(originally posted November 3, 2009)
Yesterday we played wiffle ball. Students, teachers and administrators. We simply stopped classes and went outside in the sunshine to enjoy the afternoon and one another. What a pick day! We could not have asked for anything better.
Now mind you, we don't do this often, but it will usually take place once a semester. One could almost sense the outpouring of jealousy from the occupants of the school buses that zipped by on the state road above our play field.
What was fun is that you cannot take wiffle ball seriously. First, it's almost impossible to pitch a wiffle ball with any consistency. The slightest breeze will carry it into the next county. Second, no degree of baseball skill aids in batting. The poorest batter can get a great hit and the one who swings hardest can wiff his way into a quick out. I mean, did anybody see my second At Bat? ... sad ... Finally, age and athleticism are irrelevant. All one needs is a good attitude and a willingness to miss the pitch for the sake of the fun; our prime example being Mr. Morris with Josh G as his pinch runner!
Aside from who got how many runs, the most important outcome was community. We work hard at Wildwood. We spend hours reading and writing and wrestling with ideas and giving presentations on the work we have done. But we also play, because in Christ, we weren't saved to be labor slaves. G.K. Chesterton claims, "The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground." In Christ, alienation is removed and we are restored to enjoy God and the delight of one another's company.
Hitting a wiffle ball ( ... or trying to... ) can be as much Christian education as hitting the books.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Know What You Want - Part 2
(original post October 1, 2009)
What is it that we should most desire for our children in their education?
As Christians we must always be careful to take our cue from the Bible and not simply take the easy or seemingly attractive path. We are people who live in the world and must make our way in the world, but our thought life and motivations should always be drawn from a heavenly realm. We are not to adopt the world's ways. In the words of one sage, "Only dead fish swim with the stream."
So what do we want? A few verses of Scripture will help chart the course here. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"(Matthew 16:26) "We will tell the next generation the wonderful deeds of the Lord." (Psalm 78:4) "He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (1 Sam 2:26, Luke 2:52) "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8) "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, nor the strong man of his might, nor the rich man of his riches. But let him who boasts boast that he knows me, a God of lovingkindness, righteousness and justice." (Jer. 9:23,24)
From these let me suggest an educational target for parents. At the end of his training, the student should have gained in wisdom and be cultivating a heart of wisdom, which includes having fundamental skills to make his way in the world. He should know himself and he should know God in the way a good friend is known, which is more than simply accepting that God exists, but includes being able to articulate particulars about Him and His ways. The student, on finishing his education, should be able to discern the ideas that are presented to him, to assess them, and accept or reject those through the grid of truth. He should be able to stand in Christ, undistracted from eternal things by wealth, fame, power and what C.S. Lewis calls the Inner Ring. Finally, he should see his gifts, strengths and abilities as tools for blessing others and for moving the boundaries of Christ's kingdom forward.
If this is the educational trajectory chosen for a student then Math, Science, Literature, History, Reading and Writing will fall into place. And if you don't mind my saying so, this is where a Christian Classical education is most beneficial.
What is it that we should most desire for our children in their education?
As Christians we must always be careful to take our cue from the Bible and not simply take the easy or seemingly attractive path. We are people who live in the world and must make our way in the world, but our thought life and motivations should always be drawn from a heavenly realm. We are not to adopt the world's ways. In the words of one sage, "Only dead fish swim with the stream."
So what do we want? A few verses of Scripture will help chart the course here. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"(Matthew 16:26) "We will tell the next generation the wonderful deeds of the Lord." (Psalm 78:4) "He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (1 Sam 2:26, Luke 2:52) "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8) "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, nor the strong man of his might, nor the rich man of his riches. But let him who boasts boast that he knows me, a God of lovingkindness, righteousness and justice." (Jer. 9:23,24)
From these let me suggest an educational target for parents. At the end of his training, the student should have gained in wisdom and be cultivating a heart of wisdom, which includes having fundamental skills to make his way in the world. He should know himself and he should know God in the way a good friend is known, which is more than simply accepting that God exists, but includes being able to articulate particulars about Him and His ways. The student, on finishing his education, should be able to discern the ideas that are presented to him, to assess them, and accept or reject those through the grid of truth. He should be able to stand in Christ, undistracted from eternal things by wealth, fame, power and what C.S. Lewis calls the Inner Ring. Finally, he should see his gifts, strengths and abilities as tools for blessing others and for moving the boundaries of Christ's kingdom forward.
