Christian Schools Canada Conference 2014

   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.

 

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.

The Blue Lobster

  Before I was able to enjoy the hot weather and Chilliwack beaches this summer, I took a university course titled “Current Issues in Education”.   The course required that I travel to Dordt College in Sioux Center Iowa, USA.   Dordt College is a beautiful campus with amazing facilities, and it is completely surrounded by thousands of acres of cornfields! 

  On one particular day my professor was lecturing about the importance of instilling a sense of wonder in students.  He showed us a series of images of amazing landscapes and creational beauty meant to instill a sense of awe and wonder in God’s creativity and power.  He showed one photo that caught my attention, a picture of a blue lobster.  I was awe struck, and perplexed.   I was so thrown off that I completely stop listening to my professor and began mulling over questions in my head.  Why is the lobster blue?  Is it real?  Is this some sort of joke? Why have I never seen a blue lobster at Save-On Foods? I pulled out my phone and did a Google search, and after quickly scanning Wikipedia, discovered that 1 in 2 million lobsters are blue because they have a genetic mutation.  The blue lobster produces an overabundant amount of protein causing the blue colour.   This spurned more questions.  Is the blue lobster creational intent?  Is it the result of sin's impact on creation?  Is it an example of God’s beauty and power or a sign of the fallen creation?  This propelled me into more questions:  Does God make good out of bad things?  Is the blue lobster an example that God can make all things good? 

    The image of a blue lobster forced me to ask important worldview questions about God and creation.  When students learn that over 1 million soldiers died in the battle of Passendale in WW1 it must lead us to question the nature of man and God’s role in history.  When students read, To Kill a Mockingbird, it must propel use to wrestle with sin and humanity's fallen nature.  When students study about the use of fresh water and Canada’s natural resources, it forces students to wrestle with questions of Christian stewardship.   Christian education is about taking every thought captive to Christ; At Unity Christian our motto is “Learning and Living in Christ.”  Every course, every lesson, every discussion, and every thought is captive to Christ.