Guest Post # 1 - Public School Does Not Equal bad parents

This is a blogger I found a little bit ago. She has a great blog and is passionate about the Lord and discipling her daughter. In this blog she says why they are choosing public school right now and encourages her readers that on this issue being obedient to God is the key. One quote that I absolutely love from her blog is this......

"But never, at any point, will we be turning over our responsibility to educate our daughter ... to train her up in righteousness, to give her a solid foundation in the Word, and to oversee her education in every area."

This is part of what I am doing in researching the topics of home, private and public school. Finding various bloggers with personal views and insights on why they choose what they choose for their kids. There will be why I homeschool guest blogs and if I can find them why I send my kids to Christian school guest blogs as well.

This is a link to her great blog....

http://www.pleasingtoyou.com/

Public School Does NOT Equal Bad Parents

I have a pretty wide circle of friends ... both online and in real life. And we have lots of differing points of view on lots of different topics. I try to be pretty neutral here at Pleasing to You about many of those topics which can be very divisive.

But there is something I think needs to be said ...

Sending your children to public school is not a sin.

Now, let me add this, if God has led you to do otherwise, you should certainly be obedient to Him ... but, truly, from my heart, I want to encourage the countless people who have CHOSEN or are in situations that require them to place their children into public schools. God is NOT disappointed in you and you are NOT failing your children spiritually!!

Let me share our story ...

Both Scott and I attended public schools ... good public schools where we received quality educations and were blessed to be surrounded by teachers who were Christians and lived out their faith in front of us. We were raised in communities where faith was an integral part of eveything done and we were blessed to attend churches where we received solid foundations in our spiritual lives.

When we had Casiday, we both had some concerns (I more than he) about placing her in public school. Thus, Casiday's educational journey began at Brunswick Christian Academy when she was three and attended their preschool. She continued there through first grade ... and we were blessed by the many amazing teachers she had and the genuine love for the Lord we saw nurtured and encouraged in her life.

Over the course of her year in first grade, we began feeling the Lord leading us in a different direction. We prayed and both felt an absolute peace about transferring her to public school for second grade. We prayed about all our options and discussed homeschooling for that one year as a transition. But, there was just an overhwhelming sense that God wanted us to place her in public school

We took the heat! From parents of children in Christian school and homeschooling families ... and it was hard. These well-intentioned, kind-hearted individuals were not just questioning our decision ... they were, in effect, questioning our judgment, our spiritual faithfulness, and our ability as parents to do what is best for our child.


But lest you think I am being critical of anyone else, realize this ... six years ago ~ I was the same way! I was so sure and certain that "I" had been granted THE wisdom about the best way to provide for a child's education. And in my confidence, I said things to others about which I have since had to extend an apology, acknowledge my arrogance, and humbly trust that the Lord grants wisdom to ALL who seek it (James 1:5).


Did I struggle with the choice to send her to public school? ABSOLUTELY! I cried the whole way home from leaving her that first day of school. But how God ministered to me and granted me encouragement and assurance that we were, indeed, following His instruction. Her teacher that year was a precious woman who loves the Lord and attends another church in our community. Casiday loved her and second grade was wonderful!

In Casiday's three years in public school, she has had opportunities to live out her faith and impact her classroom in amazing ways! Here are a few ...

In 2nd grade ... She was picked on and teased by a little boy who called her "White Christian Barbie." HER response was to ask me to pray for him ... and we did ... every.single.night. He made fun of her all year long but she was kind and continued to pray.

In 3rd grade ... She was student of the week in her class and got to bring a scrapbook to share about her life. Included, was a picture of her baptism ... for 20 minutes, my child was able to share her faith with her fellow students as they asked her questions about why she got baptized and what it meant. As a parent, I have never been so proud of my daughter as I was that day ... she confidently shared her faith with her peers.

In 4th grade ... We've had a rough year. She and her teacher have not "gelled" ... at. all. But she's got a new best friend. A little girl who lives behind us and is in her class. S is a Jehovah's Witness ... and Casiday has learned to be friends with someone who believes differently than we do. She has shared with S what we believe and why ... and showed her Scriptures about Jesus and how to be saved. Casiday prays for S ... and she treats her with such respect and compassion. Through Christmas, Casiday would unplug the tree in her room when S was over ... if only we could all have such a tender witness to others!! {Oh and that boy from 2nd grade that picked on her is in her class this year ... and he's become quite protective of her! Faithful prayers produce results!}

I'm not saying public school is for everyone, in fact, I am absolutely certain that it is not! I'm saying this ...

There is no universal "right" answer!

We pray every year about what the Lord would have us do regarding Casiday's education ... and every year we are committed to being obedient to whatever He leads. We may end up back in Christian school. We could homeschool. Or we may continue in public school. But never, at any point, will we be turning over our responsibility to educate our daughter ... to train her up in righteousness, to give her a solid foundation in the Word, and to oversee her education in every area.

And we will pray for our many friends and family who are daily carrying out the full measure of instructing their children in their homes. We will lift up those whose children attend Christian schools. And we will undergird those who have made the decision to place their children in public schools.


Because the truth is ... we're all on the same team! And we need to remember that no education method or location is the enemy ... but our enemy certainly wins a battle when he can distract and divide us by such things!!

Please, can we all remember that these are personal decisions ... and that God works in each of us through different means to accomplish His plans in our lives?