Check part one of Amy’s School Choice HERE! And the school choice post on: Homeschool and public school and Homeschool.
By Amy Cantilina
In choosing public schooling for our children, I did, naturally, have some concerns. The thought of so many hours spent away from me, the fears of the influence of other kids, and the prospect that the teaching—especially in the later years of education–would be counter-Biblical were some of my main concerns. As my kids have matured, the concerns have also evolved: will they face peer pressure to experiment with drugs and alcohol? Will they be exposed to pornography or impure sexuality? Will they be safe in a world where gun violence in schools seems on the rise? Will they begin to take to heart the rampant models of disrespect and irreverence? Will non-Christian teachers attempt to dissuade them from their faith?
Presence: My plan from the start was to be as involved as possible at the school, to keep a pulse on the classroom setting, to get to know the teacher(s), to volunteer in the classroom, and to know enough about my child’s day at school to know what kinds of questions to ask my kids at the end of the day. The degree and form of my involvement has varied over the years, but my goals have remained the same: to have a strong relationship with the teachers, to be supportive as they serve my children, and to be the sweet aroma of Christ as a family in the school setting. This has proven to be harder in the high school years, but I still do my best to pursue these goals.
Prayer: I have also been involved over many years in Moms in Prayer International, joining with other Christian moms to lift up our kids, their teachers, and their schools. No matter which educational path we choose for our children, in the end they belong to the Lord and the outcome is His. This precious time in prayer with other like-minded moms remains what I consider to be one of the best-spent hours of my week.
Positioning: Our involvement in the schools has given us opportunities to know and interact with families from many backgrounds in our community that we might not otherwise have met. It has opened my kids’ eyes to the need to be ready and able to share and defend their faith, and it has sensitized their hearts to the reality of and need to pray for friends from families that do not know Jesus. Often, my daughters request prayer for friends from school; social outings with these friends provide opportunities to love and to share Christ.
Our experience in the public schools over the years has been very good, and God has blessed us with loving, caring, and–often–believing teachers. The quality of their education has been top-notch. We are extremely grateful for the resources available to us in our current school system, especially the multi-faceted support it provides for one of our daughters who is overcoming significant developmental delays from years of neglect prior to joining our family.
For the foreseeable future, we will stick with this path. With our youngest only entering 1st grade, and with more years of military service and potential moves ahead of us, we remain open and ready to follow the Lord’s lead, wherever it takes us. May we be the sweet aroma of Christ as we obey.
AMY CANTILINA is an Air Force wife and mom to 4 precious kiddos — two conceived in her womb and two conceived in her heart, coming home to their forever family from China. She is a Jesus-lover, wannabe writer, endurance athlete, Bible study leader, and wears whatever other hats her family’s military lifestyle might bring along. She is being stretched by mothering through a wide range of ages and needs — high school through kindergarten, some with special medical needs or developmental