021: How I Decided: Sending my Christian kid to public school

Questioning whether you should send your child to public school as a Christian? In this episode, I share about the struggles with choosing a school for your child as a Christian — not just for the academics, but for a well-rounded social, emotional and educational intelligence. I share my journey of selecting a school for my child, including the various options I was considering and my pros and cons for each — public school, private Christian schools, charter school, homeschooling, and homeschool/private hybrid. I then share how I made my decision, using my decision-making framework, SAIL Method, which includes factors such as self-awareness, research, and prayer. I hope my story of choosing a school for my son helps you make an informed, personal decision for what’s best for your family. KEY POINTS:Importance of School Choice:Impacts on friendships, education, and social abilitiesThe decision is significant but not irreversible; changes can be made if neededPersonal Story:Considerations of school districts when buying a houseThe importance of living in a good school districtPublic School Pros and Cons (09:12):My Pros: Proximity to home, A-rated school, government-funded opportunities, local friendships, special education supportMy Cons: Secular environment and curriculum, culture conflicts, safety concernsChristian Private School Pros and Cons (14:20):My Pros: Smaller class sizes, Christian environment, rigorous academicsMy Cons: High tuition, less time for family activities, proximity to friendsCharter School Pros and Cons (17:29):My Pros: Classical curriculum, discipline, free tuition, strong academic focusMy Cons: Long commute, car line issues, scattered student base, limited extracurriculars and sportsHomeschool Pros and Cons (21:05):My Pros: Curriculum control, flexibility, personalized educationMy Cons: No break for parents, less social interaction, potential for household chaosHomeschool Hybrid Pros and Cons (25:16):My Pros: Social opportunities, flexible schedules, less parental teaching burdenMy Cons: Expensive, less flexible than homeschooling, curriculum restrictionsDecision-Making Framework (SAIL Method):Cover this decision in prayer, first and foremostSelf-Awareness: Evaluate family needs and child’s personality, complete research (School tours, parent/staff feedback)Impact: Consider the impact of each school option on your family financially, physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually and academicallyLitmus test: Consider the most important factors and list them in order of priority for your family to determine which option supports your goals/desires the bestLINKS MENTIONED:Blog post interview with Elizabeth Spencer on her journey with public school: anchoreddecisions.com/blog/sending-christian-kids-to-public-schoolSchool Decision bundle: www.anchoreddecisions.com/schoolbundleK-12 School Decision GuideSchool Research & Comparison GuideStart Smart School ChecklistUse code “podcast” for 10% off your purchaseEpisode 4: Pros and cons list leaving you confused? Use THIS for your decisions instead!Episode 3: 3 Steps to Easier Decisions Using the SAIL Method - Our Signature Decision-Making FrameworkAwanas — Christian kids ministryConnect with me on social media:www.instagram.com/anchoreddecisionswww.facebook.com/anchoreddecisionsCheck out my website and decision guide shop:www.anchoreddecisions.comwww.anchoreddecisions.com/shop*Note: Some links might be affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission from the referral purchase at no extra expense to you. I only promote items I trust and believe in. Clicking these links helps support my show.