Stuff Fundies Like Takes Heat
Fundy Love Day 3: Literacy Darrell Dow: “I think this officially gets the award for ‘most unpopular post ever’ ”
When you start talking about education, you are talking about parenting and children- something guaranteed to bring Papa and Mama Bear out of even the most reticent parent. Since I frequent blogs about education in general and home education in particular, I’ve seen this phenomena dozens of times.
I tend to agree that Fundy schools are fine at teaching skills, but are often limited in areas such as critical thinking and any exposure to materials that might be considered objectionable- and not because they glorify immorality or contain obscenities, but because of the underlying notion that any exposure whatsoever to ‘worldly’ ideas will ‘taint’ the students. I think it more useful to guide our young people in how to deal with philosophies that undermine or contradict Bible doctrine and principle instead of shielding them from them.
I tend to agree that Fundy schools are fine at teaching skills, but are often limited in areas such as critical thinking and any exposure to materials that might be considered objectionable- and not because they glorify immorality or contain obscenities, but because of the underlying notion that any exposure whatsoever to ‘worldly’ ideas will ‘taint’ the students. I think it more useful to guide our young people in how to deal with philosophies that undermine or contradict Bible doctrine and principle instead of shielding them from them.
Everyone’s experience with fundamentalism and education is anecdotal. The author of the article obviously knows children within fundamentalism who are very studious. My experience is that Christian schools are very good at teaching children the basics early in life: phonics leading to reading and math. But when you consider the higher grades, most schools struggle at having qualified teachers teaching science, math and English. I have recently thought about the term “Christian education.” Yes, I want my children to have a Christian education, but I also want them to have gotten an education. I’m afraid that the higher you get up in many Christian schools you find decreasing quality.
HA! So funny, Susan. I was thinking the same thing as you—only opposite. :-) I try to teach critical thinking in my classroom. But I know home schoolers who are just about filling out the worksheets. And the main reason they don’t want their kids in a traditional school is because they may be exposed to some objectionable element in, say, literature. I am limited, it’s true, in what I can expose kids to in my classroom because, after all, they are not MY kids. So I choose to err on the side of caution. (For instance, I read my own children Oliver Twist earlier than I would ever read it in a classroom setting.)
As I’ve said before—and evidently you think so, too—I’m not against any form of education necessarily. I’m against poor education.
Ideally, Jonathan, parents wouldn’t have to choose either Christian or education. But an ideal situation is not always what we find ourselves in. My home school parents struggle with some of the same things that you’ve noted: providing a genuine education in, say, higher math or literary analysis when neither parent is particularly strong in that subject—let alone the teaching of that subject. But that’s why educational choices are so personal, right? GRRRRRRR.
As I’ve said before—and evidently you think so, too—I’m not against any form of education necessarily. I’m against poor education.
Ideally, Jonathan, parents wouldn’t have to choose either Christian or education. But an ideal situation is not always what we find ourselves in. My home school parents struggle with some of the same things that you’ve noted: providing a genuine education in, say, higher math or literary analysis when neither parent is particularly strong in that subject—let alone the teaching of that subject. But that’s why educational choices are so personal, right? GRRRRRRR.
…especially since I didn’t say anything about homeschoolers not being guilty of this. After all, where do many Fundy homeschoolers get their educational materials? Why, from Fundy Christian schools, of course! :D
I agree with Jonathan that Christian schools and even public schools tend to have trouble keeping qualified teachers in the upper grades. It isn’t unusual to find basketball and soccer coaches doing double duty teaching math or science. The main difference that I believe home education offers is the opportunity for the child to become self-directed. There is no need for the parent to be an expert in literature if they know how to find good quality resources for literature studies, and let the child learn on their own. There are too many teachers whose educational philosophy is read-the-chapter-answer-the-questions, or they just stand in front of the class and read from the book - it’s the Chalk & Talk for the Sit & Git- and kids are bound by the lesson plans to progress at the pace of the average student- so the below average achiever can’t catch up, and the above average achiever is bored to tears. A truly dedicated teacher does not have an easy job, that’s for sure. And I’m watching more and more of them burn out every year.
