In Haywood County, your choice is between traditional public education and private school. We are fortunate to have many great educators in all our public and private schools, so, ultimately, your choice will come down to your preferred method. If you’re on the fence about private education, you don’t want to be swayed by false information and misconceptions.
There are several benefits to Christian education for your children. At an institution like Haywood Christian Academy, your child's education is rooted in a biblical worldview and a nurturing environment where students develop into Christian leaders.
Private Christian schools feature smaller class sizes, are statistically safer, and provide Christ-centered discipleship. Choosing the method of education for your children is difficult.
Despite the many advantages of choosing a private, Christ-centered school for your children, there are several misconceptions about Christian education. In this article, we will discuss and debunk nine common misconceptions about private Christian education.
9 Common Misconceptions About Private Christian Education
1) Christian Education Isolates Students
“Aren’t you just putting your kids in a Christian bubble?”
Christian schools are often accused of being a “bubble” of Christian subculture, separating students from the realities of a fallen world. A Christian education would thus threaten to leave children ill-prepared for the challenges of college and the workplace. If you isolate children from the world while they are young, they are more likely to fall when they are older.
Christian students are not educated in a bubble isolated from the world. Christian education prepares students to respond to their world and their culture with the Gospel. At Haywood Christian Academy, we provide an environment in which students can learn about their world and how to respond as Christ would - with grace, love, compassion, and justice.
We equip students to walk into their first freshman college class, into their workplace, or wherever they go, prepared for what they can expect and knowing how they will respond. We encourage every student to engage with our community and make an impact on the world around them.
2) Christian Education Is All About the Bible
“Are our kids just studying the Bible all day?”
God’s Word is vital to Christian education. The Bible informs the way we teach students, but it is not the only text. At Haywood Christian, our goal is to instill in students a biblical worldview so that they filter literature, science, history, math, and the arts through the lens of Scripture. All education espouses a worldview, according to long-time educator Dr. Glen Schultz:
“The reality is that all education has, as one of its main goals, the shaping of a person’s worldview. There is no such thing as a neutral education. Secular education is based on a man-centered worldview where God is either ignored or blatantly denied. Man is the ultimate authority, and every individual determines what he/she should become.”
God is at the center of a biblical worldview. When students see the world through the lens of Scripture, they will have a better grasp of how the world operates and how to respond to each situation with the character of Christ. Furthermore, with the Bible as their foundation, they will be prepared for people to act badly (Romans 1) and help patiently point people to the Gospel.
Do students at HCA study the Bible? Absolutely! God’s Word is the foundation of truth, so, of course, we study the Scriptures. However, it is by no means the only text we study.
3) Christian Education Just Takes All the Christians Away from Public Schools
“If my kid goes to private school, how will he or she have the opportunity to evangelize?”
If your child attends Haywood Christian Academy, he or she will be equipped to share the gospel and answer their friends’ questions about God, the Bible, faith, and culture. Means by which your children can participate in evangelism in Haywood County include:
- Involvement in recreational sports
- Working with Community Outreach Service Projects through HCA
- Participating in dance, gymnastics, and other activities
- Volunteering through the town of Waynesville and civic organizations
- Summer camps and other programs
- Getting to know neighbors
Students who attend Christian schools are being prepared to defend the gospel and address questions from their peers. Middle school, high school, college, and beyond are all places where students who attend private Christian schools will be more equipped to communicate their faith.
4) Christian Education is Unnecessary for Churched Youth
“If my kids are in church, why do they need Christian education?”
Your children may spend three hours per week in church, but they are in school at least six hours a day, plus extracurricular activities. In an article for the Christian Post, Shiena Bernardino writes:
“Others believe that growing up in a Christian home will be enough to hone their children's faith, but parents have to remember that kids spend more time at school, which means that more hours will be allocated to learn secular things. That is why it is important to sharpen their Christian beliefs as much as possible.”
