OCSI's Christian Philosophy of Education
We hold that a Christian education is distinguished by a unique set of core beliefs. The philosophy of education at OCSI is based on the following Biblical tenets:
- God
- Man
- God`s Word
- The Truth
- Nature of Christian Education
- Role of the Teacher
- Role of the Parent
God
Although surrounded by a religiously pluralistic/syncretistic world, we affirm our belief in the one true God, the Creator of all things. God possesses unlimited resources of power and understanding, and nothing exists that He did not make and is not subject to Him. He graciously upholds and maintains all He has created as an expression of His love for what He has made. He is the source and foundation of all knowledge.
God reveals Himself to His Creation in many ways, the primary being through His incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth demonstrated that He is the Christ--God’s only Son, fully human and yet fully God--by His character, teachings, miracles, and His resurrection from the dead. Jesus teaches that He is the sole source of salvation for men and women and that by faith in Him any person can receive the forgiveness of sins, an eternal dwelling in heaven, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of every follower of Jesus, giving strength, wisdom, knowledge, and encouragement.
During the present age God chooses to remain unseen, thereby giving to men and women the responsibility to seek Him by faith in Christ. At OCSI our efforts in education are based upon this understanding of God and His relationship to the world and to us. (Important Biblical Texts: Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 1:2-3, John 1:1-14, Romans 1:3-4, 16-17)
Man
God created human beings in His image. As such, human beings are differentiated from plants and animals by their capacity for rational thought, the exercise of moral judgment, and the possession of an eternal soul. Human beings were created in the beginning by God to be the pinnacle of His creation and entrusted with its care. At that time human beings were innocent and sinless and fully understood their proper relationship to God, each other, and the world. When sin entered the world, human beings lost their innocence, became prideful, and forgot their dependence upon God. Sin, at its core, is the rejection of God and His purposes and always results in self-focused behavior. It destroys and distorts human behavior and relationships. Because of the terrible consequences of sin, human beings are now separated from God, doomed to die, and in need of salvation from God’s righteous eternal judgment.
OCSI recognizes that all students bear both the image of God and the scars of sin. Because students bear the image of God they can and should be challenged, assisted, and expected to excel academically, physically, spiritually, and socially. The reality of sin, however, convicts us that appropriate moral training and Christ-centered spiritual formation must be included in our curriculum in order to enable students to excel in all dimensions of life. (Important Biblical Texts: Genesis 1-3, John 3:16 and 36)
God`s Word
God has graciously revealed many of His thoughts and purposes to human beings through the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word to men and women and is fully inspired, containing no error in its original form. The message of the Bible is the ongoing revelation of God to the world, especially through the historical ministry and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. From the Bible we learn the correct way to view the universe (God-centered, not man-centered), ourselves (God-made, not accident-made), and how we can have harmony with God, each other, and our environment.
Because of the centrality and importance of the Bible we place great value on integrating its teachings into all aspects of the curriculum at OCSI. We believe that all fields of knowledge and learning can and should be further illuminated by spiritual truth. Any apparent contradiction between the observations of science or other standard fields of knowledge and learning and the teaching of the Bible indicates an imperfect understanding either of Scripture or of observable phenomena. (Important Biblical Text: 2Timothy. 3:16)
The Truth
It is the appointed task of the Christian educator to saturate the student with truth. We are warned in God’s Word of the danger of false teachings and the great responsibility placed upon teachers. We must make every effort to teach truth and avoid falsehood. All truth is God’s truth. He reveals it to us in three ways: 1) through His Son, 2) through the creation, and 3) through the Word of God. It is this special revelation of God’s Word that guides the Christian educator as he/she teaches and, above all, interprets the truth revealed in creation. The Christian educator must insist that information taught in each discipline is consistent with the Word of God in order to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Each course, therefore, is taught within the framework of a Christian worldview and from the perspective of the Word of God.
For example, we teach physical education and emphasize physical development because Scripture teaches that our body is the temple of God. Through our teaching of science students see God’s design in nature. We teach mathematics because, as Galileo noted, “mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe.” Through the teaching of literature we are able to appreciate the beauty and power of the written word. We examine the wisdom of man and the words of authors, poets, and philosophers as compared to God’s Words. Our teaching of history is informed by the plan of God for His creation while highlighting humanity’s ongoing struggle with sin and its effects. By teaching students to appreciate the arts we show them how the very image of God is upon us, availing us of creativity, and lending us a window into the very nature of God. And finally, we teach vocational skills and knowledge as important tools for equipping students to serve God in various occupations. (Important Biblical Texts: Matthew 16:11b-12, 2 Corinthians 10:5, James 3:1)
Nature of Christian Education
The Christian school belongs to God. The teachers and administrators are His. The students are His. The truth being taught is His. All things must be brought under His authority. He alone is the ultimate head of the school.
