Goals of Christian Education
I. Spiritual and Moral Goals
For the spiritual and moral benefit of the students at Rehoboth Christian School, the school seeks to:
- teach that the Bible is the inspired and the only infallible authoritative Word of God and the rule for all of life, and therefore we must encourage attitudes of love and respect toward it. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Belgic Confession Article VII)
- teach that through the fall in Paradise, all mankind by nature is totally depraved and all need to be born again and be led by God’s Holy Spirit to conversion and faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:3; John 3:16; Eph. 4:22-24; Rom. 3:22)
- teach appropriate methods of Bible study, the memorization of scripture, and a basic knowledge of the doctrines contained in the Bible. (2 Tim. 2:15; John 5:39; Ps. 119:11; Ps. 1:1-3; Titus 2:1; Tim. 1:13)
- teach that especially those within the covenant of grace — whether or not they are converted — who have been received into the church and bear God’s name on their forehead, have a calling to know and obey the will of God as revealed in the Scriptures. In the words of the Baptism form, covenant obligations require that ‘we cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that we trust in him, and love him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our mind, and with all our strength; that we forsake the world, crucify our old nature, and walk in a new and holy life.’ (Rom. 12:1,2; Ps. 86:11; Deut. 26:16,17)
- develop an understanding of our responsibility concerning world-wide mission, providing opportunities for the student’s involvement in this task. (Eph. 4:12; Matt. 28:19,20)
- impart the ability to refute the non-Christian philosophies, culture, and practices (such as naturalism/ evolution) which are prevalent in society. (see Appendix A) (1 Cor. 5:11; 1 Cor. 15: 32,33; Col. 2:8; 1 Thess. 1:9)
- develop abilities of Biblical perception and judgement in moral and ethical matters. (1 John 2:15-17; Eph. 5:18)
- develop self-discipline and responsibility from a Biblical perspective. (1 Tim. 4:7; 1 Cor. 9:27)
- encourage respect for and submission to authority from a Biblical perspective. (Rom. 13:1,2; Philip. 2:3; Heb. 13:17; Eph. 6:1-3)
- help the student develop for himself a Christian world and life view by integrating life and studies with the Bible.
II. Personal and Social Goals
For the student’s personal and social development, the school aims to:
- teach Biblical views for personal and social relationships. (Ps. 119:9; Luke 10:27; 1 Thess. 4:6
- teach the students to treat their neighbour with love and respect as unique individuals created in God’s image (Matt. 5:44; John 14:21; 1 Cor. 13:4,5; 1 John 3:18; Eph. 5:21)
- teach a Biblical view of dating, marriage, and family. (1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Tim. 4:12; Gen. 2:18-25; Eph. 5:22- 33; Heb. 13:4)
- promote physical fitness, good health habits, and wise use of the body as the temple of God. (1 Cor. 6:19)
- emphasize the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship and an appreciation for the heritage of freedom which we enjoy in Canada. (1 Cor. 10;11; Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1,2)
- teach students that their talents are a gift from God which He provides and requires us to use as faithful stewards to the best of our ability. Our talents ought to be developed so that we can become contributing members to society, realizing our need to serve others, and doing all to the honour and glory of God’s name. (Gal. 5:13; Mat. 25:14-30; 1 Cor. 4:2; Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:12
- promote an understanding of time as a God-given commodity and the individual responsibility for effective use of time.
- impart the Biblical attitudes toward material things and to encourage individual responsibility of using them for God’s glory.
III. Academic Goals
Academically, the school endeavours to:
- produce an understanding of and an appreciation for God’s world, developing an awareness of man’s roles in his environment and his God-given responsibility to subdue, use and preserve it properly. (Gen. 1:28; Ps. 8:6; Heb. 2:6-8)
- provide an optimal academic training in language arts, mathematics, the sciences and social studies.
- train and discipline those skills and attitudes necessary for satisfaction and productivity in the world of work and/or advanced levels of schooling. (Prov. 22:6; Thess. 4:11)
- teach the students to understand and use the fundamental processes in communicating and dealing with others such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. (1 Tim. 4:13)
- teach the students to research and to reason logically from a Biblical perspective. (Heb. 5:14; Rom. 1:2)
- cultivate creative and critical thinking based upon the proper use of Biblical criteria for evaluation. (2 Tim. 3:14-17)
- teach the students to see in the history of the world the unfolding of God’s will and His providential care for His Church. (Josh. 4:5-7; Matt. 10:29-31; Belgic Conf. Art. XIII)
- promote high academic standards within the individual as uniquely created by God and to help the student realize his full academic potential.
- motivate the student to pursue independent study in areas of personal interest.
- teach the students to use good study skills and habits. (Is. 28:26; 2 Tim. 2:3-7)
IV. Practical Goals
Working with the homes from which the students come, the school desires to:
- co-operate closely with the parents in every phase of the student’s development, especially as it relates to the school program.
- help the parents to understand the school’s purpose and program.
- assist parents in keeping up with the changing culture and its effects on the home and the implications for their children.