Philosophy of Education

One’s belief system is not what one says, but rather what one does. Education begins in the home and therefore from a Christian perspective it only makes sense that what is taught and practiced in the home and through the local church, should also be reflected in the choice of a school. If Christ is pre-eminent in a life then subjects learned outside of the realm of Christ cannot hold the truth. In reality, no educational system is teaching in a philosophical vacuum. Some form of belief system will be propagated and therefore the essential need of Christian schools.

Schools need to be looked upon as living communities. Various groups interact either directly or indirectly in order for the community to be strong and vibrant. Each group is important and the failure of any one will have a ripple effect within the larger community. The groupings of parents, students, school staff and school leadership are obvious keys to the success of any school. The extended family and the local church are likewise important aspects of the school community. The impact of this community should be felt even to the greater community. Christian schools should not be insulators for students, but rather a training ground in the truth that they can then take it to their world.

We believe that students should be allowed to ask questions freely. Questions are asked because they do not have an answer to a particular problem or issue. Through the use of a curriculum the teacher must provide opportunity for students to explore and investigate. We believe that as children are allowed to do so they will be led to see God’s world from a Christian perspective. Life-long learning is an important concept. It is not a goal, but rather a lifestyle and a journey that should never end. Although we believe every child should have the opportunity to be in a strong academic program there are other elements that must also be present for the child to find success. By academics, I mean the pure knowledge of a particular subject or course. The discovery of how this knowledge relates to God’s world is of prime importance. Taking the knowledge and transforming it into wisdom and understanding will allow the child to grow and develop to be a leader in the community. Knowledge in and of itself is of little value. “Wisdom is the beginning of understanding”. With discipline (training) the student begins to become a “thinker”, ready to go beyond what the teacher is presenting to discover even more truths. A school should meet the entire need of the individual - body, soul, and spirit. Programs need to be present in order that all three areas are viewed as important.

The students are the key people in the school system since they are the ones that the school has been established to serve. Policies created should reflect the prime purpose established for a particular school. This keeps all stakeholders focused in order to carry out the mandate on which the school was founded. All groups need to realize that the school is for the children, and to do everything to ensure their success in the long-term.