Pioneer Christian Monthly - October, 1997

Should Parents Consider Christian Schools?
Robert Anes

The following was discussed at a meeting of a classis committee which was looking at the strengths and weaknesses in our classis. Although it was felt that the contents are outside the parameters of the committee, there was a general feeling that the matter is of importance. It was decided to submit this to "The Pioneer" f or publication, as it may be of interest to parents with school age children.

If we were to ask the average lay person in the RCA or C.R.C. "What are the differences in these two denominations?" many would be hard pressed to give a clear answer. Actually, over the years it has become evident that a number of families seem to switch quite easily from one to the other, mainly for 'personal" reasons. Some may be aware of some historical differences, which were probably important at the time but have now (as witnessed by the fact that we doift know what they are) become largely irrelevant.

However, in Canada there is one difference that will immediately be acknowledged by people in either denomination: The support for Christian Schools. Many families of the C.R.C. (but by no means all) send their children to Christian grade and Christian high schools, whereas the majority of RCA families are content with sending their children to the public schools.

What has been the result? Although I have no statistics to support this, I believe there is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that a larger number of those who attended Christian schools found their wives (or husbands) within the denomination, than those who attended public schools. This by no means suggests that the marriages of the latter are less happy, or that these people are of lesser quality. But it has been pretty well established that the C.R.C. has been more successful in retaining the following generation, whereas the RCA has been subject to more'slippage.'

When we look at families in the 30 and 40-something age brackets today, I think we will find that the percentages in the C.R.C. are larger, and some of this may well be the result of Christian education and finding a like-minded spouse. I think we will also find that, possibly as result of the so called mixed marriages," the loss of families in these age groups has been proportionally greater in the RCA in Canada.

It is also a fact that the public elementary and high schools of today are not what they were a generation ago. Although we still find dedicated Christian teachers within the public system, we know that prayer is no longer mandatory, and that much depends on the conviction of the teacher. When we talk about subjects such as creation vs. evolution; or sex education (which in some school boards includes acceptance of homosexuality as an alternative' life style), the results can be disastrous. Teachers have our children for much of the day. Especially if they are good teachers in their chosen subjects, children trust and look up to them.

What if a teacher, when asked about creation, answers the question with "You don't mean you believe THAT nonsense, do you?" No child wants to appear "stupid,' and peer pressure does the rest. Great harm can be done, without us even knowing about it, because most children will not talk about this at home. They know they are between a rock and a hard place.

Add to this increasing secularization the whole outlook on life becoming more humanistic, a less spiritually oriented life style, and we have a recipe for disaster. Although in the rural areas there may still be a number of 'good" public schools, with Christian teachers teaching Christian values, in the larger cities, with an influx of immigrants of non-Christian backgrounds, this is becoming almost non-existent. On top of that, especially in high schools, the level of violence, drugs, promiscuity, and unruly behaviour seems to be greater in the urban centers, but I'm afraid it is just a matter of time before the rural schools go the same way.

I don't think anybody in his or her right mind will suggest that we reinvent the wheel by duplicating the work that has already been done by the C.R.C. and other denominations. Many parents are wrestling with these problems and wondering what to do about them. If there is a Christian school nearby, this school will be more than happy to accept their children. Whether the school is of C.R.C., Baptist, or Pentecostal background is rather immaterial.

Another important factor is the interest and commitment of the parents, which results in parents and teachers pulling in the same direction. This can only benefit our children, in the short as well as the long run.

Most Christian schools do NOT require church membership in a particular denomination. On the contrary, they will stress the fact that they are inter-denominational. Given the state of the public school system today, which requires that teachers support left wing, humanistic, and socialist trade unions, parents should be aware of the advantages of Christian education and the serious risks involved when sending their children to public schools, which are open to everybody and anybody.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.