CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND THE HEART ISSUES... MORE THAN APPEARANCE
An unsure young mother finds a word of encouragement and understanding from a Kindergarten teacher. A troubled teen receives counsel on finding the will of God at a critical crossroad in life. A third grade student asks Jesus into his heart after morning Bible class. A high school history teacher lights up with a spontaneous illustration to apply the Scripture to the pages of the textbook. A secondary principal prays with a student after a discipline issue is resolved. A passionate coach humbly apologizes to the team for “losing his cool” during that tense moment in last night’s game. A group of teachers assembles for devotion before school to gather strength for the day.
Occurrences like these endear people to Christian education. These are the heart issues that take place within our school that make us distinctive. These are the opportunities teachers experience that make all the effort and sacrifice in serving in a Christian school worth it all.
“Watch over your heart with all diligence; for from it flow the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Families choose Christian education on the basis of many issues facing the home today. Not surprisingly, many people walk through our doors for the first time on the basis of externals: academic reputation, extracurricular opportunities, standardized test scores, facilities, athletic programs, dress code, or other issues. These external distinctives are important, however, Christian schools retain families on the basis of the way we address the heart issues in their children’s lives. What issues are at the heart of what we do? Though externals tend to draw people to an institution, the heart of the school, below the surface, is the real reason for our success in maintaining a long–term relationship in educating children and enriching their lives.
1. A heart to change the world – Christian education that is not mission-centered will never be mission-driven. Ultimately, our goal must be to change our world by changing young lives. Like God spoke concerning David, we must remember to affirm to our students that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart"(I Samuel 16:20). Although we may desire to produce successful executives, doctors, pastors, engineers, and business people, our primary goal must always be clearly evident. Our focus is to bring about positive, productive change for the sake of the kingdom of God through the lives of students, alumni, and their families. “Every Eagle student is to learn to be a servant leader. Every Eagle student is to be inspired to be a warrior for Christ”. These statements are more than slogans. In short, all aspects of school life must exist for the purpose of reaching and changing the world for the glory of Christ.
2. A heart to live out our beliefs and values – Our core beliefs and values are at the heart of what we do. Clearly, there are certain values we would give our lives to uphold. Christian educators are well acquainted with the sacrifice required to be faithful to their core beliefs. Our lives give evidence to our most deeply held values. However, in the push and shove of preparing lessons, grading papers, and dealing with wiggly students, we often lose our focus on our primary purpose in the students’ lives. We must continuously remind ourselves of the reasons we are in the classrooms. Every lesson, every encounter, every word is an opportunity to share our core beliefs with those around us. So much of what is being taught does not come from the textbook, but from the beliefs, values and passions we invest into the lives of our students.
3. A heart to create a partnership with the home – Christian schools are special because the institution is an extension of the Christian home. In reality, we have the children for almost two-thirds of the day for nearly three-fourths of the year. We know parents are extremely challenged in our generation to successfully raise godly kids. Offering advice, assistance, and encouragement supports the parents. Families live better lives when our actions build a solid bridge supporting their dreams for growing godly young men and women. We empower parents by communicating and operating in a way that shows we are an extension of their authority in their children’s lives. The Latin phrase, in loco parentis, means “in the place of parents.” That is the teacher’s location when standing before the students – we are serving each family in the place that God gave to educate and prepare their children for life.
4. A heart to develop servant leadership – Leadership is not as much a position as it is influence in life. If we are to produce world changers, our students must learn to lead. Jesus was clear on this, “Leadership is valid only as it serves the interest of others. Self-serving leaders may achieve worldly success – yet they live vain, hollow lives. It is the goal of Castle Hills’ faculty to teach principles of leadership, to provide an example in modeling that leadership, and to provide specific opportunities to develop leadership, and to provide specific opportunities to develop leadership skills. We envision every student leading and serving in some context after graduation.
5. A heart to affirm value and worth – Much in educational psychology can be critiqued in light of popular views on building children’s self-esteem. However, the Christian school has a tremendous responsibility to create an atmosphere that affirms the value and worth of each child in Christ. A specific effort should be made to identify, cultivate and document the gifts, abilities, affinities and talents of each student. No matter a child’s ability or disability, his report card average, or even his behavior, a Christian school student should always be valued on the basis of being: (1) a special person who God created in His image; (2) a person that God loves and sent His Son to redeem; and finally, (3) a person for whom God has a wonderful plan. All relationships in the school family should be built around communication that affirms value, worth, and a godly self-image.
6. A heart to discipline with dignity – Blessed is the Christian schoolteacher who has come to see discipline as an opportunity rather than an interruption. Often, students receive more from our correction than our directions. We must believe that every student is providentially placed in our classroom, and that we are his teacher by God’s design and specific plan. We should anticipate those inevitable failures and trouble spots as opportunities to positively shape each student’s life. Christian school discipline should demonstrate value for the child’s person, while dealing proactively with his behavior. We are firm in discipline, yet still affirming. We must never use shame, guilt, or intimidation as our tools to shape behavior. The dignity of the child is to be preserved in discipline if we ever hope to produce independent, self-disciplined individuals.
