Via Neil A, Michael Jensen opened an discussion about Christian schools in Australia, where he asked “If Christian schools were really Christian, would anyone (other than Christians) want to send their kids there?” Good to think through before we send our kids to school in a few years. However, personal experience wise (yup, I’ve only done high school like 10+ years ago), I went to an Anglican high school (a sort of high’ish one). That did not help me to become a Christian, nor do I feel much “Christian” about it. Being a single-sex all boy school, sport was certainly the most-worshipped god there.
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Yep. The classy “Anglican” schools are pretty bad when it comes to anything more than being superficially Christian. One notable exception was the church school that Ian Powell (currently Senior Minister at Barney’s) was chaplain at for a number of years.
Ian was unashamedly evangelistic in his ministry there, and saw lots of kids converted and their families drawn into local churches. It changed the whole culture of that school. However I don’t believe that has continued since his move from there.
Personally, I have little time for the expensive ‘church’ schools. They seem to be Christian in name only (although I believe Peter Jensen is working to change that…).
I think it’s true to say that children from solid, active, committed Christian homes will probably do fine in most schools. But if we see the school as being in partnership with us parents in the raising and developing of our children, then the choice of school does become an issue.
Exactly. I think it is only an issue for the parents want their children to learn and grow in a Christian environment.
My parents were not Christians themselves, and they sent me to an Anglican school for its academic, not because of its scripture classes, chapel services and Christian values. Consequently, I did not feel that I am obligated to participate in all that “religious stuff” while I am in that school. That is probably why I never feel “Christian” about that Anglican school.
On the other hand, if I am sending my children to a Christian school, it will mean completely different thing than what it meant to my parents.
I think you will find a big difference in the philosophy between a ‘Church Affiliated’ School and a ‘Christian’ School.
A ‘church affiliated’ school usually has links with a wider church organisation – Anglican and Catholic are most common. Their major focus is on a good education with discipline and ethics that the community expects from such a place. The degree of ‘Christianity’ depends entirely on the Principal and the staff employed. There may in fact be very few practicing Christians working in such a school.
A ‘Christian’ school on the other-hand would typically see the growth in students’ relationship with Jesus as an integral part of school life. Christian Education isn’t restricted to a particular class or chapel, but usually woven into the fabric of school life – and every classroom. Typically, all staff are practising Christians and are expected to be a Christian role-model to students.
Some parents (non-christians or ‘nominal’ christians) who happily send their kids to a Church afilliated school for all the reasons why these schools have good reputations, may well be scared off by how up front and overtly Christian some Christian schools are.
It’s horses for courses really, and comes down to what you think is important for your children.
Covenant Christian School on Sydney’s Northern Beaches want to ensure ‘Christian’ remains more than a word in their name. They recently launched the Why Christian Schools DVD, booklet and blogsite to help parents discuss the question this blog raises. Parent raise the same questions at lots of schools. The school interviewed parents to find out how they address these common questions. Check it out at http://www.whychristianschools.com.au
Schools are welcome to embed the six YouTube videos in their own websites to help parents.
Covenant Christian School insists all staff are active practising Christians and that a minimum of 85% of families are regular church attenders. This helps the school and its’ parent community share a common vision for education – even though there are 120 churches represented there.