What Kind of Education?

by Kelly Knowlden

Education that accepts a standard of mediocrity is neither Christian nor education. Some may argue, “Come on, Mr. Knowlden. What is the big deal that students need to be so precise in their handwriting?” Of course, parents would not want to hear their mechanic say, “What’s the big deal? So I missed a bolt.”

One of the things that education does is it provides an impetus for excellence. If a child does not want to do excellent work of the highest standard, he will be the same kid who throws together the double-bacon cheeseburger with the lettuce half-falling off at his fast-food employment.

So we hold standards high. We also do it with grace. We are unapologetic about how high the standards are, but we also have teachers who bend over backwards to help students who are willing to work hard. On our end, we invest in time-proven educational strategies that give results. We help young students memorize chunks of information, poetry, drill facts, states and capitals, etc. Then as students get older we take those facts and attach concepts to them that stretch their understanding and make them ask questions that require more than filling in little bubbles on tests or regurgitating information from the book. We teach processes of math and science. We show the big picture of history. We have students understand the mechanics of grammar so that they are able to write and speak well.

So why is the standard high? God’s standards are high. He holds all mankind to the impossibly high standard of perfection. And all the world is accountable to that standard. However, because we serve a God of grace, He has met that standard through the Lord Jesus Christ. So you and I have lived in a world with the same two goals as ICS: High standards held with grace.

Don’t give up on either. The results are worth it - even when students don’t “get it” now. Press on.