Should Christian kids go to public school?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Parents have the primary responsibility for their children’s spiritual formation (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Ephesians 6:4), yet it does not prescribe a specific model for their education in other areas. Because the Bible neither commands public schooling nor restricts education to homeschooling or private Christian schools, faithful believers may reach different conclusions as to where their children should attend school while seeking to honor God (Romans 14:5). Though there are important factors to consider when seeking what type of school a child should attend, what is most important is that parents seek to actively disciple their children and guide them to walk with the Lord (Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 3:14–15).

Regarding options for schooling, some families prioritize engagement with the world so their children can be a light among others (Matthew 5:13–16; John 17:15–18) while others emphasize preparing children in a safe environment, protected from harmful influences (Psalm 1:1–2; 1 Corinthians 15:33). Both concerns can reflect biblical principles, depending on why and how they are applied.

Above all, parents must prayerfully seek God’s wisdom (James 1:5; Proverbs 1:7) as to what would be best for their children. Because the Bible does not forbid public school nor commend only homeschooling, Christian parents should be convinced in good conscience that their decision honors God (Romans 14:5) and extend grace to other believers who make different educational choices (Romans 14:12–13).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Parents bear primary responsibility for teaching their children, especially about God. For example, Israel was told to regularly and consistently teach their children what God had taught them (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
• Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Parental teaching sets the direction of a child's life.
• Besides spiritual formation, the people children are surround significantly influence children. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm" (cf. Psalm 1:1-2). Many parents are concerned with the secular influences of public school.
• Faithfulness does not require isolation. Daniel and his friends were young men, likely in the twelve to fifteen-year-old range, when they were captured by Babylon and put into their education program (Daniel 1:3–5). Despite their age, they lived faithful, God-honoring lives.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament reaffirms that parents are the primary spiritual teachers. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Timothy, Paul’s protégé, was saved through the influence of his childhood spiritual upbringing (2 Timothy 3:14–15). Whether children go to public or private school or are homeschooled, right spiritual formation starts in the home.
• Christians cannot separate themselves from the world—nor should they. Jesus said that His followers are to be "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13). Paul noted that it’s impossible to escape the sinful world (1 Corinthians 5:9–10). While avoiding the public school system may reduce one form of secular influence, children will still encounter secularism in many other areas of life.
• Jesus, before He died, prayed that God would protect His people, saying, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). While the context differs, this shows that God protects from Satan’s influence. Parents should pray for wisdom (James 1:5) to balance exposing their kids to potentially spiritually dangerous waters and carefully entrusting them to God’s care.
• That said, care is key because “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Care must be taken in all decisions, including those related to education.
• Scripture provides no direct instruction on public education. Believers must come to their own conclusion by weighing both the Scriptural principles and their circumstances. Whatever the conclusion, it must not violate their conscience (Romans 14:5, 23) and be done to honor God (1 Corinthians 10:31), knowing that “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).
• Setting a rule about public schools imposes a command that God did not create. That is sin (James 4:12; Colossians 2:20–23). Therefore, we must be accepting of believers who arrive at different conclusions (Romans 14:1, 13), demonstrating love toward them even when we disagree on schooling.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Bubble wrap has some uses (fun to pop!), but wrapping our children in it isn't one. That's what some parents believe other parents do when they refuse to send their kids to a public school. On the other hand, parents who homeschool or send their children to a Christian school believe they're fulfilling their parental responsibility by protecting their children from secular, sinful influences in the public school system.

The fact that Scripture does not give an explicit command about how to educate our children is a reason for us to pause before assuming that our view is more biblical. We need to seek wisdom in considering where to send our children to school and how to educate them. Parents must do their best to honor God. We should not simply send our kids to public school without thinking through possible ramifications, nor should we keep them at home simply out of protective fear. We also should not just send them to Christian school, expecting the school to do the work of discipling that God has entrusted to parents. Instead, we must think through the pros and cons of each option in light of Scripture and the situation into which God has placed us, and then make the best decision we can. Whatever schooling option a family chooses, parents must remain actively involved—teaching, guiding, and modeling a life that honors God. In the end, the goal is not simply choosing the “right” school, but raising children who know, love, and know what it means to faithfully follow the Lord.

Given how deeply we need to think through our convictions, we need to respect that other parents are also struggling through theirs. In their wrestling with Scripture and with their personal situations, they may arrive at different conclusions about schooling. Our goal should not be to second-guess their wisdom, their maturity, or their salvation. Instead, we are to treat them as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are trying to live godly lives in this fallen world.

UNDERSTAND

• Parents are the ones primarily responsibility for their children’s learning.
• The Bible does not command a single schooling model.
• Parents should seek wisdom and to honor God with how they educate their children.

REFLECT

• How are you intentionally discipling your children in the Lord, regardless of the educational setting they are in?
• What fears or assumptions may be shaping your view of education options more than Scripture itself?
• How are you seeking to strengthen your child’s spiritual formation beyond the classroom environment?

ENGAGE

• How should passages about parental responsibility (e.g., Deuteronomy 6; Ephesians 6:4) inform educational decisions for kids?
• What biblical principles best help parents evaluate the factors involved in choosing a schooling option?
• How can we encourage parents who reach different conclusions about education to disciple their children while maintaining unity and charity?