASP* did NOT send them to an academically achieving school…

(sorry for leaving out the NOT)

I was homeschooled, and my mother did NOT churn her own butter. Everything else is pretty much true.

I'm sure some of this depends on where you live. As a former public school teacher in the midwest, I have to say the kids going to private Christian/Catholic schools in our area don't have as many varied opportunities but still get a good education. As far as homeschooling goes, it TOTALLY depends on the parent doing it and the reasons behind it. There are some parents who are really putting their kids at a disadvantage in life by 'trying' to homeschool them. Some do a fantastic job. I have to address a comment from the first couple of posts though – I taught public school and my kids go to public school and I along with my kids teachers' hug and comfort kids ALL the time. This is not against the law, it's what kind people do. I even prayed in my classroom while my students and I sat in fear on 9/11. Not a single student or parent complained and several thanked me.

I was homeschooled and I like to think that most of the stereotypes didn't really apply to my family, or the friends I had that were homeschooled. My mom doesn't have long hair… she has short spiky high-lighted hair!
If your parents are weird, you'll probably be a weird homeschool kid.
If your parents are normal, you'll probably be pretty normal as a homeschool kid.
When I switched from public to home school, it totally changed my life. My relationship with my family, the way I looked at God.
I just felt like it was hard to be in communion with God when everyone (Yes, pretty much. It started in 5th grade! Can you believe that?!) is cussing, then a few years later they're making out and worse, and then of course, moving on to being "intimate" with other teenagers. Hard to focus on God in that kind of environment with peer pressure.
But my husband and I haven't decided yet if our kids will be homeschooled their entire lives or not.
Its every family's decision, like others have said.
Have fun deciding!

great post and a hot topic! There are loads of snarky stereotypes out there for all three options.

I went to private school then began homeschooling on extended trips for my dad's work schedule. When we came back to school, I was always chapters ahead of the class. We began homeschooling full time, and it worked for me.

When I reached high school, my parents left the decision to me, and I chose to attend the local public school. In some ways, it was a big stretch and I had to learn to adapt to the schedule and to social situations.

But I do often feel that academically, that particular public school cheated me out of a really good education because of emphasis on busy work and teaching to the state tests. I am sometimes blown away by the homeschooled students I tutor who have opportunities to read classics, philosophy, and history that I didn't begin reading until college (and I needed the cliff's notes!)

I attended a Christian university, then began teaching middle school at a private Christian school, which was run basically as a public school + Bible classes.

I've seen the stereotypes made and radically broken, but in whatever choice you make, I think the main thing is to keep communication open with the kids. The world is not a "safe" place, no matter how much Christians would like to insulate kids from its influence, it is always there.

There are some fantastic organizations out there that are starting to meet kids where they are at and helping them to engage culture from a Biblical perspective (Christian Liberal-Arts university lingo for "round-house kicking secular humanism.")

Check out Worldview Academy, my favorite Christian School/Homeschool/Private School student melting pot.

I attended Christian schools K-12. Went to a secular private college, to the art department – art's not too popular with religious folks either. My husband went to public schools all his life, then to a Christian college.

My husband's "heathen" schooling had some strong Christian students there, and my "sheltered" schooling had its fair share of people that never really bought into Jesus, but could play it out pretty well.

Based on our experiences, we've settled on Christian education for our own children, whether that means tackling it ourselves or trusting them to someone else.

I've taught in some pretty Christian and Christian-friendly public schools, so it depends on the area quite a bit on picking a school too.

We've realized it's what we do as parents. It's the lives we model, the prayers we pour ourselves into, and ultimately, the relationships we base in Christ. It is our responsibility to do the best we can by our kids, but it's also our choice.

Delayed reaction, but great post! As a product of all three (K-6 grade homeschool, 6-10 private Christian, and 11-12 at public) it's fair to say most of those are fairly accurate. At least for a few of the people in each category. Honestly, I enjoyed each stage of my education and am now a certified history teacher and plan to teach in a public school

haha i definitely enjoyed reading this because i have experienced all three systems:

homeschooled until 4th grade
4-5, private christian
6, homeschooled
7-9, different private christian
10-12, public

i now attend an incredibly enormous private rich kids college, but it wasn't on purpose, i promise.

i am thoroughly thankful for what i like to call my "well-rounded" education. i have experienced pretty much every stereotype there is, i can connect with way more people from different educational backgrounds, and i kinda hope my kids will be lucky enough to have the same experience.

