Necessary Ingredients for a Christian Education

Everyone who teaches has a philosophy of education. Everything that a teacher does is colored by the philosophy he/she holds. Every philosophy has at least the three following elements: ontology-what is real, epistemology-what is true, and axiology-what is of value (good) ethics. So what exactly do we mean by the phrase “Educational Philosophy?” The

definition of Educational Philosophy is the desire to arrange all of the various experiences of education into a meaningful pattern. Arranging the “experiences” of one’s educational philosophy is like putting together a big “picture puzzle.” There are at least five major “pieces” to the puzzle. This paper will define the five pieces in an attempt to better explain and give an understanding of one’s educational philosophy. However, there are two views to be looked at when explaining one’s educational philosophy- the view of the “World” and the view of the “Word.” Both views will be reported.

The first piece of the puzzle is the Purpose and Goal of Education. Some

of the “thoughts” of the world are as follows. One is for Reconstruction, which means to form a society in a certain way. An example of this is “Busing”-- when schools are used to meet a social goal. A second pur

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National Survival is the world’s third purpose of education. Because of man’s rebellion, he has been totally and thoroughly affected by sin. First, it puts life in a meaningful context. Each person is personally held accountable for his/her life experiences. As the Bible states in John 13:17- If ye know these things happy are you when you do these things.

So in conclusion, understanding the contrast of the secular and Christian philosophy of education demands an understanding and acceptance of the supernatural: The revelation of God both in the written word as well as in the Living Word, Jesus Christ. The creation of a healthy “environment” enhances the ability of the child to succeed in his education work. God not only desires to reveal Himself (nurture) but also to bring students (lead out) into conformity with Himself.

However, the “thoughts of the word” is that Man, though God’s supreme creation is totally dependent upon God. Acquisition (knowing) leads to application (doing). Learning comes through “modeling of teacher” and the best teacher to model from is Jesus. One, it means to nurture/nourish while giving information, and two, “to lead out,” making you a part of the process. According to some thoughts of the “world,” the teacher’s job is to do what is told- they have no say in curriculum. “To educate” actually has a two-fold meaning with important Biblical implications. Also, teachers are to refrain from stifling self-expression when students express themselves in their dress, and a final role of the teacher is to “highlight” the potential of every child.

Approximate Word count = 1143
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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