Christian
School? or Home School?
My wife and I have had a
life-long commitment to Christian School work, having spent more than thirty years
working and teaching in Christian schools. The author is presently working as high school math and
Bible instructor at Evangelical Christian Academy in Colorado Springs, and my
wife teaches first grade. We have six
sons, three married sons in Northern California who are active in their church
and three sons in Colorado Springs, one an elder at Trinity Covenant R.C.U.S.
and two students at E.C.A.
We long ago considered home
school for our children, but rejected it for the following reasons:
I. Home School should
only be considered a temporary option for the church. Real
strength in any undertaking is in institutions that are built on Biblical
principles. Jesus did not send his
disciples out as individuals or as families only, but as members of a new
institution, the church. Thus, the work would continue long after individuals
were in heaven. There is a desperate need in our day for the rebuilding of
Christian institutions throughout society: law associations, charitable
institutions, political actions groups, medical associations, as well as
schools. In such institutions the work
of individuals is magnified. Capital is
concentrated to provide tools that increase effectiveness.
II. Home School violates
the fundamental economic principle of the division of labor. Everyone does not have the same gifts as
other individuals. If we are to fulfill
our obligation to our children to prepare them to earn their living and compete
in the modern world, then they should be prepared by the best brains that
Christianity has to offer. The wisdom of history dictates that this is best
done in the school. If a man's energy
is not siphoned off by tasks that he does not do well, he can be much more
effective in those things he can do well. The foot must not say to the hand, “I
have no need of thee.”
It is true that many
Christian schools are small and cannot offer a great variety of subjects. The solution is two-fold: the support of Christian parents
and the support of the Christian community.
It is unfortunate that many church members still siphon off support that
should go to Christian institutions and give it to government schools or to
home-schools. This delays the building
of Christian schools. It is interesting
that some of these same people are among the loudest who complain about the
supposed shortcomings of the Christian schools.
III. Home-School Deprives Children of the
Advantage of Christian Friends and Support. No matter how strong a family is, the time will come when parents
will be grateful for the influence of other Christian friends and their
families. Christian children and young
people need to rub shoulders with other Christians who think differently and
have different problems from them. Ideas need to be challenged, and values
re-enforced. The benefits of this process are great, both in strengthening
convictions and learning humility and spiritual grace.
Without this, strange and
weird ideas can develop. Home-schoolers
need to beware of odd-ball ideas and self-righteous smugness.
The discipline of learning
to get along with others who may differ with you, to le~rn to listen, to live
under time discipline, to meet deadlines, are often the greatest weaknesses of homeschooling, and yet it is
here that some of life's greatest lessons can be learned.
In saying these things, the
author recognizes that home-school may be the best choice for some families
under present conditions. There may be
no good Christian schools available. Those with large families may find the
cost of Christian school prohibitive.
Churches should consider the establishment of scholarships and
endowments to help in these cases, for the education of Christian youth is not
just the concern of parents.
We enrolled our two youngest
sons in Evangelical Christian Academy when we first moved to Colorado Springs
in 1986, before we ever intended to apply for teaching positions. We chose E.C.A. because of the clear
confession concerning the God of scripture. The knowledge of God, the Creator,
lies at the root of all other knowledge.
We also like the strong academics and realistic goals that help kids
build confidence and reach their potential. E.C.A. has a structured order that
re-enforces Christian values. We like the fact that E.C.A. respects our home
and the legitimate differences that we may have with other good Christian
homes. We like the broad worldview at E.C.A.
The whole world belongs to God. No part
is to be abandoned as “Satan's territory.”
Rather, we must seek to bring everything under obedience to the Law of
God in Jesus Christ, including law, economics, art, music, as well as science
and business.