Philosophy of Education

I wrote this recently, and surprised myself.

(October 15, 2006)

Education is one of the most natural processes in the world. It started when God made the first man and woman with eyes and ears. They were built to receive knowledge, built to see, hear, and understand. Since those first thoughts and connections were made, the cycle has never stopped – the first parents learned and taught their children, and what their children learned, they taught their own.

From the informal, almost instinctual learning of a child to walk, to the intentional pursuit of knowledge, God chooses to use the ones He creates as part of the process of awakening understanding and imparting wisdom to each successive generation. He is a God who delights to reveal Himself, and He has created us to be part of that revelation. When we educate, we bear the image of God by revealing truth.

The process of transferring knowledge is illustrated throughout scripture. God, through Moses, commanded it: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.’” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, NKJV) The book of Proverbs emphasizes the benefits of heeding the wisdom of elders, and the fruit of pursuing knowledge. But the most hands-on examples come from Jesus, who spent His time speaking in parables, illustrating with signs and wonders, and laying down His life so the world could come face-to-face with the revelation of God’s love. These three models show what are some of the most important tools in education.

Adaptation and flexibility are keys to successful teaching. Keeping in mind that there are different learning styles, it is important to offer multiple ways of interacting with the material. From the above passage in Deuteronomy, it is clear that material presented aurally and discussed in familiar contexts will be more easily retained. Solomon illustrates the importance of practical application, suggesting that a student who connects what they are learning with what is personally relevant will glean more from their studies: “My son, give attention to my words…for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20a, 22, NKJV) Jesus taught with stories that would illuminate His message using contemporary metaphors, and by taking every opportunity for interaction. This cemented His teachings in the minds and hearts of the disciples. Much like a jigsaw puzzle, successful teaching happens when the gap in a student’s understanding is filled with the right connecting piece. It falls to the teacher to discover what shape the information needs to take to complete the picture.

Education is organic. From head to toe, it is in man’s nature to take in information, form it into application, and pass it on. Humankind is designed to learn. To educate is simply to cultivate that discovery, and foster the joy of revelation that produces the ability to apply knowledge to life.