in my opinion, homeschooling is ideal for younger grades so children can learn at their own pace and be indoctrinated by YOU rather than a bunch of strangers. i enjoyed private school at the age i did because i made friends but still got a good solid biblical foundation to my education. then, the later years of high school were well spent in public school because i was much better prepared for college social and academic life, i learned when to reach out and when to keep my mouth shut, and i met a far more diverse group of beliefs than i would have otherwise.

thank the lord for such varied opportunities in our country!

one drawback: my transcript looks ridiculous.

weighing in:
I was in public school
K-4
11-12
2 yrs of college
and catholic school
5-10
finished college

the catholic school gave me a better education, but both were equal in worldly experiences.

but every evil thing i learned i learned on the schoolbus.

my daughter now goes to the same catholic school, but we drive her. No busses.

Home schooled teen right here.
And no, we can't go to the prom.
But that's about it.

Dude, I've went to public school for six years. Private Christian school for two and am now a homeschooler going on four years.

I met more real people, who were way more serious about their faith at the public school than the private one.

It's like the ones at a the private thought they already knew all they needed to know. I didn't grow in my faith at all there. My experience with a private Christian school, was backstabbing. I've never had more enemies. The school board plotted to fire a teacher that didn't let the parents walk all over her. My ears and memory have proof of the terrible, fake things they said.

Now with homeschooling, I don't have to deal with people I don't want to deal with.

I don't have to engage with people who I don't get along with.

My social life is my church family and a few other handful of friends. Most of my friends are at the church though. I like it that way. 99.9% of them are serious about it and I enjoy spending time with them.

Tl;dr? I've experience all three options. There were fake people more so at the private school than the public. I adore homeschooling.

Yeah.
Heh, I liked this. It was well-written and very true.

I have a son who is orthopedically disabled (but very smart), and every Christian preschool in my area refused to accept him. The only private school in the area that would allow him in at all was the local Jewish school. It wasn't a good fit (they had stairs), so we sent him to public school. When his little brother got to be preschool aged, we remembered the Christian snobbery and chose the Jewish school instead. Now both are in public grade school, and they are getting a great education. We plan to send them to public middle and high schools as well.

We've had some eyebrows raised at our schooling choices, but all I can say is that I am glad that I already know Christ because the so-called Christian schools (at least 5 of them in our area) refused to be Christ to us in our time of need. Some of them were quite rude to us when we inquired about enrolling our son. Another friend of mine actually enrolled her daughter in a "Christian" private school, but the daughter got kicked out because she has learning disabilities (although she is very smart as well). She was scared to death about sending her daughter to a public school because of all the bad things she had heard, but was quite surprised to find that the public school was a good school giving a good education.

Either way, it's not the school's responsibility to make sure these children grow up to know Jesus; it's ours as their parents.

I love this post.

I had the experience of going to private conservative Christian schools for K-1st grade in Cleveland. I did not fit in at all because I was brought up differently than many of the other kids (I read at a sixth-grade level when I was five years old, and my parents had tutored me in advanced subjects before starting school, so I was kind of a nerd). The teachers didn't know what to do with me, so I got in trouble a lot…once for talking with the other kids about "getting a career."

So my parents pulled me out and sent me to Catholic schools, which I attended until graduating high school, mostly in Detroit. The private Catholic schools were slightly better, but I didn't fit in, primarily because of looking different than the other kids (a chubby red-haired black kid in homogeneous schools), and because I started to develop social anxiety. So private schools = nice kids was total crap in my case.

I was the "good" kid through same-sex high school that got a lot of crap for it from the other girls. Many of these same kids ended up pregnant or in homosexual relationships. For my part, I was pretty much agnostic, and decided that I would go to public university because I didn't want any part of religion. So I found the biggest one I could find – Ohio State – go Buckeyes! – and that's where I found and came to Christ.

My 16-year-old brother went to private Protestant and Catholic schools and was relentlessly bullied. Then he went to public charter school in seventh grade, and the bullying virtually stopped. He's now in a neighborhood public high school, and he's doing well socially. He's also a serious Christian, and his on-fire and public faith hasn't been a problem there.

I also substitute-taught in a public school system for a while a year and a half ago up in MI, and one thing that impressed me was that, for the most part, the kids were accepting of each other's differences. I rarely came across meanness or bullying.

