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Should Christian Families Choose Public School?

Should Christian Families Choose Public School?

Last updated on: March 30, 2024 at 11:38 am by Joy Wendling, MA

Should Christian Families Choose Public School? 2024-03-30T11:38:13-07:00 Joy Wendling, MA

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teens walking into school together with backpacks

Christian families have a variety of valid educational choices. | Photo by Stanley Morales on Pexels.com.

5 days a week, 180 days a year, I drop off 4 of my 5 girls into the hands of our local public schools. As a Christian mom, I did not make this decision lightly or without prayer and thoughtful consideration. Would I love to spend more time with my girls? Absolutely! But is it what is best for them and our family? Another yes! So, should Christian families choose public school? Maybe.

Educational Choices

In the United States, we have 4 basic educational choices: public school, charter school, private school, and homeschool. There are a variety of choices within each of those, as well. And, all areas of the country do not offer private schools or charter schools, so those are not always options.

Each family has different needs, schedules, children, personalities, capabilities, and desires. Christian families can choose whichever type of school works best for them through prayer and discernment.

The Bible calls parents to teach their children about God, but that doesn’t mean that parents have to be the ones to teach their children to read and add, too.

Christian parents can choose to educate their children in public schools, while still discipling their children and having the greatest impact on their faith. I know because I do it and so do many other wonderful Christian parents I know.

All educational choices are valid options for Christian families. The only biblical teaching on education that I have found in my study of the Bible is that of faith education which is to happen when you lie down, get up, are at home, and on the road. Guess what! I can do that and still get my girls to school on time.

There are pros and cons to each type of educational choice. None of them are perfect and none of them are right for every family. We must each choose what is best for our family and trust God to take care of the rest.

Shaming for Educational Choices

Now, I can’t speak for all, but I will speak for myself and a few other public school mamas with whom I have had conversations recently. We feel a shift, especially in the online space, in our freedom as Christian mamas to decide how to educate our children without judgment and shaming.

Many Christian families who make choices different from ours tell us that we are not making valid choices or even biblical choices by sending our children to public school.

I have had women choose to stop listening to my podcast or unfollow me on socials when they find out I don’t homeschool. I have seen faces of disgust when I share my children are in public schools.

I don’t care anymore about losing listeners or followers. I have been quiet about public school long enough. Moms are feeling shamed because they are choosing what is best for their family, their children, their finances, their kids’ development, and their mental health.

All school choices are valid. All moms have a right to feel confident in making the best decisions for their family.

Educational choices are not black-and-white or all-or-nothing. Please be kind and supportive to those families who make different choices than you.

Not every solution to a public school problem is homeschooling or private school. When people make these comments, it feels defeating and judgy.

No parent should be shamed for their family’s educational choices.

What is Right for You?

There is so much more to this conversation and we can save that for another day. But, for now, I am curious… how do you educate your children? How did you come to that choice? Does it feel like the right choice for you or was shame, fear, and judgment a part of your choice?

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About Joy Wendling, MA

Enthusiastic. Passionate. Profound. Joy Wendling is a family pastor, writer, speaker, podcaster, certified parent coach, and founder of Created to Play. She has over 20 years of experience in children, youth, and family ministry, as well as a Master’s in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary. She also is certified in Connected Families Parent Coaching and Parenting for Faith. Her idea of relaxing is gazing at the mountains from her island home with an ice-cold Diet Coke and a good book. Joy lives in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys laughing and playing with her five daughters and husband. Get to know her better at CreatedtoPlay.com and on her podcast titled Playfully Faithful Parenting. You can read more about the author here.

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