Bible Students

Christian vs Public Schooling

A common issue of parents in the 21st century is whether to send children to a private Christian school or to the regular public school. While there are advantages and disadvantages to both private Christian and public education, I believe there is a clear answer for all parents: Ultimately, the responsibility of raising Christ-centered children is not on the public or private educational systems, but on the community of Christian adults around the students. This concept will be explored through the following subtopics relating to public and private education. First, why is this a discussion at all? 

Why do parents believe there is a difference between private Christian and public educations? The difference between the two systems obviously lies in their presuppositions. As described by the author in his paper (Oller, 2024), presuppositions are the absolute most important determiner of the quality of education for the student. The presuppositions of the educational system (secular humanist or Evangelical, in this case) determine the reason for education in the respective systems, which then determines the methods and motivation of the teachers. If the educational system is secular humanist, they will exist for the purpose of educating students in a godless universe, where value and truth comes from human ingenuity. If the educational system is Christian, they will exist for the purpose of educating students in a universe made by God, where value and truth come from God. In each system, respectively, education exists to advance humanity or to worship God. The difference between private Christian schooling and public schooling is quite clear. It lies in their presuppositions, which then translates to their purpose. 

When parents see that there is a difference in presuppositions in the schooling systems, they assume this will be the determining factor between their child becoming a Christ-lover or a Christ-hater. They believe the school’s presuppositions are the most important factor in their child’s education. However, this is not the case. As explained in the previously mentioned paper (Oller, 2024), the most important factor of the teacher’s success in their job is their presupposition about teaching (to teach in order to honor God). However, the most important factor of the student’s success in their job is their own presupposition about learning (to learn for the glory of God). As explained, 

Second, students must purposefully uncover God’s view on  a subject through carefully listening to the voice of the Spirit. This is positioned second because listening to the voice of the Spirit, especially for a child, may be especially difficult. However, as the teacher continues to uncover the view of God through His Word, the student will have an easier time discerning the voice of the Spirit. The Spirit will use the implanted Word to point the student to glorifying God, even without the direction of the teacher. This is the answer to a particularly difficult question: If humans are inherently evil, how can they seek to learn virtuously at all? The work of the Spirit in the Christian, even the child, will constantly renew them to have a desire, however small, for virtuous learning (Oller 2024, par. 6).

The text explains that it is the responsibility of the student to seek God through their learning. However, other also must show students how they are to seek out God in their learning. This method will be explained in a later section. Before that, there are some advantages and disadvantages of both Christian schooling and public schooling which should be discussed. 

Private Christian Schooling

First, what is private Christian schooling? Private Christian schooling is defined by its Christian presuppositions. Christian private schooling is presuppositional Christian, usually with a desire to educate for the purpose of exploring God’s creation. All subjects fall under this purpose. Additionally, private Christian schooling is usually funded by the parents of those attending, as it is not government funded. This is a blessing and a curse, as parents are responsible for keeping the school afloat, but the schools in return do not need to adhere to state curriculum. This trade-off is an advantage for those who are able to afford the cost, but may be a hard sell for those who are less financially stable. 

Public Schooling

Public schooling, on the other hand, is defined by state presuppositions, which usually mandates on a practical educational level the separation of the church and state. This means public schools are not able to teach explicitly Christian doctrines, though public schools are able to have a hidden Christ-centered purpose, both as a system and as individual teachers. One major advantage to public schools is that they are government funded, which means those who are less financially stable can send their children to public school for free. However, this also means the schools must adhere to government curriculum. 

Which is Better?

Now, the method of funding essentially determines the advantages and disadvantages of the different school systems, but also depends on the financial stability of the family sending their child to the respective school. For poorer families, public schooling may be the only option available due to the cost of a private Christian school. However, on the other hand, for richer families, private Christian education may be a far better alternative in the eyes of the parents than secular public schools. This creates a divide between the richer Christian families who are able to send their children to private schools and the poorer Christian families who must send their children to public schools. Of course, this is a generalization and oversimplification. However, as far as this is true, it should not be a cause of worry for those who send their children to public schools. 

