What is Christian Classical Education?

Part 1: Christian Education Defined

by Dan Peterson

What is Christian classical education? This is a fundemental question that deserves to be answered as we continue to build a dynamic Christian classical school. It is my desire this year to communicate the primary essentials of Christian classical education over a series of articles in The Chronicle. My hope in doing this is for you to get a vision for the importance of education that seeeks to be centered on Christ and teaches the next generation how to think and learn. Before defining education that is Christian in nature, it is helpful to define education. Robert Pazmino defines the concept of education as the process of sharing content with persons in the context of their community and society. Education is a lifelong process taking place in a variety of contexts and situations.

It is necessary to define Christian education first before getting to the philosophy and methodology of classical education. What is Christian education? There have been men and women much more intelligent and more experienced than I who have defined Christian education. So, instead of me trying to give a definition of Christian education, I thought it would pack more punch if you heard it from the spiritual giants of the modern day Christian education school movement.

"Christian education is the deliberate, systematic, and sustained divine and human effort to share or appropriate the knowledge, values, attitudes, skills, sensitivities, and behaviors that comprise or are consistent with the Christian faith. It fosters the change, renewal, and reformation of persons, groups, and structures by the power of the Holy Spirit to conform to the revealed will of God expressed in the Scriptures and preeminently in the person of Jesus Christ, as well as any outcomes of that effort." -My personal favorite! - Robert Pazmino in Foundational Issues in Christian Education

"Education ought to broaden a man or woman, to keep him from getting into the narrow rut of any one aptitude or activity... Christianity is, indeed, a way of life; but it it a way of life founded upon a system of truth. The system of truth is the most comprehensive; it clashes with the opposing systems at a thousand points. The Christian life cannot be lived on the basis of anti-Christian thought. Hence the necessity of the Christian school." - J. Gresham Machen in Education, Christianity, and the State

"Christian schooling is the formal pedagogical instruction of children that manifests the principles of biblical Christian doctrine through both teaching and living." -Bruce Lockerbie in A Passion for Learning: A History of Christian Thought on Education

The heart of Conerstone Academy is to provide continuity between the Christian home, church, and school in the overall formation of kids in the Lakeway area. Other than the local church, I can think of no greater work to devote time and resources to than the training of the next generation. We need you to commit time and resources to this school. God does not call Christian schools to be average, or even good; God calls us to do everything with excellence.

 

Getting to Know . . .
Leanne Morgan
As fifth grade Bible, History, and Language Arts teacher and K-2 Spanish teacher, Miss Morgan offers her talents and love for teaching with many of our students. They will all have an adjustment to make when Miss Morgan’s name changes to Mrs. Potts after her wedding on October 11. Miss Morgan just recently moved here from Murfreesboro with four years of experience teaching fourth grade and high school Spanish. Miss Morgan is a graduate of Pensacola Chris-tian College in Pensacola, Florida with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish. She brings to Corner-stone a love for children and a love for teaching — especially teaching them something they have never learned before.

Jessica Boling
Although she was raised in Knoxville, Miss Jessica Boling came to us this year after spending two years serving with Greater Europe Mission in Germany, where she loved her work with missionary kids at Black Forest Academy. She now serves at Cornerstone as the eighth grade Literature and Composition teacher. Miss Boling graduated from the Univer-sity of Knoxville with a B.A. in English with an emphasis in literature. We are grateful for her servant’s heart and her will-ingness to share her love for students, discipleship, and teaching with the students at Cornerstone.

Special Chapel
October 8 will be a very exciting day for Cornerstone students! They will have an opportunity to honor their grandparents during the chapel ser-vice. Please encourage all grandparents to attend this special event. Refreshments will be served following the chapel service. Throughout the morning, grandparents will have an opportu-nity to tour the classrooms and see the students hard at work!

School -Wide Service Project
Coats for the Cold
Our school is partnering with Appalachian Out-reach of Jefferson City to provide coats for needy people this winter. During the week of October 27–31, a col-lection box will be in the lobby available for donations of new or used coats, blan-kets, hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves. We can go beyond coats and also provide 110 heaters, or a simple $15 donation can pur-chase one heater (make checks payable to Appalachian Outreach). These items will be distributed on Saturday, November 8 at an outreach event at the Armory in Jefferson City.

Help Wanted
Mrs. Brown is looking for volunteers to help with the library. Please see her or contact the office if you are able to help.

Boxtops to the Office
All boxtops must be turned in to the office by Monday October 20 for credit this fall. The next deadline will be in the spring.

YOU ARE NEEDED!
The Prayer and Encouragement Committee for the Capital Campaign will be meeting on Monday, October 6 at 7 p.m. at the school. Praying for the school is the most important thing anyone can do to serve! Stacie Winstead is the contact person for this committee and can be reached at 581-1147 home, and 736-1651 cell.

Basketball Season Has Begun
On Tuesday, October 28, 6:00 p.m., the Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Teams will play their first games at home against Bulls Gap.
Come out and support the Warriors!

Important Dates at a Glance
Every Monday - Stay & Pray, 8-9 a.m.

Oct 6 - Prayer and En-couragement, 7 p.m.

Oct 7 - Field Trip Kindergarten and First Grade visit the Pumpkin Patch

Oct 8 - Special Grandpar-ent’s Chapel

Oct 9 - Cross Country Meet 5 p.m.

Oct 13 - NO SCHOOL

Oct 15 - School Picture make-up day

Oct 17 - Report Cards

Oct 22 - Chapel Oct 28 - Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ Basket-ball Game, 6:00 p.m.

Oct 31 - Reformation Day