So back on the main topic- what is sad IMO is the fear that often permeates our choices for our kids, and our lack of consistency. For example, schools or parents not allowing a young person to read Lord of the Flies, but they can watch the Star Wars saga. I mean, come on people- yer kidding’ me, right? But I see it all the time, and yes- I see it amongst homeschoolers. The kids’ reading lists are composed of books like Little House on the Prairie and the Chronicles of Narnia- which of course are great books, but how can you teach critical thinking if they are never allowed to analyze challenging material? I’ve met quite a few parents horrified that we read and discuss Orwell and Huxley and -angels forfend- Machiavelli. At this point we usually get into a ‘discussion’ about how bankers are taught to spot counterfeit money by only handling the real thing, and verses like Romans 16:19 and 1 Thess. 5:22, so- kids should never be exposed to anything that contradicts Scripture. I exit stage right when they start in with humdingers like “So are you going to have them study pornography so they know how to deal with it?” If someone doesn’t know the difference between 1984 and Playboy, we aren’t speaking the same language anyway.
I agree with Jonathan that Christian schools and even public schools tend to have trouble keeping qualified teachers in the upper grades. It isn’t unusual to find basketball and soccer coaches doing double duty teaching math or science. The main difference that I believe home education offers is the opportunity for the child to become self-directed. There is no need for the parent to be an expert in literature if they know how to find good quality resources for literature studies, and let the child learn on their own. There are too many teachers whose educational philosophy is read-the-chapter-answer-the-questions, or they just stand in front of the class and read from the book - it’s the Chalk & Talk for the Sit & Git- and kids are bound by the lesson plans to progress at the pace of the average student- so the below average achiever can’t catch up, and the above average achiever is bored to tears. A truly dedicated teacher does not have an easy job, that’s for sure. And I’m watching more and more of them burn out every year.
So back on the main topic- what is sad IMO is the fear that often permeates our choices for our kids, and our lack of consistency. For example, schools or parents not allowing a young person to read Lord of the Flies, but they can watch the Star Wars saga. I mean, come on people- yer kidding’ me, right? But I see it all the time, and yes- I see it amongst homeschoolers. The kids’ reading lists are composed of books like Little House on the Prairie and the Chronicles of Narnia- which of course are great books, but how can you teach critical thinking if they are never allowed to analyze challenging material? I’ve met quite a few parents horrified that we read and discuss Orwell and Huxley and -angels forfend- Machiavelli. At this point we usually get into a ‘discussion’ about how bankers are taught to spot counterfeit money by only handling the real thing, and verses like Romans 16:19 and 1 Thess. 5:22, so- kids should never be exposed to anything that contradicts Scripture. I exit stage right when they start in with humdingers like “So are you going to have them study pornography so they know how to deal with it?” If someone doesn’t know the difference between 1984 and Playboy, we aren’t speaking the same language anyway.
I agree.
BJU published a great pamphlet in the 90’s … I think the title was Handling Objectionable Elements in the Classroom or something like that. It points out that all of the objectionable elements are found in Scripture. So the exclusivist position (“No objectionable elements for any reason.”) is not modeled in the Bible itself. But then neither is the permissivist position (“Great art allows for some objectionable elements.”; “It presents an honest view of life.”), nor the pragmatic position (“Everyone must choose how much evil he or she can tolerate.”) The three Biblical criteria for dealing with objectionable elements in the arts changed my view of education and even parenting. 1) Gratuity: Is the evil present for a purpose? 2) Explicitness: Is the evil presented to an acceptable degree for the age/maturity of the students and the lesson being taught? 3) Moral tone: Is sin depicted as evil regardless of the author’s intent?
As a music pastor I often get questions about all the arts. This little booklet has provided a framework for me to make truly Biblical choices and to educate my families about making Biblical choices.
