Well…today was Isaac’s last day at his present school. Kelly and I have taken him out of his private school to homeschool him for the final three months of the 6th grade.
We received good news today that he has been accepted into LaSalle Intermediate Academy (public magnet school) in the Fall! We are thrilled!!! My younger two children transferred to public schools (which they/we have loved) last month.
We have taken them out of an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist School…that in an effort to preserve their anonymity I have encrypted their name… *ommunity *aptist *hristian *chool 
They won’t let Isaac continue in the school next year. We aren’t Fundamental Baptists enough. Even though he makes straight “A’s,” is on the “Pastor’s List” every quarter, not a behavioral problem, and clearly the best looking kid in the school – they won’t let him return. Not Fundamentalist Baptist enough.
Truth is…I was feeling uncomfortable with him being there too. I’m just not Fundamentalist Baptist enough. Different emphases.
I really do like the Principal, Pastor French. He’s a great guy with a great spirit. We met yesterday and I told him why we were taking Isaac out of school. He blessed us by stating we were on the “same team” and we would “see each other in heaven.”
Just seems weird to be on the “same team,” but have their Senior Pastor say “you can’t play on our field anymore after the 6th grade.” Maybe its Isaac’s tattoos?!
Oh well. I find comfort in the reality that Isaac’s probability of going to Bob Jones University dropped considerably!
Same team, not the same field, hmmm… Are you guys like the JV squad? You know, you have a similar-looking uniform, but you play in the “small gym.” If so, take heart! Sometimes those JV kids make it big.
By: Kneip on February 29, 2008
at 5:16 pm
Good move!
By: E.Cabello on February 29, 2008
at 5:49 pm
Oh yeah, *ommunity *aptist. That was the church that used to send teenagers to the Monroe playground on weekends to tell those of us playing basketball that we were going to hell unless we accepted Jesus Christ RIGHT NOW!!!!! It was serious high-pressure Jesus sales.
I think that set my search for God back by 15 years.
I’m only slightly bitter.
By: Jim on February 29, 2008
at 6:39 pm
As a product of *irst *aptist *hristian *chool, I think you’ve made a great choice for your kids. Our family was put through a lot of hell since we went to a charismatic church and a Baptist school at the same time. They had some very strange ways of telling other Christians that their denomination was the only one that could take a soul to Heaven.
By: Lindsey on March 1, 2008
at 10:42 am
As someone who considered going to BJU (in Jr High) you have made a great dec. He will be happy. No one every told me that being a parent could be so tough. School choice is sooooo difficult.
By: Lorinda on March 1, 2008
at 11:08 am
Let the deprogramming begin!!!
By: Voice in the Wilderness on March 1, 2008
at 12:40 pm
We explored private schooling for our older son when we lived in Tennessee. He was about to enter middle school and the public school was overcrowded and in terrible condition.
The first one we visited was recommended by friends. They had a nice facility. Staff and faculty seemed like nice people. But then we read their handbook. They basically practiced total isolation from world culture to such an extent I wondered if they really believed that what we had in Christ was greater than the world.
We also learned that they had ordered the son of our pastor to get a different haircut. It was long on top and very short on the sides. Even though it met the handbook requirements (off the collar, etc..), he was told it was “too modern”. So apparently, any cultural trend that didn’t conform to leadership’s ideas was considered too dangerous for the students. Moral depravity was probably right around the corner for this young man. We ended up transferring back up here that summer so the schooling became a moot point.
Isolationist policies, doctrinal arrogance, moral superiority – far too many “Christian” schools instill their students with belief patterns that cripple their walk with Christ and diminish the chance that they will ever truly make a difference in this world.
I have no doubt Sam – that the principles your children are learning at home will allow them to grow and be healthy even in public schools.
By: scmiller on March 3, 2008
at 10:17 am
Congrats on LaSalle Academy.. our children attend(ed) Kennedy Academy and we are very pleased. We didnt have Helene apply this year however because the last 2 years she applied at LaSalle she was accepted but there were no available seats
Rather disappointing. I hope they make room for your son … he will do very well.
By: samdowls on March 3, 2008
at 10:38 am