Making the choice about education for your children can feel like a daunting decision. Private school, Christian school, public school, homeschool…there are so many options. As Christian families who have chosen the public school route, there are things you can do to help navigate the changing education landscape and help your family succeed in the public system!
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I grew up the in public system. My entire family attended public school from Kindergarten through Grade 12. It was just the normal choice for us. I continued my education in post-secondary school and then became a public school teacher. While I looked for jobs in the private sector, both general private schools and Christian schools, I always felt it was important to have Christian people in the public system, which is where I stayed for most of my teaching career.
Now that I have kids heading to school, I have wondered if we should try to send them to Christian school, or to homeschool. The public system has changed drastically in the last few years and being a Christian family in a public system is harder than it ever has been.
Christian families have a unique opportunity when attending a public school. They will rub shoulders with a variety of people and learn ways to pray, to support and to share the gospel with those in the building.
That being said, I truly believe God called us to be the light of the world and our children have the opportunity to shine that light in their classrooms, and we as Christian families have the opportunity to shine in the schools.
How to Navigate as Christian Families in Public Schools
The question remains, how do we shine this light in such a dark time?
It’s quite simple really. Here are three ways you can be a positive Christian influence on your school, sometimes without even setting foot in the building!
Get to Know the School
Get to know the building your children will be spending their time in. Learn the layout, meet the teachers, speak with the principal…be friendly! Educators don’t have an easy job and when they feel like there is home support they will be more likely to open up to you about any issues and will give your child the benefit of the doubt.
This also will help you understand any problems your child may be having. You know the teacher or staff member they are talking about. You know the time of day the event or problems may be occurring. You know who is struggling and who needs encouragement. Most of all, you get to know where your school needs prayer (which leads to number 2).
Know the building, the staff and the kids in your children’s class. Then if/when an issue comes up, you will know who to talk to and who to pray for.
Pray Over the School
Anoint your child’s school in prayer the same way you anoint your home. Okay maybe not exactly the same, but pray over the school building and those inside. If you are in the building, pray scripture over the classrooms you pass, especially your own child’s room. As you drive down the road, pray for safety as kids come and go. Pray over the principals office, the office managers, the custodians, the lunch ladies.
When you know these people personally or at least by name, then pray for the struggles you know they may be having.
The most powerful weapon we have as Christians is prayer. When it comes to protecting our children, we need to let God handle things. Take everything before Him in prayer and wash you child’s school with His power.
Think of yourself as the school’s prayer warrior. Cover the building in scripture and prayer, give your child scriptures to carry in their bag so they also can walk with the armour of God.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
John 17:15
Walk Like Jesus Would Walk, Talk Like Jesus Would Talk
Remember the school is not a church or your home. They are going to teach what is mandated by the government. There will be some people in the building with their own agendas, but approach them as Jesus would approach them. If you are uncomfortable with how they are teaching your child, address it with gentleness.
If you make a name for yourself as someone who comes in preaching the gospel and opposing everything the school wants to do, they are going to see Christians as heretics who are hard to deal with. Instead if you come in and offer to help where you are comfortable helping, if you send in treats or words of support for staff, if you thank them for a job well done, they will see Jesus through your actions.
Jesus walked with humbleness and a gentle spirit. People followed Him because the truth He spoke was not shouted at them, but spoken with peace. Let your actions speak to Jesus’ love, not the condemnation people attribute with Christians.
Teach your children to do the same. Help them know when and how to speak up for themselves when they feel they shouldn’t participate in something. Remind them it’s okay to miss out on something that seems fun if it isn’t going to glorify God because what is pleasing to God is worth more than gold (Psalm 19:10).
Share this with a family in public school to help them navigate it too!
Other Ways to Support A Public School as a Christian Family
- Join the PTA to help plan events or voice your concerns.
- Be friendly with staff, students, bus drivers and anyone else you meet while in the educational setting.
- Volunteer in your child’s class when possible.
- Send notes (more than just at holidays) to the teacher(s) thanking them.
- Always approach situations with gentleness and self-control but don’t be afraid to stand your ground when necessary.
- Teach your children to pray so they can pray for their school, their friends, their teachers and themselves.
- Spend time in the word, read about who Jesus was while on earth and how we can act like Him (start with Titus 3:1-8, Ephesians 5:1-2 & Philippians 2:5-11).
It Starts at Home
This is why I spend so much time talking about building a strong Christian home. I don’t worry about my children the same when I know the home they come from is filled with God’s love. Why? Because I know God’s love goes with them when they leave in the morning.
Some of us don’t have a choice where we send our children or how we educate them. They have to go to a public school. This can be scary. But if we have prepared them, if we fill their hearts and minds with God’s truths and cover them with prayer, we send them out with a Mighty Warrior.
Remember God didn’t remove the Red Sea from the path of His people to escape Egypt. He parted it. Don’t expect God to remove obstacles from your child’s path either. Instead teach them to have faith and seek God in times of difficulty.
Christian families have a unique opportunity to share the gospel, to pray over people who otherwise might not get prayer and leave lasting Jesus marks within a public space. See it as an opportunity, be a light in the public school and let your Christian family be what your public school needs to educate children.
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