Lessons learned from the past 30 years Part 1

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE LAST 30 YEARS 

By E A Foster B.A. 

Principal of Kilskeery Independent Christian School 

1979-2007 

(The substance of an address given at the 2010 Annual Education Board Dinner in Lisburn, Friday 28th May, in the presence of Education Board members, teaching staff of the Free Presbyterian Christian schools and their spouses)) 

It is good to learn lessons from the past. The Bible records the past for our learning and encouragement. 

The past thirty years have taught me much about the true nature of Christian Education. 

The Christian School 

The Christian school must be firmly and exclusively founded on the Word of God. I emphasise the word exclusively for other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. And isn’t it Christ Who is the Word of God? We dare not build on man’s philosophies or our own notions for such a 

foundation is flawed and will crumble and fail. We cannot incorporate our own logic and opinions and mix them with Biblical truths for to build on such a composite material will lead to disaster. A Christian school must be thoroughly Christian or it is unworthy of its name. It must be Christian in:

ITS CURRICULUM. 

The topics chosen for study, the projects engaged in must all be in keeping with God’s Word. Everything must be measured against that rule. What saith the scripture? Romans 4:3.That must ever be our guideline and sheet anchor. 

ITS TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS 

The leaven of evolution has so permeated textbooks and educational materials that we must be extremely vigilant. God’s role in Creation and Providence must be stressed constantly. Evolution is the doctrine of devils and should be treated as such i.e. with total abhorrence. Textbooks should be carefully chosen and edited as necessary. 

Increasing immorality features in English and English Literature textbooks. There are sodomite overtones in half of the textbooks listed for study in GCSE English Literature. Given time, of course, these overtones will strengthen into overt relationships. Before I retired, I met with a representative of the Department of Education to inform him that we would no longer be able to offer GCSE English Literature unless we had at least one text which was not morally offensive. As the Department has a duty not to discriminate against anyone on the ground of religion, gender etc; we had a previous textbook restored to the list. I must say I was shocked to discover that one of the textbooks I objected to and which was described by the Department’s representative as graphic was being studied in one of our schools. Such action of course, as well as being reprehensible, weakens our case for demanding suitable literature.   

Immorality is also promoted in the Biology curriculum. The teaching of human reproduction, birth control and alternative lifestyles in the state system has corrupted society and brought disease and misery in its wake. These topics also feature in parts of the AS Home Economics syllabus and Personal & Social Studies. Why should Christians follow the world, merely one step behind? The Christian school should and must withstand all pressure to conform and thus acquiesce in the corruption and brutalising of our children. These sections should not be taught in a Christian school. There is knowledge which only a parent should impart and at a time when the teenager is old enough to handle it properly and not broadcast it to younger children. Library books, even those designed for very young children, need to be carefully vetted. Many so-called Christian novels and romances are not suitable reading for anyone, never mind teenagers. Many, if not all of them, contain explicit passages. I think we also need to examine, in the light of Scripture, the common and relatively new practice of speaking of private family matters, our own and that of others, in public and before children. We should follow the example of Scripture and use discreet language at all times and forbear inquiring into and discussing the private affairs of others.  

ITS RESISTANCE OF TRENDS IN EDUCATION 

There are many fashionable topics in the educational world and Christian schools often receive project materials. Saving the world is one of the most recent.  Of course, we should keep our environment tidy and avoid waste but God does not need any help, least of all ours, in saving the world. The world is reserved unto the judgment of the great day. 

Another fashionable topic is global warming and the horror stories associated with it. I think God had the last word on that, as just after the meeting of the international summit to discuss ways of halting global warming, the northern hemisphere had its coldest winter for 30 years! He that sitteth in the heavens 

shall laugh. 

Vegetarianism raises its head on occasion as girls especially begin to think that animals should not be killed for meat. God’s Word soon puts paid to that false notion, as God Himself ordained the consumption of meat. Schools have, of late, been bombarded with health and safety issues. While we must take all reasonable care to ensure the safety and health of our pupils, we must exercise wise restraint. We cannot possibly protect children from every bump and graze. We trust to Providence to guard our children. Their angels do always behold the face of their Father in Heaven (Matt. 18:10). We cannot do God’s work for Him or presume to do so. Risk assessments should not include ridiculous possibilities. By way of example, risk assessments by our school in Newtownabbey should not include the possibility of a lion escaping from Bellevue Zoo and pouncing on a pupil during a school outing! 

ITS MAINTENANCE OF PRAYER 

A Christian school can only function as prayer is maintained. Much prayer, much blessing, little prayer, little blessing, no prayer, no blessing. School boards must  pray, churches must pray, teachers must pray, parents must pray. Every need and every aspect of the school must be brought before the Lord in prayer. No detail is too small or trivial for His attention. He is the God Who directs every raindrop. In Amos 4:7 we read how He caused it to rain on one city and caused it not to rain upon another city. We can certainly ask Him for dry weather when this is required! The monthly school prayer meeting has begun to falter at the present time. Parents and teachers must feel it their duty to be there and not only be there but participate in prayer. Teachers have a weekly prayer meeting and there should be a sharing of the burden of prayer by others at the monthly school prayer meeting. God answers prayer. “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” is the promise of Psalm 81:10. 

ITS UPHOLDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES 

The Christian school must be in subjection to the Word of God. The Word of God is inflexible. It cannot be bent to suit us. Neither is it elastic. It cannot be stretched to include activities which we feel to be right. We must bow to its authority in all things. Current errors must be refuted. Many young people today think that it does not matter how they behave as they claim it is the heart that counts. They fail to appreciate that it is the heart that dictates their behaviour. They assert that they are not under the law but under grace so they do not need to keep the commandments. They fail to see that if we are to be Christ-like we must keep the commandments as He did. If we love God we will keep His commandments. The Scriptures demand conformity to Christ in all things. The church and young people today are largely conformed to the world. Instead of taking on the likeness of Christ, they busy themselves in being like the world. We must teach the need for holiness of life, no matter how it is received or how unwelcome it is.