As a matter of fact, far before we were a family unit, while I was still single, I was asked a lot -- what I would do with a Christian Education.
"Oh, you aren't teaching at a Christian school?"
"No, I'm continuing my education, to be certified for public school."
"Hmm..."
As a strong-minded, spirited & spirit-filled young Christian -- I was happy to take the 'salt & light' stand. Afterall, how bright would my candle be in a room full of other candles?...
And I promised God, that if I would find favor in Him, I would not disappoint Him.
I hope I never did. I certainly was forthright about my beliefs, and tried as best as I could, to be a positive (non-nerdy) Christian influence/role model/example, for my students, most of whom were telling me on a regular basis that they wished they went to church every Sunday.
Before Christmas break, I read the story of the nativity. A little girl approached me afterward & asked if it was true. I asked her had she ever heard the story? And she said that she had not.
Wow.
And then, the questions again, when we had our own two. Would we homeschool? No we decided (actually w/o ever talking about it). Please understand, if circumstances forced us to, we'd take a different approach to the question.
I pray that Flynn & Gabe will be salt & light. That they'll be a light unable to be hidden. That their strong stance will be even stronger among those who don't stand along side them.
Will Flynn & Gabe go to Christian schools? At this point, no. I realize a million things could change in the next 12 mos (one of them being me being hired by a private school - which would be tough considering I haven't applied at any). Again, w/ the salt & light.
I just asked myself (yes, I talk to myself) if I've said negative things about homeschooling. I couldn't recall a time when I had. Although I strongly believe some parents are very ill-equipped to h.s. (just as some teachers should have travelled down a different career path); so, I say that to say, I don't think this is a dislike against HS'ing. But rather, a decision made for our family.
Should conservative Christian teachers stick to conservative Christian schools??
2 comments:
Now here is a great post that leaves you thinking. My old pastor posed this question to me in a little different wording-same concept though-when I was feeling terribly guilty for not wanting to homeschool. I feel quite inadequate to teach-hey I'm medical and not at all a teacher. I know this because of volunteering in my children's classrooms for the past 4 years. It has made me realize that I made a great decision when I gave up my major of teaching EBD students. Teaching is definately a gift. I believe for many that it is God given. The public school systemis definately a mission opportunity and I feel that way everytime I volunteer. Just think of the seeds you may have been planting along the way in the public schools.
I know you are bummed about not teaching yet but maybe a little more time and possibly a long/short term sub position will come up. You never know what God has in store for us and you are right about looking back and thinking about him being in control. It's definately a good thing!
What a thought provoking post. I am stong proponent of homeschooling - under the right circumstances - we have one child who needs lots of interaction with other kids and a mom (me) who is not cut out to teach. Volunteering in my daughter's class last year really made me realize that I made the right decision not to be a teacher. :) So we don't homeschool. We also send her to a public school as there is not a parochial school (we are Catholic) in our town. That doesn't make us less involved in our faith. And I have heard more than one teacher who goes to our church say that the kids in public school really need some religious education. I think that is what you need to remember if you go back & teach at a public school - you will be a gift to that school & class.
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