I’ve spent the last two years teaching at a Christian school. Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time, seeing many positives in the Biblical curriculum that my school teaches. But I’ve also seen the negatives of a Christian school education. I am not here to say that Christian or non-Christian schools are better: I just want to ask some questions and share my experiences.
There are many positives in a Christian school
education. I’ve taught US History, and
we had some wonderful conversations about a Biblical perspective on these
issues. My history students said that
this was the most engaging and most relevant history class they’ve ever
taken. I was able to relate course
material to the Bible, starting discussion about our personal response as
Christians to these events. Clearly,
this would not be able to happen at a non-Christian school.
My music classes are almost entirely religious-based. We spend the first week discussing why we as
Christians are called to create, as God is a creative God, and then study how
to write music that promotes the truth of the Bible. Again, I find joy in this, and my students
have clearly shown an understanding of the Biblical basis for music and
creation. There are definitely benefits
of the well-rounded, moral education that a Christian school provides.
But on the other hand, these benefits can quickly become
negatives too. Last year, I gave my
US History class a survey about the first semester of class. I remember one student’s response: “There’s
too much Bible in this class.” This
student clearly had been brainwashed by the continual Christian education that Christianity became negative. Other
students have told me, recounting past Bible classes, “I will never enjoy
reading my Bible after that class,” “Inductive Bible Study will never be
enjoyable for me,” or “I couldn’t wait to get out of Bible class each
day.” If this is the general feeling of
many students at a Christian school, we as educators are doing the students a
disservice. If the students hear the
Bible seven periods, five times a week, isn’t it natural that they will zone out or become
less interested?
Working at this school is my first experience in Christian
education. I went to public school K to
12, and I had a great experience. I had
many friends from various religions, which prompted many great conversations
about religious topics. My faith grew
from defending myself and my beliefs, both in these conversations and my daily
actions. I also led a Christian athletes
club, where I had my fellowship with Christians. I wouldn’t change anything about my public
school experience: it prepared me well for the “real world,” while still having
a solid Biblical worldview that has led me to serve in a cross-cultural ministry
context.
Many students at my school have developed this Biblical
worldview that will lead them to ministry and other Christian careers and
lives, but many students haven’t yet. I
worry about the students who feel they are being “brainwashed” by seven periods
a day of Bible- will they have as many positive memories from this school as I have
from my public school? It would be a
shame if our efforts as Christian educators actually turn our students away
from the faith that we are so actively trying to share.
When I come to the end of this discussion, I don’t know
which school system is better. I know
what worked for me, but I know other schooling situations work for other
people. But I do know that we as
Christian teachers are called to share the love of Christ. A Christian teacher in a public school and a
Christian teacher in a Christian school have the same calling; to love the
students with the love that Jesus shows to us.
If Christian teachers are not showing this love, the debate between
which school system is better becomes irrelevant. Regardless of the school situation,
professing a “Christian” life but not showing it does much more harm to
students than any Bible class ever would.
I can’t change the world- I can only influence the lives and
hearts of the students in my classroom. I
am not perfect, and I fail daily at this call.
But above all else, I hope they see that they are cared for, loved, and
valued in my classroom. They are more
than a grade, a name, or a mark on a paper.
They are children of God.
If all Christian teachers embraced this concept, I believe
the Christian education system could be the positive catalyst for change we
need in this secular world. But before
any change happens on the outside, it happens on the inside, in the hearts of
every Christian teacher around the world.
My future in teaching is unclear. I’m not sure where I will teach next, or if I
will teach again. But I pray that
whether I find myself in a classroom in the future or not, I will continue to
be a Christian educator in all parts of my life.
Because…
They don’t care what you know, until they know how much you
care. – Theodore Roosevelt.
