A quick pre-homework post...

[Bernergirl]

I feel really blessed by the Lord today... just had to say that...

So I consider myself really blessed to go to the school I do because it is really not involved in a lot of the things that a lots of schools in my district have been victim to (drugs, alcohol, esp. on campus, etc.) but it is spiritually rather "bloody" at times. Not exactly a place to build up one's faith (not just my own but that of others). I am really a baby in the faith and, though I am trying and praying to be a good witness to people on campus, it feels kind of overwhelming sometimes. There is a Pre-K thru 12 private school that I pass each day on the way to school called Faith Bible Christian School that is a non-demoninational Christian school. I heard about it on the radio at work and did some investiagting after I saw it on my bus route at school. My parents are not Christian, but if I really wanted to attend a different school, especially one so close (closer than the one I attend now, actually) they wouldn't keep me from attending a Christian school. It is doubtful that I will switch for various reasons, but I guess I just wanted to bring up discussion because my fear even right on the cusp of becoming a Christian as far as attending a Christian school or becoming involved in a Christian community was kind of of being "marked" as bad by people who believe differently than me, but I guess at the time I was kind of giving too little credit to Christians (and I just didn't really understand in some areas). So, the point of the discussion: Did you go to a Christian school or a public school or were you homeschooled? What were your positive and negative experiences? Any thoughts on the subject (school in general)?

Also the Bible and apologetics seem to be all I'm reading lately. I just got through Lewis' Mere Christianity and now I'm reading Strobel's The Case for Christ. Any apologetics recommendations for me?

 

[ClementofRome]

All I have to say is, that for a 15yo you are incredibly articulate. Others can offer advice.

Forgive me.

 

[GrinningDwarf]

So, the point of the discussion: Did you go to a Christian school or a public school or were you homeschooled? What were your positive and negative experiences? Any thoughts on the subject (school in general)?

I went to public school through the '70s and graduated high school in 1982, so my view of school may be a bit dated...but...I felt like most of school time was spent just moving along with the herd. I did learn a lot in school, I suppose, but I also think most of the learning I picked up that really stuck with me I acquired mostly on my own outside of classtime. This would be in history, literature, and natural sciences.

We have two kids, 9 and 7, and we homeschool now. Part of the reason for that is because of how far we live from town...30 miles...but a bigger part is because that is what my wife feels called by God to do. What's neat about it is that they are not bound into a rigid schedule. For instance, today...

One of my best friends, Doug, is a missionary to Russia. He and his family have been there for nine years now. About four years ago they were in the States itinerating, and they are back in the States again itinerating (which is delivering personal reports to churches that have been supporting their ministry and visiting new churches for additional support). Last night he was able to stop overnight for a visit on his way up to Oregon. This morning my wife and the kids skipped their normal schoolday as we visited with Doug and looked at his pictures on the laptop and as he shared with us about Russian culture and his experiences there planting churches. How often could you take advantage of an opportunity like that in a public school?

Also the Bible and apologetics seem to be all I'm reading lately. I just got through Lewis' Mere Christianity and now I'm reading Strobel's The Case for Christ. Any apologetics recommendations for me?

Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell is a great general apolgetics book. (Actually, I think the most up to date version is called The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict.)

Other apologetic tools you may want to consider that I don't think are strictly apologetics would include Geisler and Nix's General Introduction to the Bible. It's very valuable to know why we have the Scriptures we do and how we got them. RC Sproul and James R. White also have excellent books out both titled Scripture Alone. These books would help to arm you in apologetics discussions as you defend the basis of your reasoning from the Scriptures.

Have a great day!!

 

[BrokenGhost]

The Potter's Freedom from James White is good too

 

[synger]

I went to public school through the 70s, and I, too graduated in 82. I had very little exposure to sex, drugs, or rock and roll. The only drug that ever touched my circle of friends was alcohol, though I knew the "burn-outs" smoked more than cigarettes out behind the school.

Education-wise, I think it was pretty darn good. We didn't have a lot of disturbances, and many of us participated in college-prep courses. Personally, I think the structure of public school, and learning to deal with so many people of so many different backgrounds/beliefs/priorities has helped me a lot in my work life.

I'm seeing that with my daughter now. She didn't go to day care or preschool. Her grandmother (my MIL) home-schooled her. She got intensive schooling, and is now reading at a second-grade level and doing 1st grade math. And in kindergarten the words they're learning are "I' and "am" and the concepts they are covering are "top", "middle",and "bottom". *sighs* So she's rather bored, scholastically.

However, she is ENTIRELY out of her league socially and structurally. She's having some real problems adjusting these first two weeks. She's never had to follow this strict of a routine, nor deal with so many different kids on so many different levels. It's hard to watch her struggle.

And yet, I think it's really important that she learns how to get along now rather than later. When you get out "in the real world" you need those people skills, almost more than you need knowledge in your chosen field.

And religion seems almost defiance nowadays. When I was going to school, nobody talked about religion. We just assumed everyone went to some church or another. It never really came up in conversation. These days, I listen to the older kids, especially middle and high school, and religion definitely is something they talk about (along with boys and clothes and music, of course!). Our school has a community service requirement for graduation, too. So there will be tremendous opportunities for Gem to share her faith, and serve her fellow-students while she's in the public schools. And that's what's important to us as parents.

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

I went to public school. However, I did not do preschool or kindergarten, for that I was homeschooled. And going into 1st grade I was already at 2nd and 3rd grade math and reading levels. Like the Dwarf, I think most of what stuck with me is what I studied on my own. The worst part is that the other students mostly didn't take it seriously. Since I was in honors classes, though, there were a lot of students in my class who did, and so the experience wasn't so bad.