Community and Education

In his book, Between Memory and Vision, Steven C. Vryhof writes about how important community is to education. Vryhof writes,

"Sociologists have become intrigued with the idea of functional community in the last few decades. James S. Coleman has suggested that a functional community is a community that enjoys value consistency, a shared understanding of what the world is about, what is important, and how the group should live, and intergenerational closure, the adult-child relationships and the opportunities to activate them. These characteristics allow for the successful transfer of the community's values."

Vryhof writes about the importance of community in the transmission of values because often the transmission of values "need not be explicit, and often isn't." He uses the example of seat belts in his family. He writes that his children put on their seat belts without thinking because that is what they always have done. Vryhof writes that his children do not sit and think about whether it is cool or good to put on seat belts...these just put them on when they get into the car. His point here is that children absorb many of their values this way.

Those who suggest that it is wrong or oppressive to impose a set of beliefs on children before they become adults are doing just what they protest...imposing a set of beliefs about beliefs on children. Children absorb values as children because it is their nature, and the place where they absorb many of these important values is the school.

A school, by virtue of being a learning community, instills values in children all day long. As Believers in Christ, we are commanded to instill our Lord's values in our children. It is one of the very first commands given to us: "be fruitful and multiply." The command is not just to have children, but to raise them in the ways of the Lord.

Vryhof writes that he has found that parents are increasingly turning to schools that are faith-based because they recognize the tremendous power of education. Parents choose faith-based schools because these schools are grounded in a value and belief system, a worldview and hire faculty who believe the same.

As you observe the world around you, please understand that your children will absorb values at a rapid pace. The school you choose for your children will drastically affect the values they absorb, and the values they absorb will affect who they are as adults. Can you afford not to send your children to a faith-based school? Blessings!