I wish it was possible to go into an interview without an expectation on what I’ll find. But if that were my primary goal, this was not the subject to get me there. The few years that I spent in Christian education left a metallic taste in my mouth, that might be attracting only its like.
So I keep asking leading questions from the other side.
“Did it help your relationship with God?”
“Does anything stand out as formative in your faith?”
“Were there any spiritual mentors or friends who came alongside you?”
Even those who don’t harbor bitterness or resentment (anymore) have an unmet expectation to air out. And maybe that’s inevitable, because of the very fact that they were Christians placed in Christian school.
It’s not only that we, as Christians, have a high standard for the Christian brand. We each have a personal complex of very individualized expectations that we want it to fulfill. We expect our spiritual needs to be met by Christian music, Christian film, Christian role models, and not least of all, Christian education.
The odds are heaviest against that last one, because it’s not just a matter of consumption. From Christian education, we expect a product. A product in the form of our children.
Essentially, parents hire Christian education as a co-producer in raising Christian children.
Now think for a moment about the guilt and flagellation that Christian parents inflict on themselves in this endeavor. Is it likely that any institution would pass muster?
The closest thing that I can think of in this vein would be a competitive prep school. For example, students of Philips-Exeter Academy are expected to get into Harvard.
But at least in that case, some of the burden is placed on the student. He’s expected to cooperate with the system, to study like a maniac, to row or play lacrosse, to shoulder the social collateral of an Ivy Leaguer.
By contrast, Christians schools seem to bear the moral burden of reform schools, but their success is measured by a much higher standard than keeping a kid out of jail. Their measure of success is promoting (if not assuring) your kid’s salvation.
You know what they say about insanity — it’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Maybe like putting your problem kid into Christian school year after year, and expecting his heart to change?
I’m not saying that parents should pull their kids out of Christian education if little hearts aren’t turning toward the gospel. But maybe expectations should be adjusted regarding what any kind of education can reasonably achieve in matters of the soul.
Behavior can of course be taught–is that really all we want?
What do you expect out of Christian education? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Chelsea is conducting a series of interviews with people that have been through Christian schooling. Her findings will appear in the March/April print edition of Converge magazine.
