Biblical Philosophy of Education
The King’s Academy is a premier Christian, college-preparatory school teaching students from preschool through grade twelve located in West Palm Beach Beach, Florida. The school is committed to the historic Christian perspective of life as set forth in the Bible, recognizing God as the Creator of all things, the Son of God as Savior of all who believe in Him, and the Holy Spirit as the Comforter to all who believe in Him. The King’s Academy is committed to a Christian worldview and holds that the knowledge of God is the beginning of wisdom; that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant word of God; that fellowship with God is the true basis for fellowship with one another; that each student is uniquely created by God and is endowed with particular talents. Therefore, the aim of our Christian school, functioning as an extension of the home, is to nurture each student in his or her development as a whole person: spiritually, mentally, physically, and socially, providing the opportunity to educate for eternity (2 Tim. 3:16-17) as we seek to see them grow toward maturity in Jesus Christ (Col. 1:28-29.)
understanding of who He calls them to be. This knowledge and belief will manifest itself in a life of faith characterized by Christ-like humility and service to others as students discover that which they are to do.We pray that God will continually reveal His specific purpose for each individual and His methods for Kingdom building through the Living and Written Word. As we lead our students into a deeper understanding of God’s Word in each grade, we believe the Holy Spirit is able to do the work of convincing each student of their need for Him, convicting them of sin, and empowering them for godly living.
While every class taught at TKA integrates biblical truth, we believe that classes existing for the sole purpose of focusing on the Word of God and how it relates to all of life are essential. These classes will seek to produce in our students a thoroughly biblical worldview, offering opportunities for discussion and application, and learning how to live out the Great Commandment (to love God and others) and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. We seek to equip our students to “make disciples” as they love God with every part of their being. The hoped for result shall be a community set free by God’s abundant grace. Through the work of Jesus’ death on the cross and the power of His resurrection from the grave, we have been given new life that we will proclaim in and out of the classroom. His supreme sacrifice and victory over death is the reason for our existence. We witness to Jesus as Lord and call others into repentance, faith, obedience, and hope. By making Biblical instruction a required core class for all grade levels, we are most able to offer our students opportunities to surrender to the Holy Spirit as He leads them into spiritual maturity measured by the manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit, genuine worship revealing a biblical understanding of the Creator-Redeemer and a commitment to a community of gathered believers. When confronted with erroneous worldviews and philosophies, students will be equipped to defend Truth as they take every thought captive, making it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Peter 3:15)
We strive to provide students with access to Biblical content and theology using best teaching practices. In order to provide a well-rounded Biblical education, we will incorporate a variety of methods that will strive to meet each student at their level of spiritual maturity including: inductive Bible study, Scripture memorization, discussion, research/investigation, the exploration of Bible narratives, active learning, and thorough assessments. We will also actively seek to promote a relational atmosphere of authenticity and honesty which allows each student to acknowledge where they are in their relationship with Christ and encourage one another to grow.
As beings created in the image of God, we have been uniquely gifted with the ability to communicate with one another through the written and spoken word. This ability to communicate is an important part of all academic disciplines and social interactions; therefore, our pursuit of excellence in the area of language is inherently valuable.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, all of creation bore the curse of the Fall (Gen.3: 14-19; Rom 8:19-22). Although we are created in the image of God, we are born with an inherent sin nature. Our nature, our character, and our reasoning are flawed (Rom. 1:21; 3:9-12). We see some of the effects of the Fall in math in the errors we make in calculation and reasoning, and that even ‘the learning’ of mathematical principles takes hard work. Graphs and statistics can be manipulated to twist or slant their interpretation. Pride can creep into mathematics, as well, when we claim credit for abilities and accomplishments that the Creator has given.
Mathematics can be applied for good or for evil purposes (Jer. 17:9). Mathematics has applications for progress in computer science, engineering, robotics, navigation, coding and cryptography, medicine, and network design, to name a few. However, these applications can each be used for evil purposes—to hack into secure websites, design biological weapons, to create some model using technological advances with the intent to destroy or bring harm to mankind or the environment. We acknowledge the importance of having our minds renewed by the Spirit of God (Rom. 12:2) so that we can understand and know what is good. Wisdom and discernment for all of life come from God. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7) “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6).
