I’m copying most of this post from Scot McKnight, because I think these issues are important enough to put down on a post here (see his post for links to this study and NYT essay discussing the same). And I’ve seen what this study describes firsthand from private religious high school kids (to be fair, some were girls) in Memphis, so I’m not at all surprised by this study:
Private schools by their very nature discriminate. Their students are literally the chosen ones — special, better . . .
It is no wonder then that a recent study of more than 43,000 high school students (conducted by the Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics) found that:
• Boys who went to private religious schools were most likely to say that they had used racial slurs and insults in the past year as well as mistreated someone because he or she “belonged to a different group.”
• Boys at religious private schools were the most likely to say that they had bullied, teased or taunted someone in the past year.
• While boys at public schools were the most likely to say that it was O.K. to hit or threaten a person who makes them very angry, boys at private religious schools were just as likely to say that they had actually done it.
Some public schools have issues with academic attainment; it appears some private schools have issues with tolerance.
(This all assumes that these children told the truth. As it turns out, private school students were also the most likely to lie. According to the study, they were the least likely to say that they had answered all the questions “with complete honesty.”)
And to be clear… Your point is?
I find this study interesting for three reasons. (1) I’ve seen some anecdotal evidence of this phenomenon: “strong believers” and Christian schools with good reputations aren’t immune. (2) I’m genuinely curious why this happens and what a Christian parent or teacher or administrator could or should do about it–I think that’s worth contemplation. (3) As an educator, people sometimes ask my opinion on schools. One thing I always try to say is that parents need to be aware of the gaps created in every educational setting, thus, picking a place where you as a parent are best capable of plugging the gaps may be wise. The evils of public school are pretty well-defined. This study is a reminder that all spheres are not without their dangers and gaps; it may be a helpful reminder, given that private schools are generally better at PR and image management than their public counterparts.
(FWIW I don’t necessarily have schools in mind that would be particularly associated with 2pc as there are plenty outside our orbit that would fit; for instance, smaller, sectarian private religious schools are certainly in play as well.)
Interestingly, they may not have been more likely to lie. Perhaps they were more honest about admitting they hadn’t been completely honest?
But it’s a helpful reminder that nowhere is immune from sin’s ravages. We homeschool, and doubtless have, and will have enough issues of our own to face as our girls get older.
No doubt this is worth contemplation and prayer. This is an issue that I struggle with, how to best raise my children and nurture their souls. Thankfully, our Lord treats us all as special and asks that we treat others betters than ourselves. I am ok with the “special” and “set apart” stuff as long as they are not developing selfish hearts. If they are developing character and talents that can serve others and this world for Christ… then praise the Lord. So for now, we are taking it a year at a time (at private schools for now) and we are seeing God do amazing things in their lives. PDS for sure has Christ in the center of what it does and it warms my heart to have my son tell me what he is learning. I got to see my 2nd grade son and his class lead chapel the other day. It was good.