In the last couple of years we have been thinking and searching for wisdom as to what kind of education we’d like Tryphena to have. There are basically three alternatives that we have been considering: home schooling, private school (parochial or non parochial), and public school. We have been and continue to wrestle with this issue. Each has its own pros and cons.
While home schooling may be the best option for us because we can get both quality education without having to pay a lot of money, it is not for fainted hearts. It takes a lot of discipline- both for parents and the children- to do home schooling. While many people have many concerns about home school especially in term of social development of the children, we are not too concerned about it. Kids can still have healthy interaction with their peers at church, at the home school support group meeting, at home with neighbors’ children, etc. Home schooling let parents choose the curriculum that they see fit for their children. There are vast arrays for curriculum available, including classical education. In term of cost, parents can give private school education (or better) for much less compared to private school. Our objection with this option is discipline, or rather the lack of it on our part.
Public school in Clovis California is one of the leading district in the nation. In term of academic accomplishment Clovis Unified School district provides good education for (almost) free. However, we struggle with the direction of public school, and for that matter the direction of the nation. From my own daily experience working in a public school entity, and from reading lots of articles, news, and books on public school, we have great concerns for sending Tryphena to the public school. Broadly speaking, my overarching concern with public education in the US is what I would call “Brainwash.” Please note I’m not pointing fingers to teachers or any particular school. I cherish the work of many school teachers who labor sincerely to teach children! Many times, however, their hands are tied and they can’t do much against the system. Below are some of many links that you can click to see what I mean:
Students were disciplined for wearing US flag t-shirts: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Students-Wearing-American-Flag-Shirts-Sent-Home-92945969.html The problem is not that they violated the school’s dress code, rather, they wore the t-shirts “on the wrong day.” Is there a wrong day to display your patriotism to your nation? They wore the t-shirts with US flag on them on May 5th, cinco the mayo to celebrate Mexican victory over French. This is ridiculous!
Indoctrination by political regime: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/31058/
Indoctrination by certain religious sects:
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=
And this is a MUST WATCH hour-special on “the Indoctrination of Our Children” from Glenn Beck’s show on March 5, 2010:
http://www.nmatv.com/video/5069/Glenn-Beck-03-05-10-Indoctrination-Of-Our-Kids What do you think? Scary, eh?! Do you see who are trying to mold our children? The environmentalist extremist, the progressive wacko, the socialist nuts!
O…. how about sex education? Watch this current news: http://video.foxnews.com/v/
How about the attacks from gay/lesbian movement? Read this about SB 777 in California that will ban textbooks and teachers from any instruction that “reflects or promotes bias against” homosexuality, transgenders, bisexuals or those with perceived gender issues. http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/933623242.html
In October 2009 Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 572 into law. This Senate Bill would establish every May 22 as “Harvey Milk Day” in K-12 public schools in California. Children would be taught to admire the life and values of late homosexual activist Harvey Milk. http://savecalifornia.com/oppose-harvey-milk-gay-day-sb-572.html
How about constant assult from atheists? Creationism is no longer taught in many public schools. Children can’t be taught the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. The word “Christmas” has become a taboo word in public square. Christmas tree becomes Holiday tree! Christmas concert become Winter concert.
The Federal Education Standards are in the work to implement the same standards to all school children. I’m afraid that it is used to make the work of indoctrination easier. I would argue that the formation of the Department of Education itself was unconstitutional. 
Currently I’m reading a controversial and provocative book by John Taylor Gatto titled, “Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey Through the Dairy World of Compulsory Schooling.” 
While I disagree with many of his premises, there are many factual information about the history of formation of public education. You have to read it for yourself to see how mandatory schooling has been used to create a dumb down society. Most of the chapters are available here for free.
I also would argue that public school is the greatest form of legalized segregation. Go to a school in a upper-high-class neighborhood, and compare it with that in a bottom-lower-class neighborhood. How about inner city schools?
Before we talk about private school, I should have mentioned about another option that kinda bridge the public with private school, that’s Charter School. We are fortunate that in Fresno we have some charter schools that rank high in the nation. University High School on CSU, Fresno campus is one of the best charter schools in the nation and it’s one of the options for high school.
Now, about private school. While there’s no guarantee that pupils at private schools are immune from all of these brainwashing activities, parents have more control at private school. At what cost? An arm and a leg, or perhaps two arms and three legs. $400 to $800 per month per child! Is it worth spending? We are not rich, and some people will think we’re foolish to shell out that kind of money while we can send our daughter to the government school for free; however, at the end of the day, it is all about priority. Are we content to hand out our children to the government so that they can mold them, or should we as parents be responsible for the education of our children? What kind of education do we as parents choose to provide for our children? Secular education that yields humanist worldview, or Godly education with Christian worldview? Parents, choose wisely!