7. A heart to demonstrate living lessons – The greatest lessons being taught on our campus today are communicated through the lifestyle of the faculty. Our actions and reactions show students our true character and values. Teachers’ greatest lessons must be confirmed by the greatest lives. Constantly, we must remind ourselves as teachers that we are “the living curriculum” in the classroom. Administrators must place as much focus on developing the personal lives of the faculty as is placed on developing the curriculum guides and school programs. Teachers are the most effective visual aids of the character we hope to develop in students’ lives. As it is said, real “character is better caught than taught.”
8. A heart to pursue excellence – Whatever goals surface in a given school year, whatever programs make the drawing board, whether they are curricular or co-curricular – all pursuits should be initiated and maintained with no other target than excellence. Many things would be better not done at all than done half-heartedly. When too many areas are approached without passion, the atmosphere of the school declines toward mediocrity. A school’s leadership must keep the school programs on a pathway toward excellence. The pursuit of a culture of excellence must define the atmosphere of our school. We must choose our plans and programs wisely, in order “that you may approve things that are excellent.” (Philippians 1:10)
9. A heart to value the soul – The highest goal in a Christian school must be the salvation of our students. Many schools take for granted the spiritual condition of the heart of a child. Simply because a child is growing up in a Christian home and weekly attends an evangelical church, does not remove our responsibility to introduce the Savior to him. Great teachers have a heart for the Great Commission in their classroom relationships. Are our students individually and personally encountered by the staff about their eternity? Imagine the shame in having a child for twelve or thirteen years of life in our school and his/her never having received a personal gospel witness. If we miss any heart issue, let this not be the one.
10. A heart committed to develop a Christian worldview - We must always keep at the forefront of staff meetings, in-services, and faculty discussions the joy and great value of applying the Word of God to our subjects. Every subject is to be viewed and presented through the lens of Scripture. Teachers should design illustrations, probing questions, testimonies, and group exercises that reveal to students God’s relationship to the subject. This is “where the real action is” in the Christian classroom. Biblical integration and the development of the Christian mind must be: (1) planned in curriculum development, (2) discussed in our priorities, and (3) affirmed in our teacher evaluations. Christian worldview is one of the central outcomes we keep ever before us. Our goal must preeminently be for students to discern an invisible kingdom in a visible world. Changed lives are always preceded by changed minds. “For as a man thinks in his heart; so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)
These are the core values that drive our priorities and define the excellence we provide our students. Through them we are "teaching from a heart to change our world."
Appreciatively,
Michael Pinkston, M. Ed
Superintendent
Occurrences like these endear people to Christian education. These are the heart issues that take place within our school that make us distinctive. These are the opportunities teachers experience that make all the effort and sacrifice in serving in a Christian school worth it all.
“Watch over your heart with all diligence; for from it flow the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Families choose Christian education on the basis of many issues facing the home today. Not surprisingly, many people walk through our doors for the first time on the basis of externals: academic reputation, extracurricular opportunities, standardized test scores, facilities, athletic programs, dress code, or other issues. These external distinctives are important, however, Christian schools retain families on the basis of the way we address the heart issues in their children’s lives. What issues are at the heart of what we do? Though externals tend to draw people to an institution, the heart of the school, below the surface, is the real reason for our success in maintaining a long–term relationship in educating children and enriching their lives.
1. A heart to change the world – Christian education that is not mission-centered will never be mission-driven. Ultimately, our goal must be to change our world by changing young lives. Like God spoke concerning David, we must remember to affirm to our students that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart"(I Samuel 16:20). Although we may desire to produce successful executives, doctors, pastors, engineers, and business people, our primary goal must always be clearly evident. Our focus is to bring about positive, productive change for the sake of the kingdom of God through the lives of students, alumni, and their families. “Every Eagle student is to learn to be a servant leader. Every Eagle student is to be inspired to be a warrior for Christ”. These statements are more than slogans. In short, all aspects of school life must exist for the purpose of reaching and changing the world for the glory of Christ.
2. A heart to live out our beliefs and values – Our core beliefs and values are at the heart of what we do. Clearly, there are certain values we would give our lives to uphold. Christian educators are well acquainted with the sacrifice required to be faithful to their core beliefs. Our lives give evidence to our most deeply held values. However, in the push and shove of preparing lessons, grading papers, and dealing with wiggly students, we often lose our focus on our primary purpose in the students’ lives. We must continuously remind ourselves of the reasons we are in the classrooms. Every lesson, every encounter, every word is an opportunity to share our core beliefs with those around us. So much of what is being taught does not come from the textbook, but from the beliefs, values and passions we invest into the lives of our students.
