Private Christian School Education: A Value-Rich Environment

At the end of the long and busy first week of school, I sat down with a Grande Americano (4 pumps of vanilla, 1 packet of raw sugar, with a little cream) in an out-of-the-way nook at the Mall. Reflection is a tool I use to help sort out my thoughts and make sense of life events.

For the first time in 13 years, I am teaching again. This time it is a World Religions class with a group of wonderful seniors. In order to establish a foundation for the course, we are exploring the central thought of faith as a human universal and that “we are endowed at birth with nascent capacities for faith.” (James W. Fowler)

While some educational environments attempt to offer a valueless environment, the Christian school environment is a purposeful and intentional value-rich environment. Ethics, integrity, truth, and values are intrinsically linked to the ethos of Christian schools.

I was researching the topic of integrity the other evening and came across the following quote from Success Will Come and Go, But Integrity Is Forever:

“If I could teach only one value to live by, it would be this: Success will come and go, but integrity is forever. Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes having the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. Building a reputation of integrity takes years, but it takes only a second to lose, so never allow yourself to ever do anything that would damage your integrity.” (Amy Anderson)

Unfortunately, integrity is easily forgotten in the name of expediency and viewed as a weakness. Consequences will always follow our actions, good or bad. Success is inhibited by lack of ethics and integrity. Without them, it's like telling one lie to cover another. At some point in time the lies catch up to us. After reading one of my posts on a social media page about integrity, my daughter replied, "The understated reward for being someone of integrity is much greater that the overstated reward of today's definition of success.

Though I do not know anything about her personal faith I think Amy Anderson is on-point when she says “integrity is forever.” Among the many values that are stressed in Christian schools, integrity is of primary concern. I've heard it said that integrity is a brother to ethics. If we miss these two pieces of the puzzle, we are destitute.

Teaching and working in a Christian school is a rewarding experience. We are able to create a place where students can explore their faith, experience God on a personal level, and expose them to an educational environment that seeks to integrate faith and learning. Christian education must lead the way and be decidedly value-rich in knowledge and the ultimate truths of God!

For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.

(II Corinthians 8:21)

Follow this link to read Amy Anderson's article in its entirety: http://www.forbes.com/sites/amyanderson/2012/11/28/success-will-come-and-go-but-integrity-is-forever/