About the blog

If we educate children without any knowledge of God, will we simply make them clever devils? The question raises the issue of what kind of moral values should be upheld in a nation’s education if Christian ones are rejected, and what place God should have in state education. Should knowledge of God be taught only in churches and other faith groups?

Dr. Thomas Arnold, Headmaster of Rugby (1828-1842) did not think so. 'Learning from the Master' brings together a collection of Arnold’s correspondence, sermons and other writings to provide a ‘thought for the day’ for teachers and home educators alike. Teaching is a demanding profession, and it is often hard to see the bigger picture when one’s face is hard pressed to the blackboard. This blog provides a brief thought for each day for the first half-term. The aim is to encourage Christian educators to think ultimately about whom it is they are serving. Teachers and parents are busy people, few of us have time to read full length textbooks on educational theory. This series of devotions helps us learn from one of England’s most famous headmasters - and yet at the same time directs the reader’s thoughts to one even greater.

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Thursday 20 August 2015

Day 4 - National education

National Education
‘I hold myself bound to influence, so far as I may be able, the working of a great experiment, which will probably … affect the whole country. I hold myself bound to prevent, so far as in me lies, the establishment of more sectarian places of education, which will be the case if you have regular colleges for Dissenters; and yet Dissenters must and ought to have Degrees; and you shut them out from Oxford and Cambridge…. Nothing more reasonable than that national education should be in accordance with the national religion.’ 

What is the ideal society or nation for people to live in? For Arnold the answer to this question was essential for establishing the right kind of education. He recognised that education is linked to the kind of society desired by its citizens, and until it has been determined what kind of nation is desired, the education of its citizens will be unclear, nor will educators have a definite goal in their own minds as to what they are trying to achieve.

Arnold believed the ideal society was a Christian one. Because the supreme earthly authority in any individual’s life is the state (chiefly meaning the legislature and executive branches of government), it is crucial that the state should conform to Christ’s law and way of life for the best possible society to exist. It was not necessary for all individuals to consent that Christ had risen from the dead to be part of that society, but it was necessary that citizens be morally obedient to the law. The aim of the state ought to be the ‘good’ of its people - not that they should accede to certain religious truths, and the ‘highest moral perfection’ would only be found in Christ’s person and his teaching.

If you believe that Jesus Christ demonstrates the best way of life for mankind, if you agree that his life was perfect and that he calls his disciples to live as he lived, then as you teach your students today, strive to present Christ to them. In the things you say and don’t say, in the things you do and don’t do. In the joy and pleasure you show at the good, your displeasure at wickedness (of which there is so much in the world, and generally it is not lacking in the classroom). 

The education of a nation brings forth the values of that nation. If you are a Christian, you probably will want your country to be Christian. It matters little what your others think of you, you are Christ’s ambassador in the classroom. His values must be your values, his ways must be your ways. Hopefully, by your example, your students (or your children) will see they are the best values anyone, or any nation could have.


God ever bless you.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)