Parents choose biblical worldview in making Christian school choice
- Aug 18, 2007 - comment
For Tamara and Charles Heeb, choosing a school came down to one question: Will the education complement what the children are being taught at home and at church?
Both the children—Lyle, 10, and Adeline, 14—attend High Point Christian Academy (HPCA) in High Point.
The school, established by Green Street Baptist Church, is “preparing them to be better Christians,” Tamara Heeb said.
Teachers share standard information but counter secular perspectives with a biblical worldview. So, students will learn about evolution but they will also study what the Bible says about creation of the earth.
The family has long been active at First Baptist Church in High Point as well as sharing in family devotions.
Tamara said she is involved in missions while her husband works with the youth on a regular basis. She said Adeline became a Christian at age 4 and Lyle at age 5. Both children went to a Quaker preschool in the area but when it came time for the formal education choices, the parents chose HPCA. They researched the schools the children would have been assigned in the public school system before making their decision.
Tamara said she and her husband learned about the disrespect for teachers in many of the public schools and did not want their children exposed to that atmosphere.
“It was no option for us,” she said.
“We want them to be challenged,” not scared to go to the bathroom.
HPCA offers advanced placement classes to better the children’s chances of getting a good college education.
Money was a concern, but “God’s provided,” Tamara said. She works part time as an accountant, and Charles is a salesman with a pharmaceutical company. They intentionally live in a neighborhood that allows them to afford tuition.
Tamara said she also likes that the school has smaller classrooms. The students are well behaved, allowing teachers more time for teaching, she said.
The school also offers many options for arts and sports. Both children are involved in sports on some level.
Adeline is involved in cross-country track, swimming, softball and band.
Lyle is not old enough to play on the school’s basketball team but he does play in a league and he swims.
“I love it,” said Tamara. “I feel they’re very well-rounded.”
The future looks bright for the Heeb children as well.
Adeline already has her sights set on Appalachian State University, where both parents graduated. She plans to double major in education and music.
Lyle, however, is gunning for the race track.
He wants to be a driver.
Lyle said, “It would be OK because God will keep me safe
This article is reprinted from the August 18, 2007, issue of the Biblical Recorder, the newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.