When considering my own experiences in school, as well as that of my brother and my fiance (who had similar experiences to what I had growing up), I will probably send my future children to public schools. Of course, I will have to take an active role teaching our kids about faith, but isn't that the parents' job anyway? Besides, I want to allow my kids the socialization that school outside the home provides, but without the effect of having the "faith" inside of private religious schools leading my kids away from any faith in Christ.

I have done time with all three types of schooling: public (where I attended myself, all the way through grad school); Christian school (where I taught for several years); and homeschool (we just graduated our first after a K-12 homeschool education).

Personally, we found homeschooling to be better on many levels (academically, socially, and spiritually for sure…I might even be able to make a case for physically). However, I would argue that how WELL a choice ends up working for someone is not the ideal basis for decision making for a Christian. Our foundation needs to be what Scripture teaches. We should be asking if there is an more obedient choice or if there is a disobedient choice.

I first thought all three choices were reasonably biblical – that this was a simple matter of Christian liberty. But the more exposure I had to what the public school is about (my Master's degree is in education) the more my opinion changed. I kept noticing that the public school is NOT neutral on the subject of Jesus Christ. It has taken a definitive stand on the subject. His name will NOT be exalted. His kingdom will NOT be furthered by its efforts. And if anyone attempts to do so in the public school, there will be legal consequences.

As Christians we are called to train our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There is an irresolvable tension here. I think many people who desire to follow God sense that same tension. It could even be the source of some of the guilt feelings. If we feel guilty because we fear some person will not approve of our decision, we need to ignore the guilt. If, however, that person is God, that's an entirely different situation.

I realize all of the comments on this post are from weeks and weeks ago. Nevertheless, I thought I would add that I am a junior at a public high school. I have always gone to public school. My one alternative experience was at an all girls grammar school in England for one semester. Some things for you to consider:
1. I am not a very strong Christian, but am praying a lot and trying to build friendships and accountability in order to work on that. This is not a result of my schooling but a result of an innate lack of faith on my part.
2. I take the most advanced classes my school has to offer (with the exception of math. I'm more in the middle there). This includes A.P. Biology. Consequently, I believe that God's majesty and evolution are not mutually exclusive. In fact, this belief is one of the reasons I am still a Christian after a long "season" of doubt.
3. I do not live in Georgia, but I'm guessing that unless your child develops an odd sort of love for biology, you will not have much of an issue with evolution if you are truly opposed to it. My science teachers are all fond of saying that the average American has an 8th grade science education.
4. Most of the issues you have listed do not usually crop up until one reaches the teenage years, as I am sure you well know. Most of the complaints surrounding public school can be combated with a strong youth group and healthy friendships. I'm sure that if my parents had stressed the importance of healthy and Godly friendships from an early age, some of my current issues would be nonexistent.
5. As far as stereotypes go, I have always been under the impression that a private OR homeschool education is generally not as well rounded. Homeschooling, especially, is traditionally limited by the abilities and talents of the parents. For instance, I would never homeschool any child of mine because their math education would be absolutely abysmal.

PS: If your children eventually swear occasionally, please don't freak out. I've been swearing since fifth grade, but realize it's ridiculous and do my best not to. People mostly grow out of it by high school. I think it's at that point they remember the existence of adjectives.

I should probably add that I was not implying that your children were of average intelligence! I have been consistently impressed by your posts and am sure that your children are equally intelligent. I was simply saying that most people do not pursue careers in science and usually opt to take different courses upon reaching high school.

Location, location, location. I attended public school, but it was in an affluent area with many academically challenging, artistic, and athletic opportunities. I had many Christian friends and graduated unscathed. Where I live now, I would not send my kids (had I any) to the public schools.

I very well may homeschool my children someday. I just hope I wouldn't turn into the homeschool moms I've met with superiority complexes. I've met a few who have looked down upon families who don't homeschool as though they are making poor choices and disobeying God. "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

I am a high schooler at a Public School and I am thriving.

I feel that the school is not what causes a child to stray from the church. It is the heart. I am still truly faithful to my church, I serve every Sunday, I read my bible daily, on top of having straight A's this year.
Public School teaches us how to stand up for what we believe and learn to grow up in a wordly (non-babied) environment that prepares us to rely on our heavenly father to overcome that rude kid at school or that Evolution Exam. Public school has saved money for my family so that my family can vacation together and bond with eachother.

So I am so for Public Schools and believe 100% that children can live a full Christian life attending one.

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