Why Many Parents Opt For An Urban Christian Education

By Frances Richardson


Most religions tend to strive towards converting people to their faith. In order to do so, they had to attract people and gain their attention. To this end they establish facilities to perform charity work, to provide medical care and, of course, to provide a basic schooling for young people. To this day schools governed by strict religious principles can be found all over the world although they are no longer missionary in nature. And numerous parents still prefer their children to enjoy an urban Christian education.

Many parents do not want their children to be exposed to other cultures, religions and faith systems. They want the schooling that their children get to be based firmly upon their own belief system. This sentiment is not exclusive to Christians. Moslem parents, Jewish parents and those from other faiths often also want their children to be educated according to the principles of their religion.

It is not only Christians that want their children to receive religious schooling in conjunction with the official curriculum. Jewish and Moslem parents, as well as people from other faiths have also established private schools to fulfill their particular needs. These schools are privately owned and they base their curricula upon the principles of their faith. Parents that enroll their children in these schools must accept that fact.

Perhaps it should not be surprising to learn that these schools have soared in popularity. After all, they generally produce much better results than government schools. They have good facilities, they maintain strict discipline and they offer their students teaching by well qualified teachers. The classes are smaller and the staff is motivated. This, parents believe, is the best environment for learning.

Government schools, on the other hand, are struggling. There are too few teachers, a serious lack of resources, not enough facilities and low morale. Alcohol and drug abuse, even at school, is common. Violence is also common and teachers have to deal with large groups of students. It is very difficult to maintain disciple and in such an environment decent schooling is very difficult, if not impossible.

Private schools based on religious principles have many outspoken critics. They say that it is not healthy to shield learners from other religions and cultures. The dogmatic approach of these schools stifles creativity and the ability to develop independent thought. Critics also accuse these schools of indoctrination and of creating a conception with their learners that they are better than others. This is an unhealthy system, they say.

Naturally, supporters of religious schools do not concur with the critics. They say that it is their right to determine the faith and principles according to which their children are educated. In a free society one does not have to agree but one has to accept the rights of others. Parents of children in religious schools generally want their kids to learn in a well ordered, professional environment with a reputation of producing good results.

It would be wrong to think that private religious schools are totally independent. They are not. They have to comply with all the many laws and regulations overseen by the educational authorities. They have to adhere to the prescribed curriculum but when it comes to religious instruction, they act according to their beliefs.




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