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EurECA is a European Educators'
Christian Association. We are people from various Christian
protestant traditions, from different walks of life and in different
professions, but uniting in our interest in and concern for what is
means to be a Christian teacher. Some of us work in Christian
schools, some in state schools. Some are teachers, principals or
academic scholars, others are curriculum developers, course
developers, missionaries, church planters, kindergarten teachers,
special ed-teachers... We were gathered in a Christian camp site in
Poland, a country with 0.01% protestant Christians. We were from 17
different nations, and the African continent was also represented,
and so was Israel.
I work in a Christian school in Norway, and it made me think again: what is it that defines a Christian school? How do we live it? We have great conditions, a government which gives us freedom to define our profile. Are we bold enough? One of the headteachers1 from England said it in a beautifully simple way: "A Christian school is where Christ is present."
I am not an advocate for a 'campaign'
school, where there is one view on most matters. I do not think that
is academically, or scientifically, beneficial. I do, however,
encourage the Christian world view to saturate all we teach. Did I
say THE Christian world view? I did. It is not the detailed oriented,
case-based opinion I seek, but a basic attitude that honours God
in all we do.
I was greatly encouraged to speak with
seasoned men from France who were still on fire for starting
Christian schools with a protestant persuasion. They are facing an
almost militant opposition from the government. There is no public
funding for anything. Teachers work for free - supported by a spouse,
new schools emerge. Why? Because they see the need. Parents want to
have their children educated in a Christian environment..., a clearly
defined Christian environment, with values, attitudes, reflecting the
Christian message. And who was the first to sign up his child? - The
Imam! Next family had Jewish roots, but were believers. The third
family was Catholic, and gradually more students came. I was inspired
by the dedication of my brothers. I was inspired to see God at work
in Bulgaria, Rumania, in Portugal, in the Netherlands, in Germany...
The fellowship of the believers was
remarkable. God was there. As we shared hardships and blessings from
the various places, we had a time of prayer for the nations. There
was unity. I was encouraged by listening to the story of the first
Christian national school in Israel, all the miracles in the midst of
obstacles.
We had a key note Speaker, Albert
Hoekstra from Holland, who works for an organization and think-tank
called Xpand. The task given him for the conference was to speak
about“Mentoring
– Support and encouragement in education”.His
focus was on building relations and having a mentor as well as being
a mentor. He brought in his Christian world view into the concepts.
I will need to digest more of his
ideas, and re-read my notes, ponder and interact, go deeper into
addressing who I am and how I function. What he gave us were tools,
concepts, and we need to make use of them in our own setting. He also
spoke about conflict solving - in personal relations. But - as I
said: I need to reflect on this before I can say anything.
He spoke much about beauty - in art -
in nature - and I tuned in with all my senses. God is known through
our senses, as well as in our minds, through language - both verbal
and non-verbal:)
We have so much to give,
so much hope, so much joy
in the salvation from God
through our Lord Jesus!
We have the good life, and
we have all this life to share it!
May we be bold and shape
our culture:)
http://www.eureca-online.org/conferences/
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