Why Not to Send Children to Parochial Schools
By Andy Heath
Many of you will accuse me of being simply disdainful of organized religion, and I suppose I am. But let's be realistic; religion and education just don't mix. They never have. As far as I can tell, they never will.
When I was in high school, I was considering attending Caron-Newman when I graduated, which is in Jefferson City, Tennessee. At the time, and I suppose to this day, they were affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. I remember visiting the campus. Everyone was friendly. Practically everyone I saw was white. It was like a time warp to Mayberry. It was absurd!
I ended up attending East Tennessee State University, also a conservative school, but it was a state school. ETSU represented all races and religions. Granted, it was not perfect because it was one of the most homophobic colleges I can imagine, it was interesting to meet all kinds of different people with different backgrounds. I believe meeting people outside your own "bubble" is just as much a part of your education as attending classes and studying text books.
That is the same reason it is a bad idea to send children to parochial primary and secondary schools. Children will meet the same kinds of people as themselves. They will run into teachers that will insist that those children believe a certain way rather than learning to think critically for themselves. Many people here criticize the terrorist training camps that al-Quaeda runs in the Middle East because the children - all boys - sit on the floor reciting the Koran over and over until they have memorized long passages. Do you honestly believe that parochial schools in the United States are conceptually that different? The children memorize Bible verses in these schools and are taught not to think. "Never question what God or your teachers say!" Sister Mary Marcus might say to child while slapping her across the face for asking, "Why?" In time, that child will learn to never ask the whys of the world, and she will not grow up to be a great scientist as she would have.
These same children will meet other children EXACTLY like them. They will play games together and grow up together and never meet anyone different as they would do in public schools.
Perhaps academic education is better in parochial schools - doubtful - but the social education a child receives in these schools is certainly inferior. Consider public schools with a great diversity when choosing a school for your child.
