Sheble: I really feel that if the teachers are free to talk about Jesus, it makes life so much easier. I have been in public school situations when I have stopped myself in mid-sentence and I couldn’t talk about Jesus because of where I was. When I interviewed a lot of parents, they felt if their children could learn about the Lord during school time, then they’d be better steeled for when they get out into the world. And that’s the hope.

Crosswalk: Generally, does the curriculum and educational approach of Christian schools and public schools differ?

Sheble: The answer to that is yes and no! The general topics would be the same – phonics, math and geography. With the Christian school, you’d probably have a Bible section. That’s the main difference. You also have to consider the denomination of the Christian schools you are looking at. You have to be sure you can live with, or be in agreement with, their teaching. For example, if they’re Pentecostal, and you don’t feel that way, that can be a problem.

Crosswalk: What should parents look for when evaluating the quality of their local public and private schools?

Sheble: A lot of the public schools have grading systems now and while I’m not saying that is a perfect system, at least it’s a way. You might also want to see where the children go as they graduate. Are they going to Harvard or are they going to a community college?  Do they have honors classes in the public schools? As far as Christian schools – evaluating them – my personal feeling is that a school should be certified. Some of the states say Christian schools don’t have to get certification. But I just feel if they have submitted to another authority, then that’s a good thing – if somebody else other than them says it’s good.

Crosswalk: If parents enroll their child in a public school because of finances, or if that’s the best choice but they are dissatisfied, how can they improve their child’s educational experience?