Islamic schools are usually a good solution, but not in all cases. This post will make sense to parents who do not want to sacrifice academics for Islamic identity or vice versa. Here are some important questions that you should ask before deciding where you will place your kids.
1. How strong (academically) is the public school next door?
You should compare the academic strength of the Islamic school to the public school. Some Islamic schools are very good. Some public schools are really bad. More often though, you will find a public school in your area that is much better, academically, than the Islamic school. You need to find out : What is that difference? Is the difference very big? You can usually find out the ranking of the public school is by visiting many online web sites.
Islamic Schools are more difficult to rate academically. Some of the questions you could ask are: did the school graduates go to very good colleges? What was the performance (in public schools) of the children who left recently from the Islamic School? What is the school’s ranking in the standard achievement tests? Is the school accredited, and with who? Are all the teachers certified?
There is no fair "Islamic" comparison between both types of schools. Islamic schools may have a lot of problems, but in general they will be much better in that respect.
If the public school is much better academically, then it scores a point.
2. What is your family’ Strength ?
If you have a strong home Islamically, then you should consider public schools. This is the most difficult question to ask, since those who are focused Islamically tend to want more of the same (and vice versa). In any case, you may be able to provide at home much of the fundamentals that are provided in the Islamic school.
If your family is well educated, and you can provide the child with a healthy academic challenge at home, even beyond what the Islamic school may give, then this points in favor of Islamic schooling. For instance, will you have resources, computers, books, go to the library, help them be organized, develop a love for reading and math, etc…
The Islamic personality of the child will be shaped by both home and school, with more importance towards the home in the younger ages.
Public schools score a point if you have a strong Islamic home (for ex: you pray together as a family, both parents are practicing, you have Islamic resources at home, you take the kids to the mosque more than once per week, they have many Muslim friends, etc..)
3. How old is your child?
I believe that it is more important to place kids in Islamic schools in the younger ages – until between 4th and 8th grade. This is the time when they are building their character. Of course there is more danger in public schools at the high school age. However, they are at least mature enough to put up a fight to maintain their Islam. Also, this can prepare them for life in the "real world". Also, resources in high school become very expensive. Public high schools often have much more resources that Islamic High schools.
If your child is in 7th grade or older, Good Public Schools score a point.
4. What are your child’s abilities
Due to their limited resources, Islamic Schools often cater more to the average student. That is: if you are very smart, the Islamic school does not have AP courses for you to grow your talents. If you need additional academic help, they do not have the capacity to provide that for you either. Average students do well in Islamic schools: They maintain their academic average, yet maintain an above average Islamic identity.
This is a tricky question. 80% of children are average. But 80% of parents think that their kids are in the top 20% compared to other kids. And that does not add up.
Another way of saying it is : Islamic schools are low risk, low reward (low risk of losing Identity, low reward of creating exceptional students). GOOD public schools are high risk, high reward (high risk of losing Islamic identity, high reward of creating exceptional students). One thing is noteworthy : because of the additional pressures that public schools place on the person’s Islamic character, the youth will either be broken Islamically (80%), or become very strong and proud of their faith (20%); therefore the high risk rating.
If your child is in the 20% above or below average academically (through independent observers :) and they are motivated Islamically, and the public school is much better than the Islamic school, then Public Schools score a point. Some signs of Islamic motivation include: they are praying, they want to know about Islam, they like going to the mosque, they have Muslim friends, they are proud to be Muslims, they are honest, etc...).
5. How much does it cost
Finally, how important is the cost factor for you? Are you willing to annually pay the $5-$7K Islamic schools require (per child)? Public schools are not free by the way. They cost $10-$16K per year. It is just that you don’t directly pay for it (pay through taxes, etc..).
On a personal note, although tuition for my three kids in Islamic Schools is a big deal, I still hope that Islamic schools will raise their tuition in order to raise their standard: pay the teachers more, and give the students a better education. It is wrong to try to commoditize Islamic schools. Islamic schools by nature cater to a special segment of the Muslim society : rich, practicing parents. They are attended by 5% of the Muslim kids. Trying to model a school to offer Islamic education to “everyone” is a failed model, since it serves no one. Islamic schools are not a right, but a luxury.
If cost is a major factor, then public schools score a point.
II. The bigger picture
Even if my own kids go to Islamic Schools, as a Muslim activist, I think that we have to invest more in public schools. More than 90% of Muslim children in America go to public schools. We need to be engaged, not just individually as parents, but as a community, in the public schools, in order to influence a healthy education for our children. Girls who wear the Hijab should not be ridiculed. Just like Yum Kippur is celebrated, Eid should be celebrated. Curriculum should highlight Muslims' contribution to America and to the world. We should not tolerate anti-Antisemitism, or Islamophobia. We can ask for Arabic to be taught as second language.
In fact, I must go a little bit further. As a practicing American Muslim, I am obliged to care for everyone’s education and everyone’s well-being. As a community, we need to fight for everyone’s right to receive a good education, not just Muslims. Islam teaches that good is due to every child and this is therefore the responsibility of our community. Drugs, crime, teenage-pregnancy, and other social problems are ours to find a solution for. What if indeed, "every child, is my child?", as a good friend used to insist?
III. Your turn
Please share your experience and questions. What worked for you? What is your experience? What additional factors need to be taken in consideration when evaluating both schools ?