3. A heart to create a partnership with the home – Christian schools are special because the institution is an extension of the Christian home. In reality, we have the children for almost two-thirds of the day for nearly three-fourths of the year. We know parents are extremely challenged in our generation to successfully raise godly kids. Offering advice, assistance, and encouragement supports the parents. Families live better lives when our actions build a solid bridge supporting their dreams for growing godly young men and women. We empower parents by communicating and operating in a way that shows we are an extension of their authority in their children’s lives. The Latin phrase, in loco parentis, means “in the place of parents.” That is the teacher’s location when standing before the students – we are serving each family in the place that God gave to educate and prepare their children for life.
4. A heart to develop servant leadership – Leadership is not as much a position as it is influence in life. If we are to produce world changers, our students must learn to lead. Jesus was clear on this, “Leadership is valid only as it serves the interest of others. Self-serving leaders may achieve worldly success – yet they live vain, hollow lives. It is the goal of Castle Hills’ faculty to teach principles of leadership, to provide an example in modeling that leadership, and to provide specific opportunities to develop leadership, and to provide specific opportunities to develop leadership skills. We envision every student leading and serving in some context after graduation.
5. A heart to affirm value and worth – Much in educational psychology can be critiqued in light of popular views on building children’s self-esteem. However, the Christian school has a tremendous responsibility to create an atmosphere that affirms the value and worth of each child in Christ. A specific effort should be made to identify, cultivate and document the gifts, abilities, affinities and talents of each student. No matter a child’s ability or disability, his report card average, or even his behavior, a Christian school student should always be valued on the basis of being: (1) a special person who God created in His image; (2) a person that God loves and sent His Son to redeem; and finally, (3) a person for whom God has a wonderful plan. All relationships in the school family should be built around communication that affirms value, worth, and a godly self-image.
6. A heart to discipline with dignity – Blessed is the Christian schoolteacher who has come to see discipline as an opportunity rather than an interruption. Often, students receive more from our correction than our directions. We must believe that every student is providentially placed in our classroom, and that we are his teacher by God’s design and specific plan. We should anticipate those inevitable failures and trouble spots as opportunities to positively shape each student’s life. Christian school discipline should demonstrate value for the child’s person, while dealing proactively with his behavior. We are firm in discipline, yet still affirming. We must never use shame, guilt, or intimidation as our tools to shape behavior. The dignity of the child is to be preserved in discipline if we ever hope to produce independent, self-disciplined individuals.
7. A heart to demonstrate living lessons – The greatest lessons being taught on our campus today are communicated through the lifestyle of the faculty. Our actions and reactions show students our true character and values. Teachers’ greatest lessons must be confirmed by the greatest lives. Constantly, we must remind ourselves as teachers that we are “the living curriculum” in the classroom. Administrators must place as much focus on developing the personal lives of the faculty as is placed on developing the curriculum guides and school programs. Teachers are the most effective visual aids of the character we hope to develop in students’ lives. As it is said, real “character is better caught than taught.”
8. A heart to pursue excellence – Whatever goals surface in a given school year, whatever programs make the drawing board, whether they are curricular or co-curricular – all pursuits should be initiated and maintained with no other target than excellence. Many things would be better not done at all than done half-heartedly. When too many areas are approached without passion, the atmosphere of the school declines toward mediocrity. A school’s leadership must keep the school programs on a pathway toward excellence. The pursuit of a culture of excellence must define the atmosphere of our school. We must choose our plans and programs wisely, in order “that you may approve things that are excellent.” (Philippians 1:10)
9. A heart to value the soul – The highest goal in a Christian school must be the salvation of our students. Many schools take for granted the spiritual condition of the heart of a child. Simply because a child is growing up in a Christian home and weekly attends an evangelical church, does not remove our responsibility to introduce the Savior to him. Great teachers have a heart for the Great Commission in their classroom relationships. Are our students individually and personally encountered by the staff about their eternity? Imagine the shame in having a child for twelve or thirteen years of life in our school and his/her never having received a personal gospel witness. If we miss any heart issue, let this not be the one.
10. A heart committed to develop a Christian worldview - We must always keep at the forefront of staff meetings, in-services, and faculty discussions the joy and great value of applying the Word of God to our subjects. Every subject is to be viewed and presented through the lens of Scripture. Teachers should design illustrations, probing questions, testimonies, and group exercises that reveal to students God’s relationship to the subject. This is “where the real action is” in the Christian classroom. Biblical integration and the development of the Christian mind must be: (1) planned in curriculum development, (2) discussed in our priorities, and (3) affirmed in our teacher evaluations. Christian worldview is one of the central outcomes we keep ever before us. Our goal must preeminently be for students to discern an invisible kingdom in a visible world. Changed lives are always preceded by changed minds. “For as a man thinks in his heart; so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)
These are the core values that drive our priorities and define the excellence we provide our students. Through them we are "teaching from a heart to change our world."
Appreciatively,
Michael Pinkston, M. Ed
Superintendent