Yes, home education offers the opportunity for self-directed learning. Classroom learning offers opportunities to experience the way other people learn. I encourage my above average achievers to watch how I am teaching: to become educated in the art of education. I will often point out in my instruction, “Now if you’re primarily a visual learner these PowerPoint slides are for you.” Or “Sequentials, we’re going to take a more cyclic approach to this topic. Please be patient. We will not master the material this time. But we will come back to it later.” Or “We covered yesterday’s topic using a more independent study approach. Today I am going to use a lecture approach. You need to develop the skill of listening, sorting information, and taking notes from a speaker.” It’s true, though, what you say, that two weaknesses of classroom instruction are developing skills of self-directed learning and having to live with various learning styles and abilities of individuals within the class.
When developing material for the classroom I always ask myself, “Why should my students (or my students’ parents) pay me?” That is, “What I am giving them that they cannot get from a book on their own?” This is what my home school families (and college students!) have taught me. They asked some very pointed questions when they say, “Why can’t I just take this course online?” Or “What will I get from your classroom that I will not get from the text?” If the answer to those questions were that I am doing nothing but slowing down the progress of the advanced learner, then I would quit teaching and get to spend time doing my other full time job: music pastor! Maybe I am self-deluded, but I believe that I can offer things that even a resourceful parent (outside his or her area of expertise, of course) or a diligent student cannot learn on their own. Anything less and I would be stealing and wasting the time the LORD has given me to serve Him!
Dave
BJU published a great pamphlet in the 90’s … I think the title was Handling Objectionable Elements in the Classroom or something like that. It points out that all of the objectionable elements are found in Scripture. So the exclusivist position (“No objectionable elements for any reason.”) is not modeled in the Bible itself. But then neither is the permissivist position (“Great art allows for some objectionable elements.”; “It presents an honest view of life.”), nor the pragmatic position (“Everyone must choose how much evil he or she can tolerate.”) The three Biblical criteria for dealing with objectionable elements in the arts changed my view of education and even parenting. 1) Gratuity: Is the evil present for a purpose? 2) Explicitness: Is the evil presented to an acceptable degree for the age/maturity of the students and the lesson being taught? 3) Moral tone: Is sin depicted as evil regardless of the author’s intent?
As a music pastor I often get questions about all the arts. This little booklet has provided a framework for me to make truly Biblical choices and to educate my families about making Biblical choices.
Yes, home education offers the opportunity for self-directed learning. Classroom learning offers opportunities to experience the way other people learn. I encourage my above average achievers to watch how I am teaching: to become educated in the art of education. I will often point out in my instruction, “Now if you’re primarily a visual learner these PowerPoint slides are for you.” Or “Sequentials, we’re going to take a more cyclic approach to this topic. Please be patient. We will not master the material this time. But we will come back to it later.” Or “We covered yesterday’s topic using a more independent study approach. Today I am going to use a lecture approach. You need to develop the skill of listening, sorting information, and taking notes from a speaker.” It’s true, though, what you say, that two weaknesses of classroom instruction are developing skills of self-directed learning and having to live with various learning styles and abilities of individuals within the class.
When developing material for the classroom I always ask myself, “Why should my students (or my students’ parents) pay me?” That is, “What I am giving them that they cannot get from a book on their own?” This is what my home school families (and college students!) have taught me. They asked some very pointed questions when they say, “Why can’t I just take this course online?” Or “What will I get from your classroom that I will not get from the text?” If the answer to those questions were that I am doing nothing but slowing down the progress of the advanced learner, then I would quit teaching and get to spend time doing my other full time job: music pastor! Maybe I am self-deluded, but I believe that I can offer things that even a resourceful parent (outside his or her area of expertise, of course) or a diligent student cannot learn on their own. Anything less and I would be stealing and wasting the time the LORD has given me to serve Him!
Dave
I’ve read that pamphlet by BJU- excellent stuff. There was a thread many moons ago about objectionable elements, and I bookmarked some links that I refer to occasionally so that we don’t fall off one cliff or the other when it comes to choosing what we read or watch or study.
