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Originally Posted By NicksterMommy

I have not been in your situation, so you can take what I say w/a grain of salt. My son is only 7 months old, so the school situation isn't looming over us yet.

My husband and I are planning to send our son (and any future children) to the public schools. We were both able to maintain our Christian values while attending public schools. I am also a mentor to a 17-year-old girl who is a VERY strong Christian and who attends a public school. She gets the opportunity to bring God's love to kids who might not otherwise be exposed to Christianity. Jesus spent his days with the "sinners," not the saints while on this earth. When he was criticized for this, he replied that it is the sick who need the doctors.

I understand where you are coming from because you have these vulnerable kids who are just coming out of foster care. (I have read your posts.) However, keep in mind that MOST of what the kids are learning in school is religion-neutral -- mathematics, proper grammar, etc. I would sit down with the kids each day after school and discuss what they are learning in their classes, go over homework, etc. As things creep in that are anti-Christian (eg. evolution), do your own homework and teach the kids why it isn't correct. I would also keep them out of sex ed kinds of classes where they encourage oral sex as an alternative to sex. (I live in the South, so that kind of stuff isn't much of an issue in the "Bible Belt," thank goodness.)

My point is that I don't think the kids HAVE to avoid public schools to be Christians. Perhaps you could start them out there and then, if one of them is showing a vulnerability to falling in w/the wrong crowd, perhaps you can afford to send that child to a Christian school.

One word about home-schooling -- I have some friends who home-school their kids. If you decide to go that route, be sure to network w/other families who are doing the same thing. You can get the kids together for field trips, etc. My mother home-schooled my sister for a couple of years (high school age), and it was a complete disaster. Yes, she learned the subject matter, but she didn't learn about other important things, such as not being tardy, interacting w/other kids, going to dances, or participating in school activities. A school setting teaches you about more than just math and English. Perhaps that is what the social worker was trying to get across.

Good luck w/whatever you decide. I admire you so much for opening your heart and home to these kids. May God bless you on your adoption journey.