Diversity in demographics isn’t enough if all the students in the school don’t have the same opportunities. Do we possess the superficial markers of diversity without actually embracing and honoring that diversity? Have we built authentic community with all our students and families? Do all the people in the building have the same opportunities to share their voice, perspective, and experiences?
The Many Roads to Christian Deeper Learning: Teaching for Transformation
TfT begins with the premise that all things in the world belong to God, and that as schools, we want to help students see God’s grand story in every subject they study. Every unit and lesson must be seen as sacred–a divine opportunity for the student to enter into a deeper relationship with their God.
Diversity in the Christian School: Retention Is About the Environment You Create
The old adage “if you build it, they will come” is often used to justify the creation of new and exciting diversity programs. However, in an environment where Christian families of color often have options when it comes to private education, the question to ask is not only “will they come?” but “will they stay?”.
Thinking About Mission Statements
Times of crisis and change often present organizations an opportunity to revisit their mission. Our current climate of pandemic and cultural conflict is just such a time. How ought our mission statement help us stay on mission and our mission drive our actions through these challenges?
Diversity in the Christian School: Cultivate a Diverse and Inclusive School Culture
As Christian schools, we should strive for both diversity and inclusion. Unfortunately, all too often we just work for assimilation, which can lead to suppression of culture.
Diversity in the Christian School: Are All Your Students Feeling Seen?
One wonders how often a student who sits in our classroom feels like the Samaritan woman—sitting on the outskirts, walking our halls unobserved, or saying nothing in class. Maybe one reason these students fly under the radar is because they don’t see people like them in the curriculum. The authors read, the stories covered, the individuals featured in our current texts are all important, but how often do they reflect the culture of our students or the diversity God created in students of our respective countries?
The Many Roads to Christian Deeper Learning: Big Picture Learning (BPL)
The next pathway to Christian Deeper Learning that we are looking at is Big Picture Learning. The program is built around students’ individual interests and provides opportunities to work on real-world projects.
Diversity in the Christian School: A Cultural Examen of the School Handbook
We understand that dress codes are supposed to inspire uniformity. But for black students, uniformity too often translates to conformity, to whiteness.
How Hospitable Are You? The Critical Importance of the Campus Visit
I don’t know about you, but one of the things I have missed most since the beginning of the pandemic is the opportunity to gather with friends. This past weekend, we were able to have a few couples over to our back porch where we could share hors d’oeuvres while maintaining social distancing protocols. My wife and I worked to … Read More
Diversity in the Christian School: Creating Inclusive Chapels
We want to be a community that glorifies God at our school and beyond by the way we interact with diverse people and ideas. Chapel is a great time to celebrate as a corporate body the contributions that varied cultures have made to our country and community.