- Details
- Written by: Shaun Brooker
- Hits: 2903
A friend from Church asked me recently, 'Why would I send my daughter to a Christian School when it is so much cheaper and closer to send her to the state school down the road - they are both schools after all?"
I told my friend of a man called Harry. Harry saved up for years to buy a brand new Chevrolet Impala Premier. At over $40,000 and with all the added post-purchase extras that Harry lavished upon it, this car was Harry's pride and joy. Every weekend Harry would meet with other Chevrolet owners and talk about their cars and encourage each other. They were so happy and grateful for their cars that they even sang songs about them and whenever they got the opportunity, they tried to tell Ford owners what they were missing out on, inviting them to their meetings and trying to convert them.
Harry was very protective of his new Impala and at first, he would sacrifice nothing to be sure his Chevy only got the best of everything. However, with insurances and the rising cost of gas, it was quite expensive to own a new Chevrolet. But as every new car owner knows it is very important to keep the car properly serviced. This meant the car would be in fine form for a long time and with regular servicing, the car was bound to be a classic Chevy one day.
- Details
- Written by: Shaun Brooker
- Hits: 2730
The remarkable correlation between articulation and growth in Christian Schools.
It might seem too simple to be true. So obvious that it is ludicrous, and many people probably won’t want to read to the end as they will determine that this is an issue for other Christian School leaders and not their own - and if your school is flourishing both in quantity and quality then you probably have this sorted so only read on if you what the nice feeling of someone patting you on the back.
And…before I get started, please understand this is a post that will hopefully help some people articulate a better picture of the amazing things that are happening in their school. Sometimes it is not what we do that is the issue, it is how we ‘sell’ it that is. Please read this post with that in the back of your mind.
- Details
- Written by: Shaun Brooker
- Hits: 13138
Just an observation. An observation from 15+ years in Christian Education, leadership in many Christian Schools, chairmanship of an education trust for several Christian schools and both initial teacher training and postgraduate study through Christian Tertiary Colleges. My observation is that there are five 'types' of families who send their children to Christian schools.
Identifying the current make up of your school’s community within these five types is not an ego thing nor is it a ‘some are better than others’ sort of thing. It is important to know the make up of your school community in order to best meet the needs of your current community. Secondly, if your school does NOT attract any of these types of families it will be because of the perception your school holds in the wider community. Acknowledging that the perception may or may not be based on reality. Knowing which types do not attend will enable you to try and target the perceptions and move the school forward.
The five types are:
- Christian and committed no matter what
- Christian looking for the Christian School to 'sort-out' or nurture one child from the family
- Non-Christian looking for values
- Christian and looking for quality education
- Non-Christian looking for high-quality education
- Details
- Written by: Shaun Brooker
- Hits: 3188
Or more importantly, is a Theology Course by default Christian Education?
Christian Education, real Christian Education is so much more than the content that is taught. It is easy for some to believe that Christian Education is something that happens in Theology courses but not in securities courses. This is far from the truth. I would go so far to argue that even the delivery of a Theology course in itself does not equate to Christian Education. Furthermore, any Christian Tertiary Provider who leans solely on the content of their curriculum to qualify as 'Christian Education', is kidding themselves, their students and their governance board. Such an institute is not a Christian Education provider; they are merely a provider of Christian information.
- Details
- Written by: Shaun Brooker
- Hits: 3495
The Letter to
Every Christian Educator
in Every Christian School
from Every Christian Parent
of Every Christian Student,
EVER.
To You.
Thank you for your commitment to educating my child, not just equipping her for her future career but helping her to set her eyes on things above.
I pray that you will equip her well. If you are a science teacher, teach her science in the best way you can...with Christ’s help. Recognising that she is not just my daughter, but she is a daughter of the Most High King.
If you are a junior school teacher teach her the foundations of literacy and numeracy well, helping her to create a curiosity for God’s creation. And do it the best that you can, with Christ’s help. Recognising that she is not just my daughter, but a daughter of the Most High King.