This Is Our City

I won't hesitate to say that I had some bad experiences while growing up through Catholic schools. However, I won't lie when I say that I had some of the best experiences of my life during them. The things which learned from them are things which I will never forget. If God places a wife and children in my life I will not hesitate to send them to a school based upon Jesus Christ. It brings music to my ears the wonderful experiences the author and her children have found in them. I thank her for sharing.

At This Is Our City we appreciate and encourage civil debate. We know that the question of where you send your children to school is heated. Institutional biases are important to discuss and investigate whether we talking about public or private schools. As this discussion progresses we value the personal experience and stories of individuals but let's make sure not to paint with too broad strokes.

And to Karen specifically: You can help your children have less of a "hard time with God and Christians" if they hear consistently from you that these people were the worst kind of example of what Christians are meant to be - not the norm - and if you expose them to a church and/or other believers who truly and faithfully live out the Word. Sadly, the damage done by poor examples of any group - and especially Christians - is painful and unfortunate; I pray you will be able yourself to forgive enough to help them overcome that damage.

I am saddened to hear the comments of those who have faced mistreatment and discrimination at the hands of some supposed "Christian" schools. However, as a person who has been involved in ministry for more than 30 years, in several geographic areas and in connection with many Christian schools, I feel the need to point out that I have NEVER encountered a similar experience to those recounted here. Granted, students with physical challenges are frequently underserved by these schools; but this is often the result of their inability to meet governmentally imposed requirements on facilities, staffing, etc. for institutions which serve those populations. The discrimination and abuse described by Karen and TSJ are unacceptable in any school environment. But to be accurate, those children were not hurt by "Christian School" as an entity, but by a particular school or schools. It is unfair to dismiss all Christian-based education on the basis of one - or even a few - seriously flawed examples

@TSJ Don't feel bad. These schools discriminate against everyone that isn't in their perfect little clique. They discriminated against me and my children in countless ways, too numerous to mention. In my daughter's third grade class there was an african american student that my daughter was friends with. The teacher repeatedly referred to him as "chocolate boy." I don't think these people are Christians at all. I think they are religious, yes, but they do not have the love of God in their hearts. Only judging. My son is pretty messed up from his experience at this school, as are several others I know. It's time the truth be told.

I sacrificed to send my children to Christian school. It was the worst decision ever. I'm a single parent (not by choice) and my kids were mistreated and belittled. On multiple occasions, my elementary school aged son was grabbed by the shirt and slammed against the wall for such trivial things as forgetting to wear his belt. The kindergarten teacher would make fun of the quality of their printing and make fun of their work and rip the paper up in front of the class. These things went on all the time over a period of 6 years until my then 5th grade son, out of frustration, drew a disrespectful drawing of the principal. When the principal found out, he went into his gym class and yanked him down from the climbing rope he was on and knocked him to the ground and then took him to a tiny room next to his office where he LOCKED HIM IN LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL until I got there. My children have a very hard time with God and Christians because of this.

MSS *is* a God Place! When my daughter first started there (in 1994), growing our faith was not at the top of my priority list - I just needed her in a better learning environment even while struggling from paycheck to paycheck as a young single mom. But as it happens, MSS has played a huge role in shaping both our spiritual lives over the years. TSJ - I've been involved in various ways (was on the admissions committee for a while) and seen children with a broad range of learning & physical abilities served. As a small school, resources are limited (donor support is vital to the mission) but within their capacity, MSS serves each child as sacred and does what they can to meet each child's needs. So yes, there are times it is not a right fit (for a number of reasons) but in my experience the school is truly open to all families who want to be there. I am so sorry for the painful experience you had. You share an important point. Anon - I call it a "tapestry of love" all the time :)

Interesting, but I have to wonder whether MSS discriminates against physically, developmentally and learning-disabled kids like most other Christian private schools in the nation. Or do they truly practice a "last first" doctrine that embraces every student whose family comes to them for enrollment? I ask because, as the parent of a physically disabled (but extremely intelligent) child, I and many other families in similar circumstances have nothing but horror stories to share about trying to enroll our kids in Christian schools. We were personally rejected by ten Christian schools in our area simply because our child's spinal nerve damage gave him continence issues. Several of our friends had kids enrolled in those schools who were immediately dropped when they were found to have learning disabilities. If MSS acts without discrimination towards every single family who comes to them, then they are truly a blessing to their community.

Great article. So true! As a Mustard Seed School alumni, I completely agree that MSS strives to look like the multi-cultural, and multi-denominational community of God. There is a common tapestry in MSS, and that is love. I have never found as much support, guidance, and love in a school. If you're a student at MSS, someone is bound to be rooting for you! Someone cares. You are loved.