Three Topics to Discuss When You're Enrolling a Child in a Christian School
When you've made the decision to enroll your child in a Christian school, it's beneficial to visit multiple schools in your community to assess which facility best suits your child's needs and is in alignment with your family's belief system. While you can research information about the school and view its recent educational testing results online, it's important to actually schedule a visit to the school so that you can tour the premises and talk to teachers and administrators. In doing so, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and raise discussion topics that can help you determine whether the school is the right one for your child. Here are three topics to cover.
Social and Political Views
While you likely agree with the religious message that will be taught to your child at a Christian school, it's important to ask about the approach the school's educators take regarding the discussion of certain social and political topics. It's ideal for social and political subjects to be taught from a wide perspective of positions so as to give your child a comprehensive view of the world beyond the walls of the school. You might wish to strongly consider avoiding a school that pushes certain social and political agendas, given that many Christians can have drastically differing views on many of these topics.
Demographic Statistics
Don't shy away from asking for some information about the demographics of the study body. Given that there are many different types of Christian schools, you can occasionally come across one with a student body primarily made up of Caucasian students. Many reports tout the benefits that students receive while learning in a multicultural environment, and given that they'll encounter a multicultural world beyond the school's doors, many parents favor the idea of their children learning among peers of various ethnic groups, too.
Spiritual Emphasis
While it's a given that the school will provide Christian teachings to its students, it's important for parents to understand the degree of emphasis that will be placed upon this religion. Some Christian schools ask that their students actively attend certain churches, for example, so it's important to confirm that this topic is in alignment with your family's specific beliefs. In fact, many schools have close associations with one or more churches in the community—if you attend a different church, would you be asked to switch or would your church's location not be an issue? It's important to have a clear understanding of this situation before you consider enrollment.
Start searching for a Christian school in your area that can meet the needs of your child by contacting a representative from one like Bethany Lutheran School.
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