The Many Benefits Offered By An Urban Christian Education

By Frances Richardson


Schools that provide schooling based upon very specific religious principles is not a new concept. In time gone by only the rich could afford to have their children educated. In time, many churches and religions started to offer the masses a basic education. This was often the only chance these children would get. It is not surprising that these schools included religious instruction as part of their curriculum. For many parents today, an urban Christian education is still the best option.

Many devout Christian parents do not like the idea that their children attend government schools that have to cater for all religions and cultures. They want their children to be taught by Christians and according to the principles of their faith. Government schools do not offer religious instruction, mostly for fear of giving offence. Many parents believe that religious instruction must be an integral part of the curriculum.

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.

It is not just devout believers that are lamenting the poor performance of government schools. Educational experts agree that these schools simply do not have enough resources. They have to cope with very large classes and discipline is often extremely poor. Drug and alcohol abuse even among the very young is common. This type of environment is most certainly not conductive to learning but most parents do not have a choice.

Critics say that religious schools are too exclusive and that they stifle the creativity of their learners because they are so strict about what learners are exposed to. They say that healthy, balanced individuals need to be exposed to different cultures and religions and that religious schools prevent children from becoming true citizens of a society where there is inevitable people from many different backgrounds. This is discriminatory, they argue.

Supporters of educational systems based upon religious principles certainly have a different point of view. They point out that they produce better results, that they have better facilities and that they do not have disciplinary problems. They say that they produce graduates that are responsible and balanced individuals. For them, their religion is important and should be part of any educational system. It is the duty of parents to make sure their children grow up within the faith.

Private schools, even religious ones, are not exempt from the rules and regulations prescribed by the educational authorities. The basic curriculum prescribed by the authorities must be followed but the school may decide to augment this with religious instruction and other fields of study. It nevertheless seems as if religious schools are here to stay.




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