Lutheran School's Week

[Marguerite]

Since today is the first day of Lutheran Schools Week, I thought I would take this opportunity to ask how many of your churches have a school. At one time, Lutheran churches - especially WELS and LCMS considered their schools to be a major ministry of their congregation. In areas heavily populated with Lutherans such as Milwaukee, St. Louis, Great Chicago, Saginaw, etc. you couldn't go more than a mile without running into another Lutheran school. In recent years, I have noticed a decline. If your church has a school, (in no order of importance):

How well is is supported by the church - financially and otherwise?

Do members pay tuition - either full or part?

Are all of your teachers synodically trained?

Are a high percentage of the students members?

Is your school looked upon as an outreach to the community?

Is your school considered to be much better than a public school in regards to setting high standards both behavior wise and academically?

If your church does not, did it at one time? Why did it close?

If you never had one, was it ever discussed?

What is your opinion of Lutheran Schools vs others.


The questions above do not have to necessarily be answered. I thought it might make a good discussion starter.

[Jim47]

I live in rural farming community and our church is too small for a school, but both of my kids (now grown adults) attented our sister churchs WELS school about 13 miles away. This school is used by and supported by a total of 4 area congregations.


How well is is supported by the church - financially and otherwise? Our church does support the school by paying the full cost of tutition for each of our members children.

Do members pay tuition - either full or part? Yes

Are all of your teachers synodically trained? Yes

Are a high percentage of the students members? Yes

Is your school looked upon as an outreach to the community? Yes

Is your school considered to be much better than a public school in regards to setting high standards both behavior wise and academically? Yes

If your church does not, did it at one time? Why did it close? We have never had one of our own

If you never had one, was it ever discussed? Yes, we looked into this with great detail about 5-6 years ago, took surveys of all own members and the surrounding community to what see possible number of children we would be serving. Sadly there just wern't enough possible children to consider this, and by us forming our own school we would have been depriving our sisters church's of our support which they need, as they have had a decline in children in recent years.

What is your opinion of Lutheran Schools vs others. I was very happy to have sent our kids to Lutheran grade school. The most important thing is of course the sound religious training they recieved. They were well prepared for moving into public high school and how to handle many things in their adult life.

[RedneckAnglican]

I don't know about all of the questions myself...but we are signing our son up for a Lutheran School for the fall...Shepherd of the Hills (LCMS)...it'll be his first school (not counting daycare)...

[Marguerite]

I've taught in a Lutheran School for 34 years and despite the low salary would not teach anywhere else. I teach with a wondrful, dedicated staff who exemplify their love for the Lord in the classroom.

When I first started, no member ever paid tuition. I don't think that that happens anywhere now.

Somewhere along the way it changed from parochial to private school in the eyes of the parents. Extra curricular activities have taken first place to academics.

Don't get me wrong - I love my vocation - I love my church and school. I am not as comfortable with some of the changes

[Rechtgläubig]

Hello. We have a small school that we share between several congragations in my area.

How well is is supported by the church - financially and otherwise? All of our Synod's churches in the area contribute to the school financially.

Do members pay tuition - either full or part? No. We pay no tuition. Our Church/Synod pays for it. Us members have no excuse not to send our kids there. :D

Are all of your teachers synodically trained? I am not positive, but I am pretty sure they all are.

Are a high percentage of the students members? I am not sure.

Is your school looked upon as an outreach to the community? Again, I am not sure. We are the furthest church from the school and my kids are still a couple years away from attending.

Is your school considered to be much better than a public school in regards to setting high standards both behavior wise and academically? Yes and yes. I have seen some of the classes they take and I hope my daughter teaches me Latin when she has it. lol

What is your opinion of Lutheran Schools vs others. Wouldn't trust my kids with any other school. :D We don't see our school as just a place for Christians to gather and learn to read and write. They train the kids, with the cross at the center of everything. The Bible is taught as real history and not just myth and stories as they brush it aside as they are taught evolution. Again, I wouldn't send them anywhere else.

[SPALATIN]

I've taught in a Lutheran School for 34 years and despite the low salary would not teach anywhere else. I teach with a wondrful, dedicated staff who exemplify their love for the Lord in the classroom.

When I first started, no member ever paid tuition. I don't think that that happens anywhere now.

Somewhere along the way it changed from parochial to private school in the eyes of the parents. Extra curricular activities have taken first place to academics.

Don't get me wrong - I love my vocation - I love my church and school. I am not as comfortable with some of the changes

Not to mention that if you were in the vocation of teaching for the money you were sadly misinformed of the earning potential. ;)

[Marguerite]

Not to mention that if you were in the vocation of teaching for the money you were sadly misinformed of the earning potential. ;)

LOL! Yes indeedy! Of course the other rewards far outweigh the monetary ones.

[RedneckAnglican]

LOL! Yes indeedy! Of course the other rewards far outweigh the monetary ones.

As a friend of mine used to say, "I work for GOD...The pay stinks, but the benefits last forever."

[ILoveYeshua]

well the pay is good too
you're even rewarded for giving a cold cup of water to a disciple.