Three Myths About Modern Christian Academies Dispelled

It's tough to keep track of all the school types available to today's youth. Some are primary, like public schools, but that doesn't mean primary like preschool and kindergarten. It gets even more complex when you add a religious element to the mix. Luckily, there are a few ways to spot a quality Christian academy, and here are some things that you'll likely never see.

We've all heard of the tradition that keeps drifting schoolboys in line with a quick rap to the knuckles. In fact, this was a common practice in older Catholic schools in the past, but the times have changed. Not even the modern Catholic schools use such techniques, and certainly not a modern Christian academy.

Your child's discipline is usually handled on a tier-based system, wherein smaller punishments lead to more severe actions. Usually, parents have a say in what action should be taken beyond a certain point. You will want to discuss each aspect of this process with the headmaster or principal at your school. Occasionally, especially at younger ages, some orthodox schools encourage the notion that, "To spare the rod is to hate the child." This is an old passage from Proverbs that recounts the wisdom of harsher discipline as timeless. You will want to make sure the school's beliefs line up with your own on these matters.

Forced Religious Participation

While the actual religious activity will vary from school to school, you might be surprised to know that the typical Christian academy is open and accepting of all walks of faith. Keep in mind, however, that acts such as prayer, communal worship, and Theological discussion are still regular aspects of these students' school life.

This is not to say that your child must participate in the acts. Granted, there is an underlying assumption that most of the students will be Christian, as will their parents, but it is not a universal fact. You can think of the school like any other in the community-rich in diversity and possibility.

Accreditation And College Credits

This particular myth varies greatly from school to school, but the important part of the process is to establish the attitude that a particular Christian academy has towards accreditation. With recent changes to older laws like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and others, there are more stringent challenges offered to certain schools. You will want to see whether your school is registered with the most popular choice of accreditation, The American Association of Christian Schools (AACS), or any others.

Finally, note that the entire process of accreditation can take some time. This means newer schools might seem like they are at a disadvantage. However, it is usually newer schools that offer the most cutting-edge and cultivated techniques, since they are fresh faces to an old system. As long as they are in the process of acquiring a certification, you usually have a safe bet that it will come through by the time your child applies for college. If not, don't fear, as most colleges have other testing methods available to ease the process.

To learn more about their options for Christian academy, NJ residents should visit http://www.wilberforceschool.org/drivingdirections.

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