This blog title has been borrowed from a book of the same name by Robert Littlejohn and Charles Evans. It is a phrase that sums up what I believe we are doing at Wildwood. Every time you log onto the Headmaster's blog, I want you to see that what we want for your student is wisdom and eloquence.
The question that we as a staff always ask is: When we are done with our work, what should the finished "product" look like? What is it that we want for each student who comes through our program?
For any who think this results in "cookie-cutter students" you must remember that the question comes in the context of the image-bearing character of each individual, and in the context of Christian convictions. Each student must be permitted his unique interests and abilities while at the same time receiving the time tested tools of thinking and learning. Irrespective of his degree of skill he must be aided in his acquisition of wisdom and eloquence and aided in his application of these in his calling.
Wisdom and eloquence come with much exercise of looking at the world through a Biblical perspective. Because a worldview is a network of presuppositions about life and how we engage it, the student must be taught to discern what the basic presuppositions are in nearly every field of study. Doing this at the high school level is only a beginning, however. In the words of others: when the student finishes here, it's not the finish line, it's the starter's gun.
In eleven years of operation, we have seen such an outcome in dozens of students. If wisdom and eloquence is the desire, for all involved, teachers, staff, parents and students, it has been a worthy pursuit.
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
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
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.
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