I’m still in the process of thinking about whether to teach in a private school or a public school (can you call them that?).
Something to consider in this decision are the other teachers at your school.
At a Christian private school, there is likely to be a higher proportion of Christian teachers. This might make it easier to have a Bible study each week with other teachers, and you may be able to create a unified front for Christ for non-Christian teachers. In this situation it may be easier to be a witness for Christ with the support of other teachers.
At a public school, there may not be many, if any other Christian teachers. This might make it incredibly hard to be a witness for Christ, and you may be tempted to be quiet. However, you would then be placing more Christian teachers in public school staff rooms. So hopefully encouraging Christian teachers who may be at the school, or being a much needed witness at the school.
All of this is of course speculation as I don’t know how many Christians teach at either public or private schools. However, I would love to hear from you!
If you’re a Christian teacher (preservice counts), what has your experience been with staff rooms at public and private schools?
Please comment here.
You can read the rest of the posts in this series at Public vs Private | Main Page.
Related posts from calumhenderson.com:
Great question Calum, good on you for thinking through this.
I’m currently teaching at a private school which is clasified as an Anglican school, yet although we have prayer meetings each week and the school is very evangelical, there aren’t many active Christians on our staff.
I think you would find that there is a significant diffference in the number of Christians at a private school verse public but I think that private Christian schools are often thought of as having a significant number of Christians working for them, when in reality, that may not be the case. Each school is very different. Independent schools are again another story. Some church schools have lost their Christian heritage and have become quite liberal and those schools are in great great need of evaglical teachers who will be solid and faithful witnesses to Christ among their students. This is the reason I went into teaching!
Another question that goes with this one is where are Christian families sending their children – Christian schools aren’t full of Christian families, so these schools still need Christian teachers to be introducing their children to Christ. It is amazing the ways that a family can be brought to Christ through the children!
Great question Calum, good on you for thinking through this.
I’m currently teaching at a private school which is clasified as an Anglican school, yet although we have prayer meetings each week and the school is very evangelical, there aren’t many active Christians on our staff.
I think you would find that there is a significant diffference in the number of Christians at a private school verse public but I think that private Christian schools are often thought of as having a significant number of Christians working for them, when in reality, that may not be the case. Each school is very different. Independent schools are again another story. Some church schools have lost their Christian heritage and have become quite liberal and those schools are in great great need of evaglical teachers who will be solid and faithful witnesses to Christ among their students. This is the reason I went into teaching!
Another question that goes with this one is where are Christian families sending their children – Christian schools aren’t full of Christian families, so these schools still need Christian teachers to be introducing their children to Christ. It is amazing the ways that a family can be brought to Christ through the children!
Wow. It just sounds like we need a lot of Christians in teaching. In fact, let’s just have more Christians in general!
Thanks for your thoughts though. It is very helpful to get real life teachers helping out.
And it is good to know that even “Christian” private schools may not have a lot of Chirstians on staff.
Thanks!
Wow. It just sounds like we need a lot of Christians in teaching. In fact, let’s just have more Christians in general!
Thanks for your thoughts though. It is very helpful to get real life teachers helping out.
And it is good to know that even “Christian” private schools may not have a lot of Chirstians on staff.
Thanks!