I agree- and I think that home education has the effect of self-selecting for parents who at some point realize that they have the freedom to provide their kids with opportunities to learn from others. Apprenticeships, workshops, finding a mentor or tutor… all ways that we can be very choosy and yet still give our kids a wealth of wise counselors to help us develop their characters and talents. I don’t know who coined the term first, but it’s called “deschooling”- the process by which parents begin to understand that homeschooling does not have to be ‘school-at-home’.
I would think that private Christian schools, which are not strangled by such federal ropes as NCLB, would be able to provide a more thorough, quality education, such as what you endeavor to do, Bro. Dave. But there are just too many kids who have had teachers not qualified or gifted in the area of teaching and I think Fundy schools are often the worst for allowing people to teach who are not qualified in any way (Job 30:1). A suggested topic for the [URL=http://sharperiron.org/article/2010-sharperiron-writing-contest] SI Writing Contest[/URL] is “Does the Christian day school have a future? If so, what might it be?” I’m really hoping someone does a thorough treatment of the topic, because I’d love to see and even be part of an overhaul of the Christian school movement.
A preacher once said, “All things being equal, a Christian should excel”, and I believe that. There is no legitimate reason for Fundy schools to be so sadly lacking in such important as higher math, science, and literature studies.
…I believe that I can offer things that even a resourceful parent (outside his or her area of expertise, of course) or a diligent student cannot learn on their own. Anything less and I would be stealing and wasting the time the LORD has given me to serve Him!
I agree- and I think that home education has the effect of self-selecting for parents who at some point realize that they have the freedom to provide their kids with opportunities to learn from others. Apprenticeships, workshops, finding a mentor or tutor… all ways that we can be very choosy and yet still give our kids a wealth of wise counselors to help us develop their characters and talents. I don’t know who coined the term first, but it’s called “deschooling”- the process by which parents begin to understand that homeschooling does not have to be ‘school-at-home’.
I would think that private Christian schools, which are not strangled by such federal ropes as NCLB, would be able to provide a more thorough, quality education, such as what you endeavor to do, Bro. Dave. But there are just too many kids who have had teachers not qualified or gifted in the area of teaching and I think Fundy schools are often the worst for allowing people to teach who are not qualified in any way (Job 30:1). A suggested topic for the [URL=http://sharperiron.org/article/2010-sharperiron-writing-contest] SI Writing Contest[/URL] is “Does the Christian day school have a future? If so, what might it be?” I’m really hoping someone does a thorough treatment of the topic, because I’d love to see and even be part of an overhaul of the Christian school movement.
A preacher once said, “All things being equal, a Christian should excel”, and I believe that. There is no legitimate reason for Fundy schools to be so sadly lacking in such important as higher math, science, and literature studies.
There is no legitimate reason for Fundy schools to be so sadly lacking in such important as higher math, science, and literature studies.Sadly, some Fundy schools don’t care. For example, a young man I know recently graduated with a degree in history and really wanted to teach in a Christian school. He was told repeatedly by numerous Christian schools that “anyone can teach history, we don’t need someone with a degree in the subject”.
Meanwhile, if you ask fundy schools why they don’t have qualified instructors for science and and the higher maths, their excuse will be that they can’t find any. In a sense, they’re right. You can count the science/math education majors who want to teach in Christian schools on your fingers (thumbs?). Then there’s the salary situation. Very few Christian school faculties include men, because men are unable to support families on what that income. I would venture the assertion that most Christian school faculties are composed of women whose husbands have work outside the ministry and that the qualifications of a lot of science/math teachers are either that they were good at science and math in high school or simply that they’re willing.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
[Ron Bean]Very few Christian school faculties include men, because men are unable to support families on what that income. I would venture the assertion that most Christian school faculties are composed of women whose husbands have work outside the ministry…OR…husbands and wives are hired as a couple. The two teachers/staff members together earn what would be the average salary for one person. And if a guy insists that his wife be a stay-at-home mom/wife, he gets all kinds of grief (and not much of an income) because his wife isn’t supportive of the ministry. Sigh.
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