I Believe in Public Schools (Part 1)

I remember the question very clearly.  Olivia was only a year old, and we were enjoying dinner with some friends whose daughter was the same age.  "So are you going to send Olivia to public schools?" Thankfully, Erica and I had talked often about this issue before having children, and we were in firm agreement: "Yes."  And the reason is not just because we are cheap for a private school or too lazy to homeschool.

It turns out that this strong, affirmative answer surprises some folks.  Many just assume that a conservative pastor would automatically send his kids to a Christian school, or maybe even homeschool his kids.  No.  And in this short series of posts, written on this first week of Olivia's first-grade experience, I will attempt to explain why I believe in public schools.  (Disclaimer: this is not an attempt to condemn those who choose private schools or homeschooling- it is just the reasoning behind our decision.)

My first reason comes from my core belief that as followers of Jesus, we are called to influence our world for good, for God, for Jesus and his Kingdom.  And, believe it or not, so are our children.  In the Bible, in the book of John, throughout chapters 14-17, we find a lot of red ink.  Those are the words directly from the mouth of Jesus.  In those chapters, Jesus works hard to encourage his followers that they really will be okay as he leaves them, both through his death, and especially after his acension to heaven.  In John 17:11 he makes this very clear as he prays to his Father: "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name..."  Jesus is going. His followers are staying...for at least a little while.  We also find out the reason:  Jesus expects his followers to take his message to the ends of the earth. They can't do that if he takes them with him.  And the same is for us. 

When we pray the sinners prayer and put our trust in Christ, we are not immediately tele-transported to the safety and holiness of heaven.  We stay, grow, and tell others!  It is also clear that we are not to shut ourselves out from the world in order to remain holy or not be influenced at all from the world.  In fact, in the Bible, and especially in the book of John, "the world" that we are "in" is usually a reference to the dark, sinful, broken, realm of human society.  In short, the world is our mission field!  And missionaries don't sit safely at home behind locked doors!  They go out into the world and make a difference!

I believe this applies to our children.  I want Olivia and Easton to make a difference in their world.  I want them to set the example for their classmates in how they treat their teachers, other students, the bullies and the picked-on.  I want them to tell their friends about Jesus, and his great love for them.  I want them to invite their friends to church.  On the negative side, it seems just a tad hypocritical for Christians to yank their kids (and their kids' good influence) from public schools and then turn around and criticize public schools as cesspools of evil.  Duh!  That is like making a withdrawal from your bank account and then complaining to the bank manager because your balance didn't go up!

"But Jason," you might argue, "that is fine and dandy for us strong, mature adults, but should our young and impressionable children be forced to endure such a sinful world?  They are so impressionable at their age!  Shouldn't we provide them a safe, secure, environment in which they can grow to maturity, and then go out into the mean cruel world?"  Good question!  I will address it in part 2.