Corporate worship and Christian community make your local church a vital component of your child’s discipleship. Christian education can only supplement and strengthen their faith, whereas secular education will, at times, intentionally undermine it.
5) Christian Education Is for Rich Kids and Parents
“Even if I wanted to, how could I afford to send my kids to a private school?”
Public and charter schools in North Carolina are funded by the government and do not require tuition fees. Private schools must find alternative ways to pay staff members, construct and maintain facilities, and carry out other duties associated with running an educational institution because they do not get funding from the government. This usually entails a mix of fundraising efforts and tuition.
The assumption that parents must be extremely affluent in order to afford for their children to attend school is a side effect of charging tuition. However, it is just not true. For institutions like ours, the objective is often to offer the best education at the most reasonable price. Like colleges, private schools also provide options for financial aid and scholarships.
Haywood Christian Academy is committed to providing quality at an affordable rate. Nevertheless, for parents who are concerned about the cost, we do offer opportunities for financial assistance. If you are considering Christian education for your children, contact us. We are happy to schedule a tour with you and tell you more about the benefits of Christ-centered education.
6) Christian Education Institutions Have Subpar Athletics and Extracurriculars
“Private schools don’t have the resources to have quality sports or clubs.”
There is a misconception that Christian private school athletics are not as competitive as public schools. Some contend that private schools lack the resources and capacity to offer a wide range of extracurricular activities and the arts. However, the opposite is true. Private schools can typically provide distinctive clubs and sports activities. Some can offer unique arts and extracurricular activities.
We believe that our athletic program should instill positive, Christ-like character that is expressed openly through competition. Although important, sports should not take the place of academics, church, or family commitments.
While our primary goal within our athletic programs is to honor Christ, we emphasize excellence, development of skill, and striving to win, especially at the varsity level.
In addition to high-quality athletics, HCA offers a full complement of fine arts options such as visual arts, drama, music, yearbook, and music.
7) Christian Education Institutions Do Not Require Teacher Qualifications
“Private schools can employ unlicensed teachers.”
Although the state of North Carolina does not mandate that private school instructors hold a license, many schools look for licensed teachers. Additionally, private schools like ours look for and hire the greatest and most qualified instructors. Our teachers are skilled communicators and experts in the areas they teach.
The mission of Haywood Christian Academy is to develop students into Christian leaders by providing an excellent educational experience on a foundation of Biblical truth. To fulfill our mission, we have amassed a great team of incredible administrators and faculty who are passionate about God, the gospel, and academic excellence.
8) Christian Education Is Not Diverse
“Private school students are all the same.”
This myth is based on the presumption that only wealthy children attend private schools. Some people mistakenly think that private schools only accept students from a certain socioeconomic standing. This could not be further from the truth.
Haywood Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
We want everyone in western North Carolina and the world to hear the gospel. Our commitment to diversity flows from that desire.
9) Christian Education Attracts Bad Kids or Geniuses
“Private school kids are either brainy or bad.”
One prevalent myth is that children removed from public schools make up the majority of the student body at private schools. On the other hand, some people think that private schools are solely for children with the greatest IQs.
Not only is this misconception a myth, but it’s also hurtful. Children should not be defined by their past behavior or current abilities. They should be defined by God, who created them in His image.
Private education is, in fact, accessible to everyone. Class sizes are often smaller at private institutions. Our class sizes at HCA are up to 40% less than those in public schools. This simply means that instructors have the freedom to provide individualized care, attention, and correction in a way that is impractical in public schools.
Teachers' ability to spend more time, offer further clarifications, and even customize their delivery to a child's learning style benefits students who might be struggling with a specific topic. Similarly, teachers acknowledge students who are doing well in their classes and give them additional opportunities to make progress.
Haywood Christian Academy
Now that you know the truth about some of the most common misconceptions about private schools, we would love to talk with you further about how your child can thrive at Haywood Christian Academy. Contact HCA for more information today!