Growing up in Christian circles there always seemed to be a certain stigma about kids going to public school (It's still there). When I was in high school (*public*high school), I remember hearing from the pulpit about how evil public schools were. How they were just a breeding ground for sex, drugs and ungodly music. How if your kids went there, they would be barraged with offers of drugs and/or cigarettes. Every kid was in a gang and Evolution was taught in every class.
This view does not seem to have changed in the fourteen years since I graduated from high school. (You didn't know I was that old did you... ;) ) Just last year I sat in the nursery at my church while two ladies (who had no idea that I went to public school) discussed at length how they would never send their kids to public school because they wanted them to have a "real" education, where they wouldn't be confronted by worldly temptations. (On a side note, one of these same ladies had previously told me about her sister doing marijuana with kids from their Christian school, so take that for what you will). I just sat there quietly, not partaking in the conversation because I knew these ladies would be embarrassed if I spoke up that *I* was a product of this institution of the devil... Awkward.
I just want to state something here and that is this: I was never offered drugs. I was never even offered a cigarette. No one ever made inappropriate advances at me or tried to get me to join a gang. And no, no one was having sex in the hallways... (Sorry, couldn't resist a little inside joke haha) The truth is I could have been involved in some of these things if I had wanted to. But my parents raised me better than that. Those things and people are there if you look for them but I *chose* to surround myself with people who weren't involved in those things.
I *loved* high school. I was in the choir, and guess what... We sang secular music, but we also sang Christian music and music by classical composers like Vivaldi. And guess what else... Our school had a Bible study. Yep, that's right and you know what, even now at some school functions, they pray.
My parents were (and are, yes my brother is still in high school) very involved in everything we did. They looked over our schoolwork and there were times that my parents were uncomfortable with something and they would arrange with the teacher for me to do something else. I wasn't forced to do something that my family wasn't comfortable with.
Maybe there are some schools out there that are all the things the fundamentalist preachers like to harp on, but my school wasn't one of them. Was it perfect? No, of course not. There were (and are) issues that arise from time to time. But that can be said of anyplace.
So you can say that I'm a horrible person or that my parents didn't care about me because they didn't send me to a Christian school, but the truth is my parents did the best that they could for me and I love them for that and when it's all said and done, I'm very grateful for the quality of education that I received.
So proud of you, Rebekah! You go, girl!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mama. ❤
ReplyDeleteRebekah,
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that you are speaking up about your experience and how it is different from the perceived norm. I went to private parochial school and wasn't offered any of the same negative vices although, I know others in my class who were involved in such. I think the key, regardless of what form of education is chosen, is parental involvement. It is statistically the number one component to children having success in school whether in public, private or homeschool environment. Parents are the primary educators of their children and should fulfill the role responsibly. Hopefully, the women you were listening to will come full circle and realize that they make the difference not a particular building or institution. I think your parents were exactly what God knew you needed.
Parental involvement is definitely key. I, too, hope those ladies will eventually come to that same truth and also realize that what is good for one family isn't always good for another. There is not just ONE solution here. Each family needs to keep that in mind and not judge people just because they do something differently. Not every child is cut out for public school, but many kids are limited by homeschooling, as well. I have seen many instances of "social retardation" for lack of a better term. Kids who have been so limited in their interactions with others that they just don't know how to act. They then come across as socially awkward. I'm sorry, but I think that is doing your child a disservice. Some kids can thrive under a homeschool and/or private school environment, but there is no cookie cutter answer. Do what is best for YOUR child and let others do what is best for theirs. Okay, I'm stepping off my soap box now. lol
DeleteAll of the kids I teach in Sunday school go to public school, and I'm so proud of them. They face more challenges than I did many years ago. And they give me so much hope for the future generations. Their parents are doing an amazing job (and yours did as well, dear!).
ReplyDeleteThank you, friend. :)
Delete