Is Good Pedagogy the Core Priority for Faith-Based Schools?

      Why is Sound Pedagogy So Important?

Before we dive into more ideas on how we must see good pedagogy as important, it is worth acknowledging that faith-based schools are not necessarily inhabited by students who have a deep faith in God. Sadly, in some such schools we can't be sure even that all teachers have a deep faith which shapes their very lives.

As well, we also must realize that just being a faith-based school does not guarantee sound teaching, nor even that all teachers are dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of deep faith in their students. Some teachers simply assume that this is the role of School Chaplains. So, I sometimes wonder why, without this we bother promoting such schools at all? Let's face it, there are Christians who teach in state schools, and I've known some who have been wonderful.

My Lament that Few Christian Students go to Government Schools today

My wife and I were converted in the rural mid-sized town of Bathurst in Australia (I was 32 years old and the Son of Communist leaders). She was a teacher, and I had taken up my first post as a Lecturer in Education at the local university. Our eldest daughter attended school scripture for one hour a week in primary school. Here teacher was a beautiful Christian woman who had lost her husband just before we arrived. 

Sadly the teaching of Scripture in schools rarely occurs in Government secondary schools any more. When the teaching of Scripture ended in my Daughters' school they took it upon themselves to start meeting with those still interested at lunch time. As adults both go regularly to her children's school and in one case my daughter runs Scripture the children's school, while the other is a well known Christian who works in a university and is called up around the world to share the faith of Christ! This of course, it not due to me, but the grace of God!

 

While in some Christian schools, students do the same thing my as one of my daughters, it is limited to once a week, the children of one of my daughters picked up the baton and began a lunchtime meeting where the students cam with their lunches to share as they discuss God's word. What a sad indictment that even in Christian schools there can be limited teaching.

Summing up

I'm fortunate the above was the case for my daughters but take no self pride in given my background! Some Christian schools need to re-as
sess their priorities, and ensure that Scripture is still taught in their schools. We need to keep on challenging our teachers who are teachers and our Christian schools to ensure that the foundational reason for Christian Schools in the first place was to educate the whole child. Interesting the one Christian denomination that still keeps this as a priority are Catholic Schools! 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Back to School 2026 - Getting Ready for the Year Ahead

School Resumes in Australia

For the information of my international readers, schools return on the 2nd February in Australia from the school Summer Vacation. Some will be sad, others ready for a new year. There will be stresses for students as classes change and their friends aren't necessarily with them anymore. Parents will breath a sigh of relief. Teachers of course will be a little stressed as they prepare for the year, and await their new students. 

For children entering Primary School (Elementary school as many know it in other countries) some will be excited. They might well have enjoyed preschool, and the chance to spend time with one of their parents, or a grandparent who encouraged them at home when not at preschool as well as teaching them many things. But now they are off to 'Big' school as some young ones call it at first. While some are nervous, Primary school will open up a whole new world of learning.

 

1. How to Support Children in this Transition Phase?

a) Being positive about school

There will be a vast array of emotions about school commencing. Those well advanced in their education will be excited to catch up with old friends.Those attending school for the first time will have a different experience. Some will be excited, others not so! 

Parents might do varied things to ease the transition, such as organising 'play dates' prior to the first day of school between their child and their friends. This has the secondary benefit of being able to 'talk up' the good things that will happen at school with their existing friends as well as new ones.

b) Shopping for School things

As well as shopping for school uniforms, there will be new back packs, and perhaps even a small desk for them to use at home while they prepare for school. You may need to shop for pencils, crayons, water bottles and other things too. Most children will enjoy getting these new things, and again, this will be preparing them for the 'excitement' of school.

 

In Australia, the school year commences in February which is late Summer. Many will be returning from beach holidays and fun at home to go to school, where the temperature might be quite high. This will be challenging. There are so many things that can make these first days and weeks difficult, especially for children new to a school. But hopefully, there will be excitement as well.

2. Adjusting to New Teachers and Class Mates

It's important to talk to your children before and after school in the first weeks and even months is very important. Students can be brutal to one another in new classes. As James Gee suggests, these early days require students to be "...apprenticed to new social groups". These groups begin to shape their position and status in groups. I talk about this in "Pedagogy and Education for Life" and offer examples of how this occurs in everyday school life. Barbara Rogoff takes the apprenticeship metaphor further, by arguing that students are effectively apprenticed into thinking in quite specific ways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As well as the students who have an impact on one another, the teacher has an important role in leading these young apprentices into classroom and school life too. The words and actions of teachers matter! If we teach, we inevitably signal to our students what we see as appropriate, as well as the roles in life that are possible, important and valuable.

The things teachers sanction in classroom discourse as appropriate and valuable, will also be important. The teacher's role is not to try to be liked by simply reflecting the values, habits and hopes of the students. They need to shape attitudes by creating frameworks for classroom life, that encourage and create predictable behaviour and outcomes [see Chapter 5 of 'Pedagogy and Education for Life' for more details on this topic].

3. The Role of Guided Participation

To create the right environment in classes, teachers must understand the perspectives of the students, and in turn, students need to understand those of the teacher. American Psychologist Jerome Bruner saw this as a type of 'exchange' taking place, helping both to understand one another. 

This notion of 'exchange' will of course look quite different for the teacher of 5 year olds compared to later Primary and Secondary. 

If we observe our students holding unhelpful views of the world, or engaging in practices that are problematic, we will also need to guide them into new ways of seeing and acting on and in the world. Vygotsky, Bruner, Rogoff and others all suggest that as we create positive communities in classrooms, it is possible to exchange meanings and help students to grow. This in turn, will lead to common goals and pursuits.

4. Wrapping up

Parents might find it helpful to reflect on your own distant memories of school and the challenges of each year. As well, if we think about the challenges of the adult world of work and relationships, this should help us to have empathy for our children. 

I hope that all teachers have a great start to the new school year in Australia. I also wish my many international readers have endurance as in some cases you are entering the second half of the school year. Some will be doing so in cold weather where the students have less chance to get outside. Go well! 

You can explore this and other topics of educational interest in my book 'Pedagogy and Education for Life'.