Life Nurturing Education

In The Madness of Multiple-Choice Andrew Pudewa discusses why multiple-choice questions do not encourage reasoning. He states,

There is no room for different answers, unique responses, or independent views. The emphasis is always on what the child does not know, not on helping him clarify and express what he does know.

Do we really want to focus on what our child doesn’t know? It seems to me this just serves to discourage and frustrate. Students are conditioned to pass the test but end up feeling inferior. Then the game of comparing scores continues all the way through college and into the work place.

As home educators we don’t have to prepare for standardized tests. Our emphasis can be on teaching our children to think. If we challenge them to labor over ideas, they will receive the reward of knowing that they understand. They will be much better “fit for usefulness in their future stations” since in life you are rarely given the answers. (from Webster’s 1828 definition of education)

While taking classes at The College of Southern Idaho, my husband and I attended a weekly Bible study led by Pastor Randy Davis. He started by teaching us logic; A cannot equal non A. We soaked it up!

I had been a Christian most of my life, but was not prepared for listening to Allen Ginsberg quote beatnik lyrics about smoking dope, or grappling with the noble savage concept in Cultural Anthropology class. I began to cling to my faith based on my experiences. If Christianity was true I needed a stronger foundation than feelings from church camp. Graciously and consistently Pastor Randy reasoned with us. I struggled to renew my mind as we learned about apologetics, evangelism, government, relationships, religions, and revival.

Then I began to observe the students at Liberty Christian Academy, the Principle Approach school started by Pastor Davis and his wife Diane. Those young people knew more Bible history than I did. They knew God as Providence in the founding of America. I wanted to understand what those kids were learning! My husband and I asked Pastor Randy to train us to be teachers. He replied, “I wish I could but I don’t have time right now. Consider going to Youth with a Mission.” He wanted to start a college to train teachers then. That was over ten years ago.

Now the vision of a college has been revived. Albion Christian College is beginning with the desire to impart truth to a generation raised in relativism. The reasoning needed to apply Biblical principles in this world requires diligent study. The opportunity to do that at college is incredible!

Please pray that God will bless the founding of this college in Southern Idaho. May solid foundations be laid for future generations.