Philosophy of Education
We believe that:
• Excellence is a noble and achievable goal;
• We are made in God’s image and each child has value regardless of race, culture or nationality;
• The education of each child is the responsibility of the child, the parent and the teacher;
• Each child will develop a sense of academic responsibility through hard work and self-discipline.
Furthermore, our educational philosophy is based upon a God-centered view of truth and man, as presented in the Bible. Since God created and sustains all things through His Son, Jesus Christ, the universe and all of life are dynamically related to God and have the purpose of glorifying Him. This is pointedly true of man who was made in God’s image, different in kind to all other creation, with the unique capacity to know and respond to God personally and voluntarily. Due to the fact that man is a sinner by nature and choice, he cannot in this condition, know or honor God in his life. He can do this only by being born again through Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and thus be enabled to do God’s will, which is the ultimate purpose of his life.
The entire process of education is seen as a means used by the Holy Spirit to bring the student into fellowship with God, to help him become strong or mighty in the Spirit, to assist him in developing a Christian mind, to enable him to think God’s thoughts, to train him in Christ-like character qualities so that he can fulfill God’s total purpose for his life both personally and vocationally. He is taught the Bible so he may understand God as well as his own true nature and function as God’s image. He is developed and related to God as a whole person, that is: spiritually, mentally, physically and socially. He is educated as an individual with his own unique abilities and personality who learns to live and work with others at home, in the church, and in a changing secular society. He interacts with and is taught by parent and teacher models who are themselves born again and have this perspective on life.
The authority for such an education comes both from God’s command that children be taught to love God and place Him first in their lives and from the fact that parents are responsible for the total education and training of their children. At the parents’ request, the Christian school, along with the church, becomes a partner in giving this education. The Christian school is an extension of the local church, serving the parent in fulfilling their responsibility of educating the child.