If this is the educational trajectory chosen for a student then Math, Science, Literature, History, Reading and Writing will fall into place. And if you don't mind my saying so, this is where a Christian Classical education is most beneficial.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Classical Auto Repair
(original post: September 19, 2009)
How many classical teachers does it take to change an auto battery terminal clamp?
Mr. Watson's car started acting up on Thursday as he was coming to school, so he left it at BreadCo and came in for classes. At lunch, Mr. Watson and Mr. Colvard went back to see what they could do to get the car started. The jumper cables didn't quite reach between the batteries and they couldn't get closer because of the lunchtime traffic so they returned to school being very responsible about teaching their classes.
After school Watson, Colvard and I returned to BreadCo to somehow make the car work. We thought about inviting Heckel along but we couldn't find him. When we arrived, we didn't have a truly proper set of tools for this but were willing to use what was available to help out a beleagured colleague; after all, we're classical teachers, we're versatile. So with a Phillips head screw driver, a pair of sheet metal cutters and a crescent wrench we did what we could to clean the battery terminal and hammer the clamp into temporary position (while crossing our fingers behind our backs). The car started enough to get to an auto parts store.
Upon arrival at the auto parts store, we immediately dove into a conversation about the merits of different styles of battery clamps. Seriously, you can't just buy anything; there has to be a functionality and an aesthetic to this; even if it's going to be hidden under the hood. Once the replacement terminal clamp was purchased, we used our mongrel tool kit to install it. What a sight! Three geeks in ties (two of them in bowties) under the hood of the car in the auto parts parking lot, each with a worldview opinion on what was to be done, wrestling with one little wire using sheet metal cutters and a crescent wrench. One was holding the clamp, one was clamping the old terminal and one was shaking his head in doubt of success. A small crowd of shadetree mechanics gathered inside the autoparts store to watch through the windows. I suspect they were waiting for sparks to fly out from under the hood and light someone's bowtie on fire.
It shouldn't have, but it took us twenty minutes to finish the job (and we thought we heard laughter from inside the store). Our collaborative efforts paid off somewhat as we experienced something akin to success and all without getting grease or dirt on our shirts. Smiling, Mr. Watson drove away in confidence that his car would behave properly.
So, how many classical teachers does it take to change an auto battery terminal clamp?
Apparently ... at least three.
How many classical teachers does it take to change an auto battery terminal clamp?
Mr. Watson's car started acting up on Thursday as he was coming to school, so he left it at BreadCo and came in for classes. At lunch, Mr. Watson and Mr. Colvard went back to see what they could do to get the car started. The jumper cables didn't quite reach between the batteries and they couldn't get closer because of the lunchtime traffic so they returned to school being very responsible about teaching their classes.
After school Watson, Colvard and I returned to BreadCo to somehow make the car work. We thought about inviting Heckel along but we couldn't find him. When we arrived, we didn't have a truly proper set of tools for this but were willing to use what was available to help out a beleagured colleague; after all, we're classical teachers, we're versatile. So with a Phillips head screw driver, a pair of sheet metal cutters and a crescent wrench we did what we could to clean the battery terminal and hammer the clamp into temporary position (while crossing our fingers behind our backs). The car started enough to get to an auto parts store.
Upon arrival at the auto parts store, we immediately dove into a conversation about the merits of different styles of battery clamps. Seriously, you can't just buy anything; there has to be a functionality and an aesthetic to this; even if it's going to be hidden under the hood. Once the replacement terminal clamp was purchased, we used our mongrel tool kit to install it. What a sight! Three geeks in ties (two of them in bowties) under the hood of the car in the auto parts parking lot, each with a worldview opinion on what was to be done, wrestling with one little wire using sheet metal cutters and a crescent wrench. One was holding the clamp, one was clamping the old terminal and one was shaking his head in doubt of success. A small crowd of shadetree mechanics gathered inside the autoparts store to watch through the windows. I suspect they were waiting for sparks to fly out from under the hood and light someone's bowtie on fire.
It shouldn't have, but it took us twenty minutes to finish the job (and we thought we heard laughter from inside the store). Our collaborative efforts paid off somewhat as we experienced something akin to success and all without getting grease or dirt on our shirts. Smiling, Mr. Watson drove away in confidence that his car would behave properly.
