Building Faith, Character, and Future Success
Shaping Minds, Hearts, Character
By combining an emphasis on rigorous academics, spiritual development and ethical formation, the uniquely Christian high school education produces graduates. These graduates are not only knowledgeable. They are also morally grounded and faith-filled human beings ready for the challenges of their post-secondary journeys. So what makes a Christian high school distinct from its secular counterparts? What is the nature of education from a Christian worldview? Allow me to investigate these questions. I hope that readers will better understand the merits of such a high school education.
A Curriculum Biblically Rooted, Worldview Driven
The key to the curriculum of the Christian high school lies in the Christian world view that undergirds it. That world view is centered in the supreme authority of the Bible. This fact impacts what is taught and how it is understood in history, science, literature, and so on. Students come away with increased knowledge in any particular field. Most importantly, they leave with ‘the worldview that places faith and reason within a biblical framework’.
Developing Virtue: Preparing Students for Life, Not Just College
Christian high schools are also linked to an emphasis on values and ethics. Such institutions inculcate the virtues into their students. In line with Christian doctrines, emphasis is placed on values like love, honesty and empathy. This happens in the classroom, as well as on the playing field. Schools often emphasize righteous living. The lessons become woven into the fabric of the curriculum. Thus, ethical discussions in biology can help understand the kind of world God created. These discussions allow us to understand the world we live in. Likewise, ethical dilemmas in the history classroom help students to study events. They witness the choices of others in light of God’s word. In this way, students are not merely being taught to be good students, but good people.
Faith Meets Learning: Shaping Students Academically and Spiritually
A third advantage of a Christian high school education is the integration of faith and learning. Apart from being teachers, Christian high school teachers are spiritual shepherds who help students grow in their faith. Christian high school curricula look for ways to connect biblical truths with the various academic disciplines. In this way, they see the integration of their faith with all areas of their academic pursuits. They learn not only academic content but also the application of biblical principles in their studies. This interaction provides opportunities for students to see the relevance of their faith to all areas of their lives. It allows them to practice the application of truth in meaningful ways.
Cultivating Mind, Spirit, and Moral Integrity for Life Beyond the Classroom
What makes the learning environment of a Christian high school different, though, is that it is an integrated educational setting. It develops the whole person. It produces not just an intelligent individual but also a person with a life of the spirit. This person is a committed Christian of moral conscience and ethical integrity whose faith informs their learning. Additionally, their learning informs their faith. A Christian high school education thus prepares graduates not simply for the exam hall, but for life as a whole. We live in an age of electoral upheaval. We see moral and ethical upheaval as well. One can see the role that a Christian high school can have. It raises up young people equipped with the knowledge that they are valuable and made in the image of God.
Christian Collegiate Enterprises 