LEAven Blog
The Value of Lutheran Schools
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22:6 ESV)
Lutheran education has always been a part of my life. Between attending Lutheran grade school and college, teaching for 30+ years, sending my daughter to Lutheran schools for PS-college, and now serving at LEA, I can say that my experiences have given me valuable insight into Lutheran education. As I think about those experiences, I want to share why Lutheran schools are valuable and a hidden gem.
Why are they valuable?
About five years into my teaching career, I had a conversation with the father of a student in my room. He said, “I send my children to St. Paul’s because I want a place that partners with my wife and me. I want a school that reinforces what we are teaching at home, that has teachers that agree with and support our beliefs, and that is biblically sound.” As I thought about his words, I realized that he had concisely stated what Lutheran schools are about.
Let’s consider why that statement applies to our schools. When you search for the definition of “partners,” you will find that the strongest matches are allies and collaborators. For “reinforces,” Google provides the following definition: strengthen or support, especially with additional material. The definition of “support” is to agree with and give encouragement to someone or something. I believe that Lutheran schools are collaborators with parents/guardians who strengthen and encourage their children.
How are Lutheran schools collaborators?
Lutheran schools provide time in a Christian environment learning about the Gospel message. Lots of time. According to the Pew Research Center[1], in the United States, 180 days is the average amount of days a student is in school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics[2], the average amount of hours a child spends in school is 6.64. Let’s round that to 7 hours. A child who attends your school from K-8 will spend 11,340 hours in the care of your teachers learning about Jesus. If that same student spends 4 more years at a Lutheran high school, you can add 5,040 hours of Lutheran education, which totals 16,380 hours! This does not include time spent in church and Sunday school. In contrast, a child who attends public school K-12 and spends 3 hours a week attending church between church and Sunday school each week would only have at most 2,028 hours hearing the Gospel message outside the home. Just think about the time your school is spending collaborating with your parents in Christian education as opposed to those children who attend a public school!
How do Lutheran schools strengthen students?
It’s simple: we provide a biblically sound education, as my school father mentioned above wanted. In science class, we teach about the wonders of God and His creation. In history class, we use a biblical perspective. Art and music show how we can praise and thank God with our gifts and talents. Most importantly, we use religion class and memory work to reinforce what we, as Lutheran Christians, believe.
How do Lutheran schools encourage students?
Just like other schools, we listen, show empathy, and provide positive feedback. We also set realistic expectations and keep school activities interesting. However, what differentiates our schools is that we do this from a biblical perspective while proclaiming the Gospel to our students. Teaching the Christian faith is not just a “subject” but the center of all that happens in our schools.
Lutheran schools are hidden gems. They possess a value that is not readily apparent to our communities, much less to all members of our congregations. We are very different from our counterparts in public and other Christian schools. I see our schools as a true blessing to our students, parents, families, and churches. After all, our teachers prepare students for eternal life. What’s more valuable than that?
[1] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20180%20days,school%20day%20varies%20by%20state&text=School%20has%20started%20in%20most,Education%20Commission%20of%20the%20States.
[2] https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/tables/sass0708_035_s1s.asp
