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Lesson OneAn Introduction and Overview4 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoThe Big Questions of Life3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeBasic Philosophical Categories and Their Relationship to Education3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourCentrality of Scripture3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveA Biblical Worldview3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SixThe Importance of Parents3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SevenThe Importance of Teachers3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson EightNurturing in the Christian School3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson NineResponsive Discipleship in the Christian School3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TenThe Importance of a Coherent Curriculum3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ElevenChristian Philosophy Under Attack3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwelveChallenges and Opportunities for Christian Educators6 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion2 Activities1 Assessment
Participants 556
Discussion Questions
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The lecturer states she “would contend that only a believer is able to truly love wisdom as God created us to love.” Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
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I agree as it is only through His indwelling Spirit that one is able to truly able to recognize and appreciate the wisdom that comes from above.
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I totally agree. Since the world’s wisdom is totally different from God’s wisdom, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge as stated in Proverbs 1:7. As we acquire the knowledge that God gives we will receive the wisdom that He also offers. Ivy
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I agree. I think it is hard for the secular world to understand how God loves us. Frankly, It is still hard for me to grasp at times.
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Believers should love wisdom because it came from God not because of how it benefits us. In this example, I agree with the lecturer.
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I agree. How can one love Wisdom if they do not know Christ as Savior.
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What do you hope to gain from this course? In what specific areas do you hope to grow as a Christian educator?
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I hope to further my understanding of the Christian Philosophy of Education and discover ways to integrate this philosophy into my teaching. As a Christian and an educator, I hope to grow spiritually, (as this is a prayer of mine whether I am an educator or not). I also want to grow in my confidence as a trusted educator that shares biblical wisdom with my students. I’ve been working on scripture memorization and hope to grow in this area also, as scripture is indeed the foundation of all truths. I think it is also important to grow in knowledge of how the Christian Philosophy of Education stands up against secular philosophy.
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It is my hope to truly develop a personal philosophy that brings conviction and light in all things. By the end of this course, I believe my personal studies and learning will direct me to clearly establish a Christian philosophy in my classroom.
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As a student in this course I not only hope to successfully complete the course and earn the credit to fulfill the ACSI requirement for my continued employment, but I also know that any pursuit of knowledge, reflection, and application to my personal life that involves seeking truth, guidance and wisdom from the One True God, will undoubtedly cause me to grow to become a better educator for the next generation of children that He entrusts into my care. As I continue to expand my head knowledge with best teaching practices, curriculum advancements, and classroom management skills, I hope that this course will help me put in writing the heart of why I said yes when God called me to the teaching field. I believe the most valuable part of education is the heart of the Christian Education Classroom and this course will help me to define the foundation for the educational experience for each of my students.
With the world around us becoming increasingly tolerant and even celebratory of diversity beyond the beauty that God intended when He created each man and woman unique for His glory, I hope to grow in my understanding of philosophical views outside of my God Honoring vantage. As a born again believer, I have invested time and effort in learning about Christian philosophy and God centered mindfulness. I am passionate about how and what I teach, but want to expand my mind to include head knowledge about the other schools of thought outside of my wheelhouse so that my heart knowledge of what I know to be true can be strengthened. I believe the role of a teacher is a high calling and I want to be used by God to impact future generations with a solid Biblical World View.
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I want to gain some real truths in myself, not just a head knowledge but a heart knowledge. I want to grow as a Christian educator and communicate well with my art students. I want to teach art in a way that reflects Christ and not just art concepts.
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I hope to gain a greater understanding to the importance of having my own personal Christian philosophy. I would like for it to come natural when I interact with my students in the classroom.
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Why is it imperative that Christian educators have a Christian philosophy of education?
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I can be bombarded with different philosophies that imbed themselves in my mind. If I am not continually filling myself with God’s Word (wisdom) then I will begin to conform to those other philosophies. Those philosophies will end up coming out in my teaching; therefore, it is important to keep transforming my mind to the wisdom of God not the wisdom of the world.
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Even if I do not realize that I have a philosophy of education, I am destined to “act out” my philosophy in front of my students. Can I hide what I truly believe? Therefore, it is in my best interest to explicitly state what I believe and how I intend to ‘act out’ my Christian philosophy of education. I just completed my second year of teaching at a Christian school and I am in awe of the encouragement I receive to implement Biblical lessons in my high school math courses. Once I am on the same page with my Christian philosophy of education, I hope to be less in awe and more in front of what my lessons need to look like.
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I would say the most important reason for Christian teachers to have a Christian philosophy of education is because as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, all Christians are called to be his witnesses. As educators, we have an important responsibility and privilege to our students, their parents and society to educate. I have started reading By Design and have been challenged to think of education as much more than facts or getting through a curriculum. I am seeing it more as a holistic formative process. If I am not teaching based on a Christian Philosophy, I am basing my teaching on another philosophy with some secular construct of what is valuable, what is needed, what is right. Of course we can teach and students can learn math facts without moral implications. But what they do with those math facts is of paramount importance. In By Design the author quoted Haim Ginott, a Holocaust survivor. Haim wrote,
“Dear Teachers, I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no person should witness: Gas chambers built by learned engineers, children poisoned by educated physicians, infants killed by trained nurses, women and babies shot and burned by high school and college graduates. So I am suspicious of education. My request is: Help your students to become more human” (MacCullough, 40).
Although I believe he is speaking from a faith based humanistic philosophy, this quote struck a chord with me. I want my students to be more human in the sense that they know and embrace that they are humans, created by God, to be in relationship with him.Therefore, as a teacher, my philosophy of teaching must be informed, and even based, on my who I am as a child of God.
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As Dr. Black states, “Christian education only exists if it’s based on a Christian philosophy of education.”
We know that wisdom comes from God. It’s imperative to recognize that and our relationship with the Lord as we are responsible (along with parents) for sharing His truth with the following generations. We need to be able to share our lessons and also relay how God’s word applies within those lessons. This is the only profession that literally “trains up a child in the way he should go”.
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It has become noticeable in my experience teaching in Christian schools, that scripture and Godly virtues continue to be placed in the back of the classroom. Academic learning and secular state learning has become the priority in most Christian schools. As a Christian first and educator second, I believe developing a strong Christian philosophy will directly effect the students ability to know God and academics will fall in line after that realization.
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I agree with you 100%.
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