Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!rutgers!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!christian From: wagner@karazm.math.uh.edu (David Wagner) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: On Christian vs Public Schools Message-ID: Date: 16 Jan 91 08:56:47 GMT Sender: hedrick@aramis.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Houston -- Department of Mathematics Lines: 72 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article kriz@skat.usc.edu (Dennis Kriz) writes: >There is a lesson in that I believe. Private Christian education, while >not free, CAN BE PROVIDED FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. Though it takes, >what these efforts always have required ... that Christians with plenty >to sacrifice a bit of what they have for Christians (and others) who >don't. I'd like to endorse everything Dennis said in his article, and relate some of my own experience. My two daughters attend a Lutheran school in far west Houston. No tuition is charged at this school, although there are some fees for registration and books. The school is supported totally by offerings. The only requirement for enrollment is that 1. The family should not be actively involved in a church outside our fellowship, and 2. The parents must support the christian education of their children. Parents of newly-enrolled children who are not members of a church within our fellowship are expected to take a course in christian doctrine. At present the school has 22 students in grades K-5, and one teacher. My wife spends about three full days per week helping out (without compensation). The school could probably hire more teachers if tuition was charged, or if the church simply required tithing. But it is contrary to Lutheran beliefs to require a tithe; our first interest is in people's souls and not their money. In this particular congregation similar reasons appear to rule out tuition. A good number of the students come from families that have been through divorce or other troubles. Some have failed in the public schools, but have managed to learn something in this Lutheran school. Most of them score low in cognitive ability but above their potential on achievement tests. (My daughters test the other way around). But most important, these children are fed the Gospel on a regular basis; they know who their Savior is. Unfortunately, because my oldest daughter is now in the fifth grade, she will be attending a public middle school next year. This might be quite a shock for her and us. In addition, in order to preserve my wife's sanity, our youngest daughter will also attend public school. It is hoped this will minimize our transportation headaches. I particulartly hate to do this to our youngest daughter because her favorite subject is 'Word of God'. However both our children have received a very good start in their christian education, and the end of christian school is, (we hope) not the end of christian education. I genuinely believe that Christian education can work, even in very small schools. The intensity of education at this age is not as important as simply learning the basics. It is not so important how fast one learns the easy subjects; what really matters (aside from believing the Gospel) is how far one goes into the difficult subjects. It is important to have well-trained teachers. I do not think that state certification requirements have a helpful role to play in this matter; I am suspicious of anti-christian influences coming from state regulation. Ultimately the parents must bear the responsibility for the quality of education they choose for their children. David H. Wagner a confessional Lutheran. "I live in loving life You live in humming life. We both live in the same world. So we both are living in loving life and humming life. It only took a week to make the world." --Katherine Grace Wagner (at age 6 years, 10 months) My opinions and beliefs on this matter are disclaimed by The University of Houston.