Philosophy of Education
The educational philosophy of Community Christian School is based on 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 life are dynamically related to God and have the purpose of glorifying Him. Man, who is made in God’s image, is different in kind from all other creation, with the unique capacity to know and respond to God personally and voluntarily. Because man is a sinner by nature and choice, however, he cannot in this condition, know or honor God in his life. He can do this only by being born again through receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and thus be enabled to do God’s will, which is the ultimate purpose of 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 in the spirit, to assist him in developing a Christian mind, to enable him to think God’s thoughts, to train him in Christ-likeness, to teach him to act like God and to help the student demonstrate Christ-like character qualities so that he can fulfill God’s total purpose for his life personally and vocationally. He is taught the Bible so he may understand God as well as his own 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 taught to see all truth as God’s truth and to integrate it with and interpret it by God’s Word. He is educated as an individual with his own unique abilities and personality who learns to live and work with others at home, in 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 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 parent’s request, the Christian school becomes a partner in giving this education. From this philosophy stems certain aims and objectives.
A. For the spiritual and moral growth of the students, the school seeks:
- To teach the Bible as God’s inspired Word and to develop attitudes of Love and respect toward it.
- To teach the basic teachings of the Bible, that is, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Man’s Salvation, the Church, Scriptures, Satan, and Angels.
- To help lead the pupil to a decision of confessing Christ as Savior and Lord.
- To develop a desire to know and obey the will of God as revealed in the Scriptures.
- To equip the student to carry out the will of God daily.
- To impart an understanding of each Christian’s place in the church and its worldwide task of witnessing, evangelizing, and discipline, and to stimulate the student’s involvement in this task.
- To develop the mind of Christ toward Godliness and sin and to teach the students how to overcome sin.
- To encourage the development of self-discipline and responsibility in the student based on respect for and submission to God and all other authority.
- To help the student develop for himself a Christian worldview by integrating life and studies with the Bible.
B. For the student’s personal and social development, the school aims:
- To help the student develop his personality based on a proper understanding and acceptance of himself as a unique individual created in the image of God and on the fullest possible development of his own abilities.
- To teach the student to treat everyone with love and respect as unique individuals made in God’s image.
- To teach the student to be a contributing member of his society who realizes his dependence on others and their dependence on him and the need to serve them.
- To promote an understanding of time as a God-given commodity and the individual’s responsibility for effective use of time.
- To show a realistic view of life and work, and provide skills for personal relationships and future endeavors.
- To develop both good and proper attitudes toward marriage and the family and also the understanding of skills needed to establish God-honoring homes.
- To promote physical fitness, good health habits, and wise use of the body as the temple of God.
- To impart Biblical attitudes toward material things and to encourage individual responsibility of using them for God’s glory.
- To engender an appreciation of the fine arts through the development of the students’ understanding and personal expression.
C. Academically, the school endeavors:
- To promote high academic standards within the potential of the individual as uniquely created by God and to help the student realize his full academic potential.
- To help each student gain a thorough comprehension and command of the fundamental processes used in communicating and dealing with others, such as reading, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics.
- To teach and encourage the use of good study habits.
- To teach the student how to do independent research and to reason logically.
- To motivate the student to pursue independent study in areas of personal interest.
- To develop creative and critical thinking and the proper use of Biblical criteria for evaluation.
- To promote good citizenship through developing the understanding and appreciation of our Christian and American heritage of responsible freedom, human dignity, and acceptance of authority.
- To discuss current affairs in all fields and relate them to God’s plan for man.
- To produce an understanding and appreciation for God’s world, an awareness of man’s role in his environment, and his God-given responsibilities to use and preserve them properly.
D. Working with the homes from which the students come, the school desires:
- To bring those whom we find are not Christians to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
- To aid families in Christian growth and to help them develop Christ-centered homes.
- To cooperate closely as servants to the parents in every phase of the student’s development, especially as it relates to the school program.
- To help the parents to understand the school’s purpose and program.
- To assist parents in keeping up with the changing culture and its effect on the home and the implications for their children.
- To encourage regular attendance and involvement in the local church.
- To encourage parents to realize and shoulder their responsibility for the spiritual, moral, and social education of their children.
- To involve the parents immediately upon detecting academic, social, or spiritual problems with their children.
- To show Christian concern and sensitivity in times of sickness or tragedy among our school families.