Our purpose in mathematics at TKA is to reveal our glorious Creator and Sustainer to our students and for them to know and appreciate the beauty He has placed in mathematics. We want to pursue the breadth and depth of mathematics in the fear of the LORD. Since mathematics is the language God used to create the universe, it is important to learn this ‘language’ and be able to articulate it to begin to understand our Creator and His creation. Mathematics is also a tool for man’s dominion and care of creation under God (Gen 1:28, 2:5,15; Ps.8:5-8; Is 28:23-9). We want our students to learn mathematical principles so that they will be prepared to organize, plan, calculate, and evaluate ideas and practices to better serve others and advance God’s kingdom on earth (Col 1:28-2:8; Gal 6:9; Titus 3:1,8,14—“doing good works” should be all inclusive; surely we want good bridge builders who get their numbers right!)
Principles for TKA Mathematics:
- In math we teach reasoning skills and logic, which find their source in God.
- Math is characterized by problem-solving. Our heavenly Father is the original Problem-Solver in that He made a way for us to be reconciled back to Himself through the sacrifice of His only Son.
- In math we learn about infinite sets of numbers. As finite creatures we can’t fully grasp infinity. Yet this concept comes from the Eternal One.
- Math is rich with patterns within sets of numbers, and patterns that can generate sets of numbers. The existence of patterns or design demands a Designer.
- Some areas of math are abstract, such as the three undefined terms that form the foundation for Euclidean Geometry: point, line, plane. Abstract concepts remind us that God is unfathomable, far greater than we can comprehend.
- Math has components that do not change. One of the most important of these is place value, which helps us interpret the value of arrangements of digits. The unchanging nature of place value points to the absolute nature of God.
- Numbers can be arranged in order as they are compared by place value. Equations are solved by steps that follow order of operations. The concept of orderliness comes from the orderly God.
- Measurement is an important concept in mathematics. Accuracy and precision in measurement are patterned after the precise Creator.
- Students in math are constantly taught to check their work. This concept came from the creation model when God saw everything He had done and said it was ‘good.’
- In math, answers or solutions are right or wrong; they can make a statement true or false. Truth is not relative, it is absolute. Jesus states that ‘He is truth,’ and He does not change.
Music encompasses all of the disciplines. Instrumental music studies have shown that math scores improve when students are exposed to music. Studies also show that musical studies in the morning improve their brain development for the day. The study of music is essential: not a secondary course of study. Every facet of development is touched: intellectual, social, spiritual, psychological, and physical. This is at the core of our teaching at The King’s Academy. Whereas music is one of God’s great gifts to mankind used as a primary means of worshiping God, intellectual stimulation, and can bring about emotional stability. This is done through high quality music, taught with love and understanding, to bring each student to a higher plane of skill, praise, emotional stability and intellectual understanding by way of this calling called MUSIC.
Stewardship: We should lead physically active lives because it is one of the ways to care for and maintain our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has placed man in a position of vice-regent, caretaker under God, over all of creation. Our bodies, as a significant part of that creation, are to be cared for, maintained and reconciled for his glory. (Gen 1:26-28, 2:15, I Cor. 6:19-20, Rom. 8:20-21)
Service: We should lead physically active lives, not as acts of self-service, but rather that we might be fit to be used in whatever way He calls. Having received the gift of life – physically, mentally, spiritually -we render all of it to His service. The wise steward was the one who invested the talents he was given in order that they would bring a profit to his master. Likewise, we should invest our talents that they would be used to advance His kingdom, not lie dormant nor be self-serving. (Rom 12:1, Luke 19:11-27)
Celebration: We should lead physically active lives as an act of worship that celebrates the wholeness of life. Enjoying life in our Creator is one of the highest forms of praise. Physical activity presents an opportunity to bring together our whole self – physical, mental, emotional, social, etc. It reflects the wholeness in which we were created. (Deut. 6:1-2, 2 Sam 6:5, John 10:10, I Tim. 6:17)
Utilize a Christian Worldview curriculum with high academic rigor and relevance that recognizes God as the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. Integrate inquiry based teaching to help students to maximize their critical thinking skills while enabling them to exhibit core knowledge on standardized tests and ultimately be able to better defend their faith. Create an environment with a focus on learning that is results oriented and declares the glory of God. Allow students to build their learning environment by using a “hands-on and minds-on” approach to encourage the discovery of answers to their own open-ended questions through the process of investigation with no fear because all Truth is God’s Truth.
