Calvin Colleagues Speak of Their Experiences
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While the Christian education requirement may seem unusual and perhaps intrusive to people new to Calvin College, large numbers of faculty members and their spouses have determined that in the final analysis it was a blessing and a privilege for their children to receive such an education.

Many of the schools on the list of schools include a "calvin-parent referral" - this is a Calvin faculty or staff member who has offered to share their testimony about a particular school on the list. Please feel free to email these parents about their experience.

Below are just a few comments from faculty members:

Debra Freeberg, professor of communication arts and sciences
(Evergreen Christian School)

“Evergreen Christian School has been a remarkable adventure for my 6 year old. The interactive classroom has stimulated her creativity, the multi-age classroom has helped her mature and sparked increased academic and social growth, and the ethos of the school has helped her learn about the wonder of God and the world she lives in. As a teacher-artist, I'm doubly pleased to see an encouragement of the arts as well as the sciences. I really appreciate that the entire school takes on community projects and works together--each class according to their skill levels. Annika loves to read and write and explore. All of that is fostered at Evergreen. Moreover, Annika is disappointed when she can't go to school!

The on-site before and after-school daycare is a tremendous advantage as well. I know that Annika is well-cared-for after school—this helps me to complete my work day so that we can spend time together in the evenings.

As a public school-educated, secular university-trained academic, I was at first skeptical of the differences in education. I'm thankful that Annika's teachers are helping me raise a daughter who loves her Savior and is growing in faith each day. I'm a convert. I wouldn't send her anywhere else!”

Won Lee, associate professor of religion
(Sylvan Christian School)

One may think that the decision to send our children to a Christian school was natural, since my wife, Eun, is a product of Christian education and I am an ordained minister who teaches the Old Testament in the Religion department. However, choosing a “right” school for Johan and Daniel was never simple, especially because of our desire to infuse their American-ness with something of their Korean heritage. It required a long, prayerful search for us to decide how to honor our Christian faith while looking out for their best interests academically and culturally. Every decision that we make requires us being conscientious about our Christian identity; consequently, we take the Christian school requirement of the College as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle, for thinking through the meaning of our commitment to teach and live as committed Christians in this world.

We chose Sylvan Christian school for our sons because we want them to receive an education permeated by Christian belief and perspective. Of course, the school’s academic reputation, fine facilities, well-qualified teachers and staff, and convenient location—all these factors entered into our consideration, but they were not constitutive for our decision. It does not mean that the school is perfect in every aspect of what it means to be a Christian school whose ultimate task is to educate students in God’s shalom in this broken world. Yet, we believe Sylvan Christian strives to provide an education that is rooted in biblical messages, colored by a Reformed worldview, and executed through intentionally designed curricula and committed personnel, without sacrificing academic excellence. We hope and pray that our sons continue to grow at Sylvan Christian in their physical stature, emotional maturity, academic ability, and spiritual profundity, so that their lives and characters are readily discernable as Christian.

Doug Koopman, professor of political science
(Oakdale Christian School)

As outsiders to the Christian school tradition when I came to teach at Calvin in 1995, my wife and I were apprehensive about the Christian schooling requirement for our two children. We had grown up in West Michigan, alongside but not in the Christian school tradition, so we had definite views of that system—most of them negative. And we were moving from Washington, D.C., where we had begun the process of finding quality private schools for our then only child. We were worried that Calvin and Grand Rapids would be a disappointment in that regard.

But we've been very pleased with the Christian school system, especially our now two children's experiences at Oakdale Christian. Our older son has flourished academically in his years at Oakdale, enjoying both art and athletics. We've also appreciated the wonderful role models the teachers present and, especially, the ethnic and cultural diversity of the student body. Our younger son has benefited from the extra attention he's received from his Oakdale teachers to address his special aptitude and interest in mathematics.

The school has provided sufficient academic challenges for our two quite-different kids. They've been doubly blessed by its clearly Christian, yet culturally diverse, atmosphere.