Providence Christian High School exists to provide a Christ-centered learning community....
In the last issue of the Storm Bulletin, I took a feeble stab at what it means to be a Christ-centered school. The more I think about it, the more I realize how difficult it is to maintain "Christ-centeredness" over any period of time. With that in mind, I welcome your input as we try to live out our Christian faith at PCHS!
This week I'd like to consider for a few moments what a learning community is. The two words work well together, but are worthy of being discussed separately.
Learning: Learning has sometimes been defined this way: The act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill. I've been in a lot different schools in many different countries over the years. On more than one occasion I have spent time in classrooms built for 15 but holding 40, often with no desks or chairs, and one under-trained teacher standing up front telling the students to "repeat after me." Not exactly a place conducive to learning, yet even there, some knowledge and skills were gained, given enough time and effort. But that is not the way that we want to define learning at PCHS. We are looking instead to create an environment where significant knowledge and critical thinking skills can be gained, to a degree that allows our students to not only succeed academically, but more importantly to grow spiritually, so that they can impact the world for Christ.
Community: Nowhere is the concept of community more important than in a school. A school is a cooperative venture involving parents, students, staff, and community members. If any one of these critical links breaks or is weakened, the entire chain is weakened. Obviously, then, we must work together to be successful. But community means more than working together. It also means caring for each other, loving each other, and supporting each other, through good times and bad. It means constructively and lovingly pointing out that which needs correction. One of my favorite quotes goes like this: Criticism is pointing out flaws. Correction is pointing out potential. Community is all about helping others reach their potential by using the unique talents that God has given each one of us. As Paul writes in I Cor. 12:12, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." And so it must be with our school, if we are truly to be a Christ-centered learning community.
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As two of my children have walked the halls of PCHS for 6 years now, I have seen MUCH learning both in and OUT of the classroom. That has been evident from the many aspects of life that they learn as they attend chapel, play on sports teams, participate in dramas or band, or choir, as well as the annual interim. One such "learning" experience was when the entire student body went to Mississippi to help with Hurricane Katrina relief. The students learned all those things you would expect from such a trip "use the gifts and talents the Lord has given you to help those in need." It feels good to help, etc. The lesson my daughter learned that I did not expect was that of generosity of spirit. The students and staff learned that one morning at breakfast as they sat at an IHOP on the road to Mississippi. A gentleman in the restaurant learned what the group was doing and he picked up the tab for the entire group!! The students were stunned. In that one act, those students all learned the great impact of generosity. It may have only given each student $5 or $10 depending on the cost of the meal of the student, but it had the effect of giving them a million bucks. It is my hope that as the students learn these various lessons, they will take what they learn and fulfill the mission statement by going out into the world and serving the Lord in the way that He leads them.
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting story! Thanks for sharing it with me. I've heard a lot about that trip and the impact it had on our students. Isn't it interesting how almost always, those going on short term mission trips are impacted more than those they go to serve? I hope that we can do something like that again sometime!
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