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| Going Public by David and Kelli
Pritchard |
I read a book!! For those who know me well, you know this is a feat! At best, I’m a magazine reader (People magazine is my choice!) I have always been a fast/good reader, but I have so many other things I would rather do with my free time (i.e. SCRAPBOOKING)! That being said, a book that catches my eye must be about something that really stirs me.
Rilyn is going to kindergarten in 3 weeks. And, yes, we are putting her in public school. This decision seemed simple at first, (to me!) I mean, I was a public school teacher for three years and I was raised in public school and I turned out fine (right?) But James was raised in private school and so a small debate ensued…and then we moved to a community where many are homeschooling so that was brought to light as well.
Our purpose as a family is to share Jesus’ Good News of grace, truth, and compassion to our neighborhood, Austin, and the world. And even though home schooling would give us the most direct influence on our children’s’ lives, I couldn’t shake God’s call on our lives to shine the light of Christ in this world like stars in the universe (Phil. 2:15)
As Christians, public school presents several overwhelming and real challenges such as secular curriculum and sex education…BUT God is bigger than our culture, more powerful than the forces of darkness at work in this world.
So it has become one of our missions to go in to public school as a FAMILY. In other words, we should not think in terms of sending our children off by themselves to shine their light, but rather we go there together. When we show up in August to enroll our kids for another school year, we are enrolling our family into the life of this institution. I will be at Rilyn’s school whenever I get a chance. I will go through all her papers. I will talk to her each day when she comes home about her friendships, teachers, assignments. I will live life beside her. God equips us-just ordinary moms and dads-to equip and fortify our kids. In so doing, we set them up to face adulthood with strength and conviction. Starting in the very first classroom, our home, we teach them to be the influencers rather than the influenced.
I needed some encouragement and ‘armor’ as I send Rilyn to public school and this book was perfect for me to read! I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who may be struggling and praying about their decision as to how to educate their child and to those that are already in the trenches of public education!
So, I will march into Rilyn’s school on August 25th and not be nervous. He is Sovereign, after all. “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Thank you Julie! Even though I still have one more year home with Mason, many of these same thoughts and concerns are already popping up in our home too. Mason has NO friends in public school. All of his friends are either in private school or homeschooled. And this makes it very discouraging for me to not have any other moms to share my public school concerns with…as well as making me feel like I’m ‘throwing my kid to the wolves’ while all my other mom friends are at home keeping their kids ‘safe’. But we believe that public school is the route we will go as well. I’m definitely going to get this book, and I appreciate you blogging about it!
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve been leaning heavily to homeschool (keeping cara out of preschool this year to give it a shot before she’s 5), for about a year!! But, recently (and with wanting 4 children, though I know of others who homeschool with that many), I’ve been praying again and am not sure homeschooling is where we are supposed to be. So thanks for this book suggestion, and I know God will be with you as Rilyn enters this school year!