Schooling Your Catholic Kids

Christine Hanus suggests three ways parents can better discern educational options for their children. 

Every education teaches a philosophy, if not by dogma, then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not education at all. (G.K. Chesterton, The Common Man)  

In other words, education really is that important. It will deeply impact our children, giving them a view of life that forms them and provides a foundation from which they will make all their decisions.  

But don’t be intimidated or frightened when you are making educational choices for your child. Jesus told His followers, “Do not be afraid … little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). As Catholic parents, we should be people of faith and know that if we stay close to our Lord, His provision knows no bounds. 

A “Good Place” for Discernment 

My husband and I made some unconventional choices when we were educating our children. For instance, though our children attended Catholic schools, an unexpected change of circumstances caused us to begin homeschooling on the fly, though I was experiencing health problems at the time. My parents, with whom we were temporarily living, must have thought we were crazy. Fast forward several years: We had never planned to enroll our children in public school, but as they matured, we reconsidered for a number of reasons. Four of our children attended public high schools in their junior and senior years.  

There were many factors that went into the decisions we made, and there were many moments of uncertainty, but God was with us in the (sometimes painful, drawn-out) discernment process.  

If you find yourself having trouble deciding which educational path might be best at any given time for your child, start with the basics. Be in a “good place” to discern. You are the parents of these children, which gives you a unique ability to make these choices, an ability and a responsibility which is super-naturalized by a sacramental marriage.  

(Ideally, husbands and wives should be making these decisions together! As a stay-at-home mom with the primary care of my children, I had to be careful to bring my thoughts and insights to my husband so we could pray and discern as a team, and my husband had to be careful that he took his role as spiritual head of our home seriously.) 

Three Essential Components  

What does it mean to be in a good position for discernment? I suggest three ways that we parents can dispose ourselves to the Holy Spirit, which will empower us to think more clearly and make good choices. I recently discussed these ideas in depth with the Schuberts in a Modern Catholic Family podcast, but here is a starting point: 

Be Open to Conversion  

We have to ask ourselves if we are truly converted to Christ or if we are playing at being Catholic. Do we want God's best blessings? Then we need to become His faithful followers. There is no shortcut and there is no fence-sitting. We cannot hope to discern what is best for ourselves and our families when we are sitting on the fence. God wants to give us the help we need, but how can we hear His voice and discern what is good when we are more interested in being the captain of our own ship? 

Stay in a State of Grace  

Cooperate with the graces God continually makes available to us! Following God's commandments, seeking to understand what is expected of us by the Church Christ founded, paying particular attention to our sacramental life, praying daily, and soaking ourselves in Scripture … these things will allow us to access and cooperate with God’s grace and will help us rebound when we fail. Grace is described by the Catechism of the Catholic Church as “the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God…partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life” (1996, emphasis original). Yes, please!  

Have Courage  

Have the courage to go outside of your comfort zone, while relying on God meet you in that awkward or difficult place. It takes courage to do things differently than other people are doing them. It takes courage to lead your children and to risk making them unhappy or unpopular in the short term. It takes courage to give up some of your own personal ideas of success—to find a simpler lifestyle which allows you the time needed to raise children and work through the difficulties which will arise.  

Don't expect your family to do things the way everyone else is doing them. Even other Catholic families, while they may model some great educational pathways, will look different from your family. Stay in touch with a supportive community, learn from the good example of others, but be your own thing! 

When Catholic parents start to make educational choices for their children, there can be a confusing list of pros and cons for homeschool, public and charter schools, Catholic and other private schools. The whole thing can leave us feeling a bit out of our depth. But when we trust God, He helps us at every step (or moment of paralysis!) along the way when we put ourselves in a good position to hear His voice. 

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Copyright 2025 Christine Hanus
Images: Canva