Religious Schools

The Spectrum of Islamic Education: From Secular to Orthodox

One of the reasons many parents send their children to private schools is to receive a comprehensive approach to their religion in the school's curriculum and activities. In this article, we'll offer some answers to questions about an Islamic education.

Looking for Islamic schools?? Use the powerful search engine on PrivateSchoolReview.com to see what schools are near you. Your Imam will also be able to help you select schools.

After you click on "Find Schools", click on Advanced Seach in the lower right-hand corner of the next screen.

Then select line 7.

Now, here are some common questions parents have about sending their children to an Islamic school.

Parent: Who should consider an Islamic education for their child?

Imam: Any parent who wishes to instill Islamic values, ethics, and knowledge in their children should consider an Islamic education. In today’s secular society, where competing ideologies and distractions often challenge our faith, it is essential to provide young people with a strong foundation in Islam. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "طلب العلم فريضة على كل مسلم" (Talab al-'ilm fareedah 'ala kulli muslim) — "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim." An Islamic education ensures that children grow up understanding their identity as Muslims while learning how to navigate

Many parents search for an answer to the question "How do I provide the kind of religious education I want for my child?" Religious education is a very personal, subjective matter. When it comes to religious education one size most definitely does not fit all. Each of us has a very clear idea of what we expect. Much of our thinking is driven by the obvious reality that religious education is not an option in our public schools. Religion and Public Schools from the Center for Public Education explains the legal reasons why. So, with this requirement in mind let's explore your options.

Three Categories of Religious Schools

I have been in your shoes when it comes to deciding what kind of religious education our children should have. We are Episcopalians so we wanted schools which embraced that denomination's teachings. Kent School fit the bill for eldest daughter. Youngest daughter attended Westminster School which again fit our needs at the time. Our sons attended St. Anne's School in Nassau, Bahamas when we lived there. That was an Anglican school, Anglican being the British version of the Episcopal church.

To make things a little easier for you I have divided religious schools into three broad categories or strengths if you will: light, medium and strong. Essentially all I am doing is categorizing the intensity of the religious instruction and observances which schools in each category offer. Obviously there will be some overlap because private schools are intrinsically unique. That's

Cristo Rey schools are unabashedly Roman Catholic. Through and through. They teach Catholic values and religious beliefs. But they do something more which is both unusual and significant. Cristo Rey schools serve students from low -income families in urban areas who could not otherwise afford a private school education. The way the Cristo Rey schools do this is to combine a work-study program with the academics, sports and extracurricular activities the schools offer. Simply put, the Cristo Rey schools offer quality education with a work-study component.

History

The Cristo Rey schools got their start back in the 90s in Chicago. The Catholic academic scene was a familiar though depressing one. The diocesan high schools were facing serious financial challenges. Those schools had always been the ray of hope for struggling lower-income families who dreamed of an education for their children. The Catholic schools run by the various orders were in good shape because they attracted a clientele that could afford the substantially higher tuition which those schools charged. The Jesuits met with parishioners in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and asked what they needed most. "A good high school" was the unequivocal response.

This short video clip shows what the Jesuits did.

The Program

As noted above Cristo Rey schools have a work-study program which is an integral part of the life and rhythm of each school. Students work the equivalent of 5 days a

One of the main reasons many of us parents look at private schools is because we want our children to receive a religious education. I define a religious education for the purposes of this article as an education which adheres more or less to the religious beliefs which we hold dear. In other words if you are Roman Catholic, you will want to think seriously about educating your child in a Roman Catholic school.

It has been several years since I examined the data on religious schools in the National Center for Education Statistics Private School Universe Survey. This survey covers academic year 2011-2012. So I was fascinated to see that out of the 30,000 private schools in the United States approximately 21,000 were described as religiously-oriented schools. About 9,000 schools were what we call non-sectarian or not affiliated with any specific religion. By comparison there were approximately 99,000 public schools in the 2011-2012 academic year. That would mean that private K-12 schools are educating approximately 30% of school-age children.

Let's review the 25 religious categories which the Private Universe Survey documents.

Roman Catholic: The Roman Catholic Church has always taken its educational mission seriously. As a result about 7,000 K-12 schools educate 1.9 million students. Catholic schools include parochial schools which are largely K-8 schools and diocesan high schools. These schools are mostly organized and administered at the local and regional level. Add to this mix hundreds of schools which were established by

If you are a Jewish parent thinking about private school for your son or daughter, you will probably want to consider sending your child to a Jewish school. Of course, much depends on how observant a Jew you are or consider yourself to be. That will influence your decision in many ways, some subtle, some more obvious.

Many questions will surface at this point. Here are some questions that you should answer before proceeding with a more detailed search for the right school. As you think of other questions that need answering, add them to the list.

• Why should your child attend a Jewish school?
• When should your child attend a Jewish school?
• How should your child be taught?
• What should your child be taught?
• Where should your child go to school?
• Why should your child attend a Jewish school?

This question addresses perhaps the most important aspect of this discussion. Why, indeed, do you want your child to have a Jewish education? Only you, as parents, can decide why a Jewish education has value for you. Is your family tradition driving this decision? Are your religious beliefs so important to you and your family that a Jewish education for your children is simply the only option? You need to understand that any parent who sends his child to a religious school is making a strong statement about his faith and the importance that it holds in his life. It will set your child apart from his peers in a very secular