Selecting Urban Christian Education Academies

By Cynthia Harris


Parents living in towns are facing huge problems due to drug abuse, child pregnancies, dropouts and poor performance due to the environment the kids study in. The number of Christian academies is also limited. Finding the right academy to instill the teachings of Christ during the academic process is not easy. The following are the things to keep in mind when selecting urban Christian education academies.

First, begin by checking the site. Location is paramount when making a decision. It will be costly to pay the fare for your kids every day to attend school. A lot of inconveniences are likely to come up such as lateness and absenteeism. Traffic is common in urban areas which might hinder your child from getting a quality education. Pick a program that is within your community.

Quality staff is another thing to consider. The teachers should act the role models of the students to teach them Christ values including love, kindness, and obedience. For an educator to model these values to the kids, they must have faith in the bible and its teachings. Apart from this, they should have the knowledge and relevant training to teach the various arts and science subjects. If the academy does not perform well academically, there is no need of having your kid there.

The ratio of teacher to students is vital. Since private Christian academies are rare in urban areas, the few available might be overpopulated. Enrolling a kid in such classes will not be wise because the classes will be very large. Your kid is not going to get the attention of the teacher because the numbers are high. Without proper attention, only the fast learners in the class will do well. Be wary of such institutions.

After checking the issue of class size, the next step is checking the environment of the institution. A safe and conducive environment must be provided. Find out about the discipline policies of these schools. If there is none in the school, then there might be bullying. Studies have shown that kids that are bullied in school do not perform well. Be wary of such programs. The classes and playgrounds must also be safe for the kids to play.

Extracurricular activities are also a pointer. Although these schools are expected to educate children about Christianity and how to live a holy life, this is not the only thing that should be taught. Kids must be allowed to take part in other activities that improve their motor and social skills like sports. Field trips and clubs must also be on the list of extracurriculars. A program like that will produce all-rounded students.

If the academy is not new in the area, probably there are a lot of graduates from the institution. Knowing the experiences of these graduates during their time in the institution is important since it gives you an insight of what to expect. Talk to some of these students or read reviews online to know the status of the academy.

The last step is finding out if the program is complete. Some end at the kindergarten level while others go all the way to the senior level. Those that are complete are the best because they ensure the continuation of the same curriculum. Avoid changing programs all the time.




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