Help In Choosing a Christian School
1. What is the school’s doctrine? Keep in mind that one of the reasons that you are considering Christian education is because you want to keep your children from being indoctrinated in false teaching. Remember though that there are also false doctrines in the church. Those can be as harmful as worldly teaching. For example, some churches teach that living a moral life isn't necessary to be able to serve God. What a damage that can do to your children.
2. Talk with the staff and ask them to share their testimonies. Do you bear witness that they have a genuine relationship with the Lord?
3. When you observe the classrooms and offices, do they seem to be efficiently run. One way you can tell is if they are well organized and clean. If they aren’t, then it may be that the staff is under-staffed and have no time for taking care of these details, or they aren’t organized enough to have them taken care of.
4. Are the teachers and staff courteous and compassionate to the children and to each other? Is there unity and a good working relationship between the staff members, and between the staff and the students. Especially look for how the children treat one another. Staff can put on a “parent visiting face” but children don’t. If they aren’t in harmony, it may be a reflection of how the staff treats each other, and how they treat the children even though at that moment things look fine.
5. Check out the costs. Many schools are expensive. Consider your budget. Ask about their process that they take if a parent is behind on tuition. Don’t be zealous about a school that is out of your budget. Switching schools back and forth isn’t good for your children. However, if the cost is out of your budget, but God leads you to go ahead and enroll and trust Him with the tuition, then do it. Just make sure He is leading you.
6. What curriculum do they use? Some Christian schools actually use the same curriculum used in the public schools. Also, some schools use a curriculum that may not be on the same level as the public school. It may not be as advanced as what is needed to prepare them for the future. Also, it may not cover all the areas that need to be covered. Some curriculum companies provide the schools with a synopsis of the books, a list of what is covered in each course. Ask for that. It isn’t available then do some research. Find reviews about the curriculum.
7. And most importantly, is the Spirit of God present at the school? Do you feel His anointing when you talk to the staff and the students? Is He present? Does the school have His stamp of approval?
Pray and seek God’s guidance. If you feel God leading you to enroll your children in a Christian school, or a home school, seek His guidance as to what would be the best one for your child. Follow His peace. Let Him lead you. He will provide a way. Nothing is as important as your children's souls and their futures.
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