What about Witness?

Now, some who send their children to public schools see it as a way for their children to witness to other students. This is a fair point, as the Christian influence in another school can be a very good thing. This type of thinking divides Christian and public education into an emphasis on the edification of the child versus the evangelism of the child. In Christian schools, it could be said that the child is being edified by the school, while the public school is being edified by the student. Parents can have differing beliefs on what is best for their child at a certain time, as there not a universal grade-related formula for understanding when edification or evangelism should be focused on in the spiritual walk of the child. 

The Call of Christians

Now, Christian teachers are a different story. Christian teachers can teach in either the Christian or public sectors while being very effective. I know different teachers who teach at private and Christian schools. They are able to witness and edify their students, even if one teaches Christianity explicitly, and one has to be more creative in showing their Christianity. The teacher must decide for themself when the time is right to teach Christians and when the time is right to teach nonchristians in order to point them to Christ. The teacher can be an evangelist to those who do not know Christ or a discipler of those who do know Him. 

The Purpose of Sunday School and Parental Education

Now for the main argument of the paper. The responsibility of raising a Christ-centered student is not on the educational system. The responsibility, ultimately, is on the parents of the child to raise them up in the way they ought to walk. Parents must teach their children how to walk in the way of God. Many parents depend on the direction of the school, even secular schools, to somehow raise their child up spiritually to love and follow Christ. The parent must be an ever-present spiritual guide for their child. The parent must disciple their child as a fellow Christian, supplementing their education with spiritual education. This is true whether the student goes to a Christian or public school. 

One of the additional ways parents are to raise their child up in the way they should walk is through a strong church community. Parents should be plugged in to a strong church community which grows their child through Sunday School or youth groups. Parents should be able to depend on a church they are involved in to help grow their child. To help grow their child spiritually means they are not the primary spiritual influence, but a contributing spiritual influence. Parents should not depend on the school system, no matter what system they are in, to grow them spiritually. The child must be grown spiritually by their parents primarily, and their church. Only a child who loves the Lord will benefit from either public or Christian education, and they must be taught to love the Lord by the strongest influences in their life, their parents and community. 

Homeschooling

Many Christians also opt for homeschooling in order to have complete control of what their child is learning. I believe this is a legitimate alternative to schooling, though it also depends on the motivation of the child to learn and the community around them. The love of the Lord and a community to go to are very important factors for determining the spiritual development of the child. The spiritual development of the child determines how they navigate the material they learn, either in public, Christian, or home schooling. If the child loves the Lord and is shown the way they should walk, then homeschooling will be a very effective model, as it pushes the parent (spiritual guide) and the student closer together in relationship to learn about God’s universe. However, if the student hates the Lord, homeschooling may cause them to push back even further, as they associate their hatred for the Lord with their “spiritual guide” (parent). Homeschooling is ultimately not the solution. Christ-centeredness is the solution. 

Conclusion

A Christian will follow God through seasons of helpful learning and harmful learning. The church and school should supplement anything the child needs. It is not a matter of private Christian and public school, but a matter of the commitment of the Christian community to pour into the students, to address contemporary and ancient issues, and to invest in them as individuals, no matter the setting. 

The responsibility of spiritual education is not on teachers, but on parents and the surrounding Christian community. Christian students in public education can learn just fine if they choose to navigate their learning with a biblical worldview, given to them by the community around them. Parents should worry less about where to place their child, and spend more time planning to disciple their child as a fellow Christian brother or sister. Parents must seek out proper Christian community, and not depend on the schooling system to teach their child the Christian biblical worldview. They should take it upon themself to teach their child to uphold a biblical worldview. When this is the case, the student will be placed on the right track for understanding all of their education, whether Christian or secular, from the perspective of a Christian. When parents do not take the proper care to teach their children and surround them with strong Christian community, then is the time to worry about the education they are receiving.

Works Cited

Oller, J. (2024) Cornelius Van Til and Theories of Learning. Seminary Student. https://seminarystudent0.wordpress.com/2024/04/06/cornelius-van-til-and-theories-of-learning/