Schooling options for Christian families
Adam's Daily Bread prefers homeschooling for families who are at all able to do it. God gives parents, not the state and not the school, the first duty to teach their children His Word, day by day, at home.
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4 ESV
School is a tool. It is not the whole of a child's discipleship.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,"
Romans 12:2 ESV, partial
The four paths
Home school
This is our preference when a family can do it. You keep the first say over what and how your children learn, and discipleship can happen through the ordinary day. It costs time, planning, and patience. A church or co-op can keep your kids from being isolated.
Christian school
Can reinforce what you teach at home and give your kids Christian friends. Quality and doctrine vary a lot. Read the statement of faith. Ask how teachers handle Genesis, the gospel, and church differences. Tuition is a real cost, and you still need to disciple at home.
Private (non-Christian) school
Often smaller classes or a specific academic focus. The worldview may still clash with the Bible. Weigh tuition against what your child will be taught, and stay close enough to know and answer it.
Public school
Free to attend and close to home. Your kids will meet a worldview that often conflicts with Scripture, so you'll need a strong plan at home for Bible, worldview, and friendships. Ask what is taught on origins, sexuality, and authority.
If you cannot homeschool
If you cannot homeschool, you are not a lesser parent, and this page is not a rebuke. Many faithful families can't, for work, health, money, or other good reasons. Keep discipling your children at home. Stay involved in what they are learning. Know the curriculum. Talk with them about what they hear. Choose a church community that will walk with you, and keep the Word at the center of your house.
Ask before you choose
- Who will teach my child the Bible every day?
- Who corrects error when they hear it?
- Who will their closest friends be?
- What's our plan for church on Sunday and through the week?
- Can we afford this in money and time, and stay faithful in both?
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6 ESV
Proverbs gives wise patterns, not machine guarantees. Do your part, and trust God with your children's hearts.