So, how many classical teachers does it take to change an auto battery terminal clamp?
Apparently ... at least three.
Parents ... Know What You Want
(originally posted August 20, 2009)
“Train up a child in the way he would go and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.
Many of us rely upon this proverb as a promise of fruitfulness in our children’s lives provided we are faithful to teach them the word of God. It is a “truism” and not a promise, and it actually speaks to a much larger matter than hopefulness of salvation security. What the proverb really says is, “Train a child according to his bent and he will always be bent that direction.” Let a tree grow bent and guess what? … when it is mature and full grown, it is permanently bent.
One of the greatest dangers in our “choice-is-the-highest-virtue” culture is that we will choose merely by our desires and preferences, and not necessarily by what is best. This is especially the case with teens. I DO believe that they are "adult's-becoming" and that as Christians they have the Holy Spirit. But since when have they become wise enough to know what is best for them? They have no experience, minimal knowledge, limited exposure to the real demands of life, half-cultivated wisdom, and a plethora of partially-managed desires. If allowed to make their decisions based upon “what they prefer”, they will usually choose something convenient or pleasurable having the short-term in view.
This is precisely why Christian parents need to know decisively what they want for their children. Life shaping decisions, and particularly educational decisions, need to be directed and governed by parents who have a goal that reaches beyond the immediate pleasure or pain, likes or dislikes. Young people seem to be most strongly influenced by TV, movies, music and their friends. When asked what they want to do for school, it is the rare teen who will tell you he wants to do hard things. What they tell you will most likely be what seems easiest or what their friends think is desirable, but they will not likely tell you they want a curriculum that is difficult, demanding, sometimes elusive or contrary to their fallen nature. Yet that is the kind of education that works on and bends the soul in a direction which is useful to God.
When parents make education decisions based upon what is making their children happy, ultimately their children will neither be happy nor trained up in the way they SHOULD go. Parents ... know what you want, why you want it, and then stay the course.
“Train up a child in the way he would go and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.
Many of us rely upon this proverb as a promise of fruitfulness in our children’s lives provided we are faithful to teach them the word of God. It is a “truism” and not a promise, and it actually speaks to a much larger matter than hopefulness of salvation security. What the proverb really says is, “Train a child according to his bent and he will always be bent that direction.” Let a tree grow bent and guess what? … when it is mature and full grown, it is permanently bent.
One of the greatest dangers in our “choice-is-the-highest-virtue” culture is that we will choose merely by our desires and preferences, and not necessarily by what is best. This is especially the case with teens. I DO believe that they are "adult's-becoming" and that as Christians they have the Holy Spirit. But since when have they become wise enough to know what is best for them? They have no experience, minimal knowledge, limited exposure to the real demands of life, half-cultivated wisdom, and a plethora of partially-managed desires. If allowed to make their decisions based upon “what they prefer”, they will usually choose something convenient or pleasurable having the short-term in view.
This is precisely why Christian parents need to know decisively what they want for their children. Life shaping decisions, and particularly educational decisions, need to be directed and governed by parents who have a goal that reaches beyond the immediate pleasure or pain, likes or dislikes. Young people seem to be most strongly influenced by TV, movies, music and their friends. When asked what they want to do for school, it is the rare teen who will tell you he wants to do hard things. What they tell you will most likely be what seems easiest or what their friends think is desirable, but they will not likely tell you they want a curriculum that is difficult, demanding, sometimes elusive or contrary to their fallen nature. Yet that is the kind of education that works on and bends the soul in a direction which is useful to God.
When parents make education decisions based upon what is making their children happy, ultimately their children will neither be happy nor trained up in the way they SHOULD go. Parents ... know what you want, why you want it, and then stay the course.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Of Wildebeest and Men
(originally posted August 9, 2009)
I once saw a documentary on the Wildebeest migrations of the Serengeti plains where the activities and the movements of the animals were traced over a 1200-mile annual circuit. One fascinating point was the birth of baby Wildebeest along the way. A Wildebeest calf is nudged into a standing position and is walking in about 20 minutes. Within an hour, it must be able to run with the herd as they continue on their migration and to be protected from becoming the prey of lions. One hour from birth to living out its purpose as a member of a migrating herbivore commuinty.Such short-term expectations of performance are not unusual in the animal world. It takes two hours for a white-tailed deer fawn to get up and begin following its mother. Robins are dependent upon the parents to feed and nurture them for nearly 4 weeks before they get pushed from the nest. And who hasn't enjoyed the one to two year development period of a puppy?