Christian education ought to be available to all students regardless of race, language, cultural, background, financial means, religious beliefs, or educational and social needs. Christ has directed us not to hinder any children from coming to Him. There may be limitations placed upon specific schools for they, with integrity, must admit that they do not have the resources to meet the needs of some students, while still meeting the needs of the entire student body. However, we must strive to make Christian education available to all children. OCSI is not a place that attempts to isolate students into a homogenous Christian community. We do not attempt to take students out of the world, but rather we strive to insulate them from its evil influences by hiding the Word of God in their hearts.
Christian Education is uniquely different from secular education in that it provides a learning environment that educates the whole child--academically, socially, physically, and spiritually. The Christian high school graduate should be academically prepared to succeed at a college, in a university, or in the work force. Academic standards must be kept high, and students must be challenged. The task of the Christian educator extends beyond academics as he or she endeavors to develop the social being of the students by teaching them to love their neighbors. Christian education prepares students to use their abilities to serve others. Beyond academic, social, and physical training Christian education holds the highest charge of nurturing spiritual growth, our relationship to God. Education that leaves out the spiritual development of the student is woefully incomplete. It is our desire that students fulfill the Great Commission and serve the Lord in the 21st century. Thus, we prepare students to understand the nature of God, develop strong convictions, and be familiar with the world around them. Christian education must minister to students in a Christ-centered learning community that instills the vision and practice of excellence in academics, character, and service for God’s glory. (Important Biblical Texts: Ephesians. 1:10, Matthew 19:14, John 17:15-16, Luke 2:52, Matthew 22:37-39,1Corinthians 6:19 1 Timothy 4:8)
Role of the Teacher
It is an important part of the role of the Christian educator to model Jesus’ example of servanthood through local and global outreach. It is essential that students see God’s truth demonstrated in words and actions as their teachers become the living curriculum in and outside of the classroom. (Important Biblical Texts: Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 2:5, Deuteronomy 11:18-21)
Recognizing Christ as our head compels the Christian teacher to be fervent and faithful in prayer. From Him comes our strength and direction. Teachers ought to pray constantly for their students. They should be asking for opportunities to share Christ. They need to pray against opposition, and to ask for daily strength for themselves and the entire staff. It is essential that they continually call upon God, who alone can change lives. (Important Biblical Texts: John 15:5, Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 6:18-19)
One of the main responsibilities of teachers is to educate students in the knowledge of all subject areas. In order to stay current on the latest research and information in the field of education, teachers should continue to educate themselves through professional growth and development. (Important Biblical Texts: 2 Timothy 2:15)
Education is more than the memorization of facts. Teachers should also help their students become independent thinkers by encouraging them to question their surroundings and to research, analyze, and draw their own conclusions. The goal is for students to develop critical thinking. Teachers ought to lead students to independence in faith and to express their beliefs tactfully and articulately. (Important Biblical Texts: 1 Peter 3:15)
Christian educators should keep their standards high, while being perceptive enough to make accommodations in instruction based on the needs of the students. Since teachers cannot educate students on their own, they must develop a partnership with parents through frequent communication.
Above all else, the Christian educator must be clothed in the love of Christ. The love of God must flow through the teacher to the student. Thus, it is essential that all teachers have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, living in submission to the Holy Spirit, so that their lives overflow with His love. (Important Biblical Texts: 1 Corinthians 13:1 and 13, Romans 13:14, Colossians 3:12-14)
OCSI recognizes that the primary responsibility for raising children lies with the parent. We endeavor to serve families by partnering with parents, in the raising of children. In order to work toward success in the life of the child, both the family and the school must fulfill their responsibilities. We believe that the partnership of school and parent is best served when parents do the following:
- Support the school rules and standards and expect their child to do the same
- Provide all necessary school supplies
- Inquire about homework, tests, and projects; help their child manage his or her workload; ask to see completed homework; provide assistance when needed; and attend school events
- Initiate communication with their child’s teacher(s), informing them of changes that could impact student performance, and requesting conferences as needed
- Provide a home environment that is conducive to learning and limits activities that may distract the child from completing his work
- Provide for the emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of their child.
(Important Biblical Texts: Ephesians. 6:4, Deuteronomy 4:9, Psalm 78:5)
