In this month’s NZ Baptist we have a number of articles around the theme of Christian education in New Zealand.

It seems to me that Christian schooling in New Zealand has turned full circle. As John Norsworthy points out in his excellent overview, there was a time when Christian schooling was the ONLY schooling! The introduction of Government schooling saw a gradual weaning away from the emphasis on Christian education. Secularism took over and Christian teaching in State schools became more compartmentalised.

But in the 1990s private schools started integrating into the State system. Christian schools have become more comfortable both within and alongside the State system – not losing their focus on Christian teaching but at the same time fulfilling the Government’s educational goals.

Fran and I have have four children, two still at school, and we have watched them progress firstly through our local State primary school (run, incidentally, by a Christian principal) and then on to Elim Christian College. We have been very happy with both schools.

So is it better to send Christian children to Christian schools?

In my view, not necessarily.

Fran and I have been fortunate in having a choice as to where we sent our children. Not all families have the financial ability or simply don’t have any alternatives.

There is a tendency for Christians to denigrate State high schools because of these schools’ perceived lack of Christian values and their teaching of erroneous philosophies such as evolution. But I think this can be overstated. State schools do teach many good Christian values – even if they don’t state it in these terms. And there are many hard-working, passionate teachers within the State system – both Christian and non-Christian – who dedicate their lives to turning out well-rounded, law abiding young people who can make a valuable contribution to the society we live in.

Some Christian colleges also have clubs for Christian students or Christian student networks. So rather than isolating themselves in a solely Christian environment, these students have the opportunity to share the gospel message with non-Christians and show other students what a Christian life looks like.

One of the most important early influences on my own life was a Christian teacher in the State college I attended.

So why do Fran and I send our children to a Christian school?

Partly it’s because we can, but in the end it comes down to the holistic Christian environment Elim can offer. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the underlying truth that girds everything the school does and teaches, not just in the classroom but also outside in the playground, on the sports fields and in the community. This supports what the children experience and learn at home and in church.

I also think the State school system is becoming increasingly geared towards the outcomes being sought by our secular society – namely financial success, career success, and contributing to the Government’s economic and social aims.

Christian schools are focused on the Kingdom of God. Students learn that life is not about making money but about making the world a better place while seeking the Kingdom of Heaven, about looking towards something and someone greater than themselves and helping those in the world who are less fortunate.

But it is wrong to see the State school system as bad. It is not. It would be a tragedy if Christian children only ever went to Christian schools. We can’t change the society we live in if we don’t participate in it.

– Duncan Pardon