Lutheran Schools? What to expect.

[Sors]

My son (6) will be attending a Lutheran School for elementary starting this fall. The church attached to the school is Missouri Synod which I understand is the more conservative of the main Lutheran denominations. I am going to be doing a bit of research, and will definitely be visiting the congregation on some Sundays, but was curious if there was anything I should expect or be surprised by as I don't know a lot about Lutheranism. I suspect when it comes elementary education there is not going to be a whole bunch of theologically differing view points, but you can always be surprised. For example, my son just got done with a non denominational kindergarten, and he came home on some days espousing some surprising dispensationalist ideas about the end of the world. lol.

For my background. Baptized Disciples of Christ, then Non Denominational after my parents decided the DOC was getting too liberal. Eventually I fell away from the faith, until a friend got me going to a Presbyterian church a number of years ago. As thankful as I am for that church, I do not agree with reformed theology and eventually found a slightly conservative Methodist church that I plan on attending for as long as I live here.

Just curious as to yalls thoughts.

 

[FaithT]

My son (6) will be attending a Lutheran School for elementary starting this fall. The church attached to the school is Missouri Synod which I understand is the more conservative of the main Lutheran denominations. I am going to be doing a bit of research, and will definitely be visiting the congregation on some Sundays, but was curious if there was anything I should expect or be surprised by as I don't know a lot about Lutheranism. I suspect when it comes elementary education there is not going to be a whole bunch of theologically differing view points, but you can always be surprised. For example, my son just got done with a non denominational kindergarten, and he came home on some days espousing some surprising dispensationalist ideas about the end of the world. lol.

For my background. Baptized Disciples of Christ, then Non Denominational after my parents decided the DOC was getting too liberal. Eventually I fell away from the faith, until a friend got me going to a Presbyterian church a number of years ago. As thankful as I am for that church, I do not agree with reformed theology and eventually found a slightly conservative Methodist church that I plan on attending for as long as I live here.

Just curious as to yalls thoughts.

Are you sure your son was getting those end of the world ideas from his teachers and not from the other kids? I went to a Catholic grade school 1-8, and the kids would sometimes come up with some idea that the world was going to end at such and such a time,

 

[tampasteve]

For example, my son just got done with a non denominational kindergarten, and he came home on some days espousing some surprising dispensationalist ideas about the end of the world. lol.

"Non-denominational" is often (usually) code for Baptist or Pentecostal in leanings, many "non-denominational" churches are in fact a part of the SBA denomination, but don't advertise it; at least that is the case here.

You likely would not see that kind of thing taught in a Lutheran school, it just isn't the kind of thing that Lutheran's tend to teach or focus on.

 

[Shane R]

I sent both of my daughters to LCMS preschools (not the same one). The first also had an elementary. The older girl attended there. The academics were fine. The staff was older and no longer equipped to maintain discipline in the classroom effectively. My daughter figured out how to manipulate them and they eventually called me into the office one day and told me they wanted to disenroll her. Her ability to manipulate them had been picked up on by some of the other kids and she had become identified as a ring leader of disruption.

The younger girl did much better in her preschool. They regularly tested to see how she was progressing and gave her tailored instruction in areas where she was excelling, such as writing. Both schools had chapel once a week with the pastor and some type of daily Bible component. The Christian aspect of the schools was more an ethos and way of doing things than a distinctly confessional system of inculturation.

A few general thoughts on Christian schools: (I worked at 1 for a year once - not Lutheran.) It is rare that all of the staff go to the church or even a church with a compatible ethos. The younger staff were probably not properly catechized (I had coworkers who were totally clueless as to what the stained glass windows in the church depicted). There is usually some degree of nepotism in the hiring practices. Particularly with preschool programs, the staff is often composed of any members who have recently graduated high school and are staying in the area to attend community college. Some of them are not properly funded and have truly dumpy facilities. I would always recommend a site tour to anyone considering a Christian school. Finally, the enrollment always goes down in successive grades. For example, the school I worked for had almost 30 in kindergarten, 16 in 1st grade, 9 in 2nd, and 3,4, and 5 were so small they were in the same room taught by the same teacher.

 

[LizaMarie]

My kids went to a WELS Lutheran elementary school. I have no complaints. They got a solid Christian education (hour of Word of God.)
I believe the rest of the education was similar to the public school in the town.
The teachers from pre-K to 8 were members of the WELS and had 4 year teaching degrees.(had attended MLC or a WELS college.)
The Principal was also the pastor of our WELS Church. Staff membership in WELs is required.
I assisted at a WELS preschool. Both the teacher and aides had to be WELS due to fellowship requirements.
I'm not sure what the requirements are at other Lutheran denominations such as LCMS, ELCA or whatever.
We had children from other denominations whose parents wanted them to have a Christian education and we were the only school within
20 miles or so that could provide that in our area..
They simply had to agree that the Christian part of the education would be taught in line with the Lutheran confessions.