To further define the characteristics of our Social Studies program, these important principles will guide our content and instruction.
- History is God’s story. He rules as King of kings and Lord of lords, and permits and guides the events of history to his ultimate glory and for the good of those who love Him. We are first and foremost responsible to Him. His authority is not superseded by any nation state.
- In order to love God we must love our neighbor. The definition of our neighbor is not found within tidy, orderly, socio-economic boundaries. Our neighbors are not found only in those nations with which we share political alliances. We are called to love beyond our comfort zone.
- Government has been established by God (Romans 13:1) for the sake of order in the world, that the Gospel may be preached and taught and that our lives and property might be protected.
- We have a civic and scriptural responsibility to be involved in the dispensation and protection of truth, justice, and order within our nation state and throughout the world.
- The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). Geography examines the Lord’s earth and how all who live in it adapt to their environments and manage its resources.
- The study of behavioral sciences (Psychology, Sociology) is the examination of the behavior of fallen sinners, helping us to understand ourselves and others, both individually and in groups.Our mission is thus to enhance our students’ view of their world and its people and to help them understand and appreciate cultural differences and unique histories and institutions, in the hope of reaching the unsaved with the good news of Christ. The effectiveness of our program resides in the students’ capacity to implement the commands of Christ. Real world application alongside complimentary discussion is necessary to measure success. Ultimately, our success will be measured by the development of attitudes, behaviors, and convictions within our student population which embody the six principles listed above.
The Christian school must view technology through the lens of biblical truth with redeemed minds and ready hands to restore technology to God’s original intention. The Christian school must not ignore it nor embrace it uncritically. It must rule over it as a part of God’s creation by taking “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” for the glory of God (Genesis 1:27-28, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 115:1).
[1] Egbert Schuurman Technology and the Future(Wedge, 1983) p. 5. [2] Arnold Pacey The Culture of Technology (Backwell, 1983) pp. 4-7. [3] Mark Eckel “Establishing a Personal, Biblical Philosophy of Internet Usage” (2005) p. 1. [4] Neil Postman “Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change” (1998) p.1.
Creation reflects God’s law and order, His rules, principles, and patterns. The rules and patterns of language are also a reflection of the Divine Order throughout creation. Students need precision in their speech to communicate their thoughts, build relationships, and explain the Truth of Christ when given the opportunity. Through the use of language, God continues to bring His unity and love to people around the world.
concerned; therefore, NILD’s educational therapy can be effective for all people, whatever their spiritual condition.” (NILD Board of Directors)
As Christian educators, we are called to help bring restoration to the learning process within our students. As these students develop fundamental thinking skills, work to improve academics and understand their gifts, they become more fully able to participate in the mission of TKA: to integrate biblical truth for life with a commitment to glorifying Jesus Christ through academic excellence and spiritual maturity.
As educators in a Christian school, we minister to the whole child but we focus primarily on his/her academic and spiritual life. Through interactions both in and out of class, each student is encouraged to learn to use his/her gifts to serve others so that God might be glorified (Matthew 20:25-28; I Peter 4:10) and to develop an understanding that through his/her weakness he/she can glorify God (I Corinthians 12:7-10).
Student Support Services serves the total school ministry by partnering with parents as a support for their children’s needs and teaming with teachers as a resource to implement instructional and testing accommodations in the regular classroom (I Corinthians 12:12-20).
Our greatest desire for students is to know the Lord and to learn daily as they walk with Him. This walk encompasses the use of their gifts in pursuit of their learning, future career and life choices. We pray that each student will claim: “with my God I can scale a wall” (Psalm 18:29).
Student Support Services Search and Teach Rx for Reading NILD Educational Therapy FIE
Note: Adapted from Jeff Mudrow, Head of School for Lenawee Christian School.