I just returned
from my first ever Christian Schools Canada principal’s conference. I have
attended many educators’ conferences, but I was slightly apprehensive about
rubbing shoulders with some of the “superstars” in the educational world (yes
we do have educational superstars, they just don’t know who they are). I had the opportunity to sit and converse
with principals from across Canada about current issues in education. It was a rich and rewarding experience.
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| Pondering after a thought provoking presentation from James Smith |
Each day began with
a devotional and worship lead by Pacific Christian School. It was a personally moving moment for me to
sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” with my administrative colleagues. The keynote presenter, Calvin College
philosophy professor, James Smith, who wrote the books Desiring the Kingdom
and Imagining the Kingdom, was engaging and challenged us to consider
how modern day liturgies influence how we learn and what we believe. To be human is to love, desire, and long for
something and the effect of sin is that we love the wrong thing in the wrong
way. His analogy of the shopping mall as
a temple, mannequins as the missionaries, and flyers and commercials as their
religious tracts was compelling. Our
educational pedagogies shape and form what students love and desire. How we teach is just as important as what we
teach. A Christian education is to
shape and influence students to love Christ and desire the establishment of His
kingdom.
Every afternoon we
were able to attend a variety of workshops led by various principals,
university professors, and educational leaders.
I attended four workshops:
1. Working Towards a Culturally
Inclusive Model of First Nations Learning
2. Project Based Learning
3. The Future of School Libraries
4. What Principals Need to Know
about Special Education
These workshops were informative
and thought provoking.
The conference was
held at the beautiful Inn at Laurel Point in the inner harbour in Victoria,
BC. The weather was fantastic and they supplied
coffee 24/7. It was a terrific experience
and I am already looking forward to reconnecting in Edmonton in 2016.