Human beings, as the Crown of Creation (see Psalm 8), have a much more complex preparation for their purpose, however. It takes 14 to 20 years to prepare a person for his calling, and if we take his image-bearing quality seriously, such preparation involves a whole lot more than feeding and clothing and mobility. It requires attention to the emotional, spriitual, intellectual, and creative dimensions of what we are. This is exactly why the education of a human being cannot be random, partial or haphazard. And it certainly cannot be for the mere purpose of getting a job. As we consider what it means to know the God of redemption, we will be more intentional and integrative in how we train and what we train for.
Tuning
(originally posted February 18, 2009)
It was two days before the Christmas concert that the piano tuner came in. Just in time. The piano needed it, badly. He pulled his tools from his workbag, set them on the side. Then he pulled out an occilloscope, set the frequency, reached over the keyboard and played a first note. All he said was, "Oh my!" With that, string by string, he began his painstaking but needful labor.
Human beings have been designed with the capacity to feel, think, appreciate, express, examine, resolve and a myriad of other qualities. It is too often the case that these capacities are allowed to develop willy-nilly so that, like the strings of a neglected piano, each one takes on its own frequency without much reference to the others. Our culture is awash in sounds, so the soul needs to be tuned to discern order, harmony, beauty and purpose. Our culture is awash in images, so the soul needs to be tuned to recognize balance, movement, perspective, expression and excellent execution. Our culture is awash in information, so the soul needs to be tuned to hear truth, validity and transcendence of ideas, as well as eloquence and conviction. Our culture is awash in highly visible personalities, so the soul needs to be tuned to recognize courage, fortitude, steadfastness, mercy, compassion and the qualities of real heroes.
But even more, we humans are spiritual beings, and our spirits need ever to be tuned to eternal things. This requires so much more than weekly worship. It requires the daily application of the occilloscope of Scripture to the matters of life, which, not surprisingly, also requires faithful working in lives at a time when the tuning is most critical.
A good high school education takes up the task of tuning those distinctly human capacities in the souls of students at a time when it is most effective. (Tragically, many hardly believe teens have souls, let alone that they need tuning.) A liberal arts education is most effective in accomplishing this, because it takes humans seriously as humans. "The end of a liberal arts education is the man himself," says Robert Maynard Hutchins.
This, I think, is what we do at Wildwood Christian School. We tune souls. It is long, painstaking and needful work, but the outcome is in the direction of a whole and wholesome human being.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Education is NOT Salvation
(originally posted January 26, 2009)
Education is NOT Salvation.
Education is NOT Salvation.
One might think that there is no need to say such a thing, but if you listen to how most people speak of education, you might come away with a different impression. I’ve seen parents fret about whether or not their children will get into college (or the ‘right’ college), or whether or not they will get into a career that pays the big bucks. It is as though there is no God, or if there is, He isn’t sovereign over our lives, or that He is irrelevant to real life, so that the student’s primary focus needs to be on how well he is mapping his future training. Somehow, education is the kid’s salvation rather than God about whom we must learn.
Again, as an educator who is serious about his calling, let me stress … education is not salvation. We must be careful not to place too much hope in education. The renewal of the soul, the implanting of the new life (and as Paul claims, the new mind) comes exclusively from God. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that no man by his wisdom (education) ever found God. Even more unsettling is the fact that education can become a substantial obstacle to finding God. A student can be highly educated and a spiritual corpse; a deplorable condition. The most important thing is being alive in Christ and loving God, and education cannot impart that.
Now, the second part of this is equally important. Once someone has received the new life in Christ, the most important thing to which the mind and heart can be applied is knowing God. A student with a high school education who truly knows God as his first priority is far more valuable to the community, the business world, the science world or the church, than a post-doctoral who gives God a cordial nod and goes about life as though He has no interest in daily outcomes.
Once new life and knowing God have their proper priority in life, then education serves us well, for education then opens the eyes for perceiving God's hand in the world, opens doors for service, hones the mind and the understanding to promote God’s ways in every field of endeavor. Education then becomes an investment in kingdom purposes. It makes salvation more fruitful in all of life.
Isn’t this what discipleship is really about?
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