The education of Church children is often, at least in the United States, deferred to government run Public Schools. Christian parents frequently send their children into the arms of gnostic, pagan, and anti-Christian public schools in hope that their children will "be a witness" to pagan school administrators and teachers who are well educated and able to "correct the religious superstitions" that their Christian students believe.
But what do the Church Fathers have to say in regards to educating Christian children? They do have thoughts about such an important thing. While their primary focus was on matters of faith, morality, and theology, some of their writings contain advice on various aspects of life, including the education of children.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD):
In his autobiographical work "Confessions," St. Augustine describes how his parents, particularly his mother, Monica, arranged for his education through private tutors. He mentions a tutor named Alypius who played a significant role in his early education.
St. Augustine's work, "On Christian Doctrine," discusses the Christian education of children. He emphasizes the importance of using Christian principles and Scripture in teaching children. Augustine also addresses the role of teachers and parents in shaping a child's moral and spiritual development.
St. John Chrysostom (c. 349-407 AD):
St. John Chrysostom, in his homilies and writings, spoke about the moral and ethical education of children. He stressed the significance of setting a good example for children through one's own behavior and emphasized the importance of teaching them virtues and piety.
in some of his homilies, St. John acknowledges the role of private tutors and educators in the upbringing and education of children. He emphasizes the importance of choosing virtuous and knowledgeable teachers to guide children in their studies.
St. Basil the Great (c. 329-379 AD):
In his work "To Young Men, on How They Might Derive Benefit from Greek Literature," St. Basil discusses the use of private tutors for the study of secular subjects. He advises young men to select tutors who are knowledgeable and virtuous.
St. Basil, in his work "On the Formation of Christians," provided guidance on the education of Christian youth. He emphasized the role of both parents and educators in instilling faith and moral values in children. St. Basil believed that education should cultivate both the intellect and the soul.
Concluding Thoughts
These Church Fathers' writings offer some insights into how early Christians viewed the education of children and of hiring private tutors in education as an integral part of their spiritual and moral upbringing.
Education in the ancient world was often tailored to individual families and their means, and private instruction was common among the more affluent households. The Church Fathers recognized the importance of education and the influence of teachers on the moral and intellectual development of children.
As their guidance is rooted in Christian principles, many of their ideas on ethics, character development, and the importance of good role models are not support nor taught in government run Public Schools.
Since government run Public Schools do not align with the writings with the Early Church Fathers in the teaching of virtues and Christian piety, to name a few, nor with the writings of the Scriptures in "train up a child in the way of the Lord," then Christian parents should not send their children into the pagan and ungodly Public Schools. Alternatives should be sought out and created if needed.