021: How I Decided: Sending my Christian kid to public school

Questioning whether you should send your child to public school as a Christian? In this episode, I share about the struggles with choosing a school for your child as a Christian — not just for the academics, but for a well-rounded social, emotional and educational intelligence. I share my journey of selecting a school for my child, including the various options I was considering and my pros and cons for each — public school, private Christian schools, charter school, homeschooling, and homeschool/private hybrid. I then share how I made my decision, using my decision-making framework, SAIL Method, which includes factors such as self-awareness, research, and prayer. I hope my story of choosing a school for my son helps you make an informed, personal decision for what’s best for your family.

KEY POINTS:

Importance of School Choice:

Impacts on friendships, education, and social abilities

The decision is significant but not irreversible; changes can be made if needed

Personal Story:

Considerations of school districts when buying a house

The importance of living in a good school district

Public School Pros and Cons (09:12):

My Pros: Proximity to home, A-rated school, government-funded opportunities, local friendships, special education support

My Cons: Secular environment and curriculum, culture conflicts, safety concerns

Christian Private School Pros and Cons (14:20):

My Pros: Smaller class sizes, Christian environment, rigorous academics

My Cons: High tuition, less time for family activities, proximity to friends

Charter School Pros and Cons (17:29):

My Pros: Classical curriculum, discipline, free tuition, strong academic focus

My Cons: Long commute, car line issues, scattered student base, limited extracurriculars and sports

Homeschool Pros and Cons (21:05):

My Pros: Curriculum control, flexibility, personalized education

My Cons: No break for parents, less social interaction, potential for household chaos

Homeschool Hybrid Pros and Cons (25:16):

My Pros: Social opportunities, flexible schedules, less parental teaching burden

My Cons: Expensive, less flexible than homeschooling, curriculum restrictions

Decision-Making Framework (SAIL Method):

Cover this decision in prayer, first and foremost

Self-Awareness: Evaluate family needs and child’s personality, complete research (School tours, parent/staff feedback)

Impact: Consider the impact of each school option on your family financially, physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually and academically

Litmus test: Consider the most important factors and list them in order of priority for your family to determine which option supports your goals/desires the best

LINKS MENTIONED:

Blog post interview with Elizabeth Spencer on her journey with public school: anchoreddecisions.com/blog/sending-christian-kids-to-public-school

School Decision bundle: www.anchoreddecisions.com/schoolbundle

K-12 School Decision Guide

School Research & Comparison Guide

Start Smart School Checklist

Use code “podcast” for 10% off your purchase

Episode 4: Pros and cons list leaving you confused? Use THIS for your decisions instead!

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