For some, religious schools fill needs
From the Sunday, August 28, 2005 Courier Post
By KIM MULFORD
Courier-Post Staff
Melissa Neurell didn't want to put her kindergartner on medication.
After all, doctors said her little girl did not have a learning disability or attention deficit disorder. But her public school teacher said medication was what Dezirae Kee needed to learn.
Instead, Neurell enrolled Dezirae at a private Christian school, where the girl's first-grade teacher reassured her that "all she needs is a teacher who will spend time with her to help her excel."
"That's exactly what she did," said Neurell, who recently moved to Pennsauken. This year, Dezirae will be a fourth-grader at Children of Promise Christian School in Clementon, a school supported by the Solid Rock Worship Center.
"The teachers here really take their time out to work with your child," said Neurell, 27.
Across the country, more parents are taking their children out of the public school systems to enroll them in private, charter or home schools, said Jan Stump, a spokeswoman for the Association of Christian Schools International. Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., the organization represents 5,400 Christian schools, including Children of Promise.
Some parents want their child's school to reinforce their religious beliefs and moral values, Stump said. Some want the smaller class sizes and personal attention offered by a private school.
"They want to have a school that works with them in partnership," said Stump. "That's a big reason."
About 65 children in pre-K through fourth grade are enrolled this year at Children of Promise, which also offers day care, a summer day camp and an after-school program. Regular tuition is $4,200 a year.
On a recent visit, students recited Scripture passages from memory.
"We believe the Bible is our foundation for every area of life," said Principal Aughtney Khan.
The school relies on both paid staff and volunteers to teach the children everything from science and music to Spanish and karate.
"We work here because of a call," said Khan, who holds a master's degree in special education.