David Black posted on October 22, 2008 08:32
I read a number of educational technology and educator blogs regularly, including Remote Access. A recent post got me thinking about the "business" of Lutheran schools. With all the changes connected to technology in our society, schools are struggling to adapt and find a mode of education that will truly meet the needs of 21st century learners. The author summarizes the struggle in this way:
Schools used to be seen in many communities as the place with information inside of its four walls. Schools often had the largest (or many places, the only) library for example. Teachers were seen as beacons of enlightenment and knowledge. They were "educated." Schools were places where people came to get that knowledge. "School knowledge" or "book learning" was seen as being deposited inside of schools and if you wanted it, you had to come there to get it.
And now?
Now we are one source of information; but only one among many. We also do ourselves and our students a great disservice when, instead of teaching them to be their own filters and responsible users of information, we do it for them thinking we are protecting them for the world. Even the type of knowledge schools can supply is often in doubt as many studies have shown there is often little correlation between success in school and success in life.
While this author teaches in the public school setting, it seems that Lutheran schools face a different situation. While we need to do what this author suggests by teaching our students how to accurately find, analyze, and process needed information, we also have the charge to prepare our students to meet the challenges of the 21st century world in a God-pleasing way by teaching them an understanding of Christian principles which will build their faith and enable their service to man to meet more than the temporal desires of this world, but to build an eternal foundation as well. So while in many ways we need to adapt our teaching styles as we prepare our students for their future, the unchangeable truths of Christ must continue to be at the center of all we do so that our students are ready to be salt and light to a world hungry for eternal answers.
What is the business of Lutheran schools? It is to provide our students with the spiritual and academic tools they need to be productive servants of God in whatever they do. And that is where Lutheran schools are a difference-maker. It is my hope that while the enrollment in many Lutheran schools is dwindling, that more people might see the necessity of this spiritual training in addition to the other academic disciplines.
Thoughts?