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"that
in all things He (Christ) may have the preeminence."
Colossians 1:18 KJV
The purpose of Christian education
is to equip and train the students for service by "teaching
them to obey everything I (Jesus) have commanded you."
Matthew 28:18-20.
Since Christ is the center of
the Christian life, our education is concerned with
the process of character development toward Christ-likeness.
It is the task of Christian education to aid in training
God's people for the work of His ministry.
The specific application of these
foundational principles forms the vision God has given
for MCA. This vision has the following key aspects:
1. To support and to build
functional Christian families. Malachi 4:1-6, "turning
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
hearts of the children to the fathers."
2. To use the Bible as the
main textbook. All other material, resources, and
techniques must be viewed in Its light.
3. To be a distinct model of
Christian Education involving home, school and church.
4. To minister to all children
of the Body of Christ in the greater Milford area.
5. To provide a Christ-centered
education ministering to the whole child.
6. To recognize the students,
not just as "children in the Body of Christ,"
but as present members and future leaders of the Church
of Jesus Christ.
7. To provide curriculum and
grade placement based upon the child's developmental
level, not upon standards of age or "curriculum
expectations."
8. To function as an integral
part of the teaching/pastoring ministry of the church.
We can only operate successfully within the Biblical
framework of God's authority in the church and family.
9. To serve the community by
participating in their events.
Philosophy of Education
Truth is accepted by a spiritually
discerning student who has the Spirit of God through
new birth and has a continuing relationship with God
the Father through the Word of God. Teachers will build
on this foundation using a wide range of academic materials
that will present a clear Christian world view through
all the academic disciplines.
Malachi 4:1-6 is a benchmark
for teacher, parent and student relationships - "turning
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts
of the children to the fathers."
Wisdom being the goal of education,
our curriculum is designed to build strong Christians
through the instruction of Biblical principles as found
in all academic areas. "Hollow and deceptive philosophies
which depend on human tradition," Colossians 2:8,
or humanism, will be revealed for their true nature.
Opportunities to walk out and challenge their Christian
convictions will provide a barometer for spiritual growth.
These opportunities will be
provided by the families, school and churches involved.
"Wisdom is justified by her children,"
Matthew 11:19. 4.
Methodology/Principal Approach
A Biblical methodology, one employed
by Jesus and found consistent with Scripture, is called
the "Principal, Approach." Principal
means "origin, first cause, or that from which
a thing proceeds." Approach means "to draw
near unto."
The Principle Approach incorporates
the Four R's, or basic steps in the teaching/ learning
process:
- Research - accumulation
and presentation of data, facts and information.
- Reasoning - pondering
the implication of the collected material.
- Relating - interacting
with concepts and material.
- Recording - application
of concepts and principles.
Thus, the Principle Approach
is a method of bringing Biblical principles (seeds)
so close to us that we plant them as the guiding philosophy
of every area of our lives. It is "America's historic
Christian method of Biblical reasoning which makes the
Truths of God's Word the basis of every subject in the
school curriculum."
The "Principle
Approach" was coined by Rosalie Slater in her
publication, Teaching and Learning America's Christian
History: The Principle Approach. From this material
we have developed our Principle Approach to education.
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