Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who do teach will be judged with greater strictness. James 3:1
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Matthew 10:24
And he personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge of God's son, growing into a mature person with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. Ephesians 4:11-13, HCSB
One of the major distinctions between Christian schools and public schools is the role and responsibility of teachers. While the role of a teacher in public education has evolved with the trends in education, and the classroom has lost much of its formal structure along with the respect and order that accompanied quality pedagogy, in Christian schools, and specifically at MCA, we see the role of a teacher as a ministry calling directly related to the school's mission and purpose.
Compulsory education in this country was never meant to be something aimed at improving the ability of students to "get a job" when they get older. Education is the foundation of constitutional democracy, something aimed at raising the standard of living, and at the same time helping citizens understand their role in a government based on popular sovereignty, something that we can see by visible example around the world.
Education is one of the five biblical functions of a Christian congregation, the others being worship, evangelism and missions, ministry to needs, and fellowship. It is commonly referred to as discipleship and it has as its purpose "training of the saints in the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ, and achieving unity in faith and knowledge of Christ." In both Jewish and Christian tradition, the idea of the church taking responsibility not only for spiritual training, but for providing skills which lead to collective prosperity of the faith community is central to faith practice.
A Ministry Calling Requiring Spiritual Giftedness
A Christian school is primarily a discipleship ministry. Those who are called by God to serve in this ministry also are spiritually gifted to do so as a means of qualification. In that role, there is a measure of respect which members of the body of Christ should give to enable these called and gifted individuals to serve the Lord by serving others in His name. Our teachers have also provided their own training and education to enable them to fulfill this calling, at their own expense, in order to be equipped for service.
So your child's classroom teacher is a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, using spiritual gifts and talents, along with extensive training, in order to provide a classroom which will, in the course of a year, accomplish a specific set of pedagogical and spiritual goals. This puts the teacher in position of spiritual leadership in the classroom, which we see as a position of biblical authority. Part of what is expected from a classroom in a Christian school is the spiritual growth of students, as they learn more about the Bible's contents, and the application of spiritual truth to their daily life. And it is part of the teachers responsibility to help bring this about.
Excellent Pedagogy
We expect, as a result of the spiritual expectations of education, that students will be encouraged to do their best, and have that opportunity in their studies. So, the maintenance of order and the structure of the classroom must be conducive to the learning experience. In the management of the classroom, the teacher is the supreme authority, using the spiritual giftedness as well as the college level training for which they made a financial sacrifice.
In addition to teaching the core principles of basic skills, like reading, mathematics and science, teachers also help students understand the social skills necessary for success. A classroom is a great place to learn how to interact appropriately with peers and a teacher, who has a great capacity for teaching these skills, can certainly help.
Parent Support and Partnership
A teacher in a Christian school is an authority in their classroom, both over the management of the behavior and conduct of students as well as over the content and instruction of the curriculum. We have an expectation here at MCA, based on the teacher's biblical role, and on their expertise, that parents will support their child's teacher, listen to the advice and guidance given, and work with their child to make sure the classroom experience meets everyone's expectations.
For one thing, all of our teachers are professing Christians, fellow believers in Christ who are committed spiritually to the mission and purpose of the school. Beyond that, their willingness to sacrifice what they could be earning elsewhere makes the tuition and fees affordable for a high percentage of our families. Their commitment to this as a ministry calling, rather than just a job, is a benefit to every one of their students.
For another, it is best for the students to follow a trained teacher's advice. Their professional expertise is a leading factor in student success, and as parents, there are expectations of success. It's perfectly acceptable for a parent to communicate their vision and desires for their child, but also perfectly acceptable for a teacher to direct the parents to a plan that not only helps their child learn effectively, but also to exercise the kind of social restraint and classroom behavior that minimizes disruptions and teaches children to be considerate of others.
It's a Sacrifice to Work in a Christian School
The motivation for this ministry calling exceeds the salary and benefits requirements. Parents make a financial sacrifice, because Christian schools are privately funded, and tuition is a requirement to cover the expenses. But teachers make a financial sacrifice, too, since tuition rates that take parent's expenses into consideration don't provide the kind of professional salary and benefits that teachers in the public education system require.
At MCA, the level of compensation that our teachers agree to receive in order to serve in this ministry saves our parents about $2,500 per year for each student they have enrolled here. And that amount, added to our tuition, would only raise our teacher wages to the lowest levels of public school salaries. So there is also a financial element to this partnership.
The church is also a big contributor, being responsible, for the most part, for securing many of those who regularly support the school with their financial gifts, and also for providing a facility for which we pay no lease, only maintenance and utilities, saving parents another $2,000.00. per student.
Stability and Commitment
The teaching staff turnover rate at MCA is less than 10% per year over the past 10 years. That demonstrates a stable school environment, which is also visible in seeing more than 90% of our currently enrolled students return year after year. And while most small, private schools find it difficult to maintain a teaching staff that is fully credentialed, all of our core subject classroom teachers at MCA have certification and meet the educational requirements for their job.
So we believe you've found a good place for your child to grow educationally, and spiritually, with those two things side by side in their classroom at Midwestern Christian Academy.
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