Continuing in Glen Shultz's book on Christian education, his fourth principle will likely ring true with those who choose Christian schools or homeschools:
"The education of children and youth must be based on God's Word as absolute truth."
In our postmodern society, many don't believe there is such a thing as absolute truth, but that's a bit like trying to plant your feet firmly in mid-air. Truth exists, and it's not relative. So the truth we teach in our schools ought not to be based on majority opinion.
While you're here, check out MooreMath.com and send me your suggestions. Thanks!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Kingdom Education Principle #3
Working our way through Glen Shultz's book on Christian education, his third principle will probably be the first to create any controversy. Here it is:
"The education of children and youth must have as its primary goals the salvation and discipleship of the next generation."
Any thoughts? Would you say that education in our culture has these as its primary goals?
While you're here, check out MooreMath.com and send me your suggestions. Thanks!
"The education of children and youth must have as its primary goals the salvation and discipleship of the next generation."
Any thoughts? Would you say that education in our culture has these as its primary goals?
While you're here, check out MooreMath.com and send me your suggestions. Thanks!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Kingdom Education Principle #2
Continuing the discussion from Glen Shultz's book on Christian education, his second principle is this:
"The education of children and youth is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week process that must take place from birth through maturity."
We often think of education as just going to school, but everything we do influences us and is a part of our education. Academic instruction can take place in a school building, at home, in a library, at the zoo, or most anywhere else; the important thing is that wherever it is occurring, this instruction is developing the overall person and guiding the student toward right beliefs and good decisions.
"The education of children and youth is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week process that must take place from birth through maturity."
We often think of education as just going to school, but everything we do influences us and is a part of our education. Academic instruction can take place in a school building, at home, in a library, at the zoo, or most anywhere else; the important thing is that wherever it is occurring, this instruction is developing the overall person and guiding the student toward right beliefs and good decisions.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Kingdom Education Principle #1
Glen Schultz wrote a book called Kingdom Education (his reference to Christian education) that I am reading in my doctoral course. He lists 9 Biblical principles for this realm of education. For purposes of discussion, I'll share these principles one at a time. I'm interested to know if others agree or disagree with this perspective on education...
Principle #1: The education of children and youth is the primary responsibility of parents.
Principle #1: The education of children and youth is the primary responsibility of parents.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Math and Music Relationships
There are some amazing relationships between math and music. Here are some excerpts from one of my favorite books - Mathematics: Is God Silent? by James Nickel.
The basic structure of a piano keyboard consists of an octave of 13 notes, 8 of which are white and 5 of which are black. The black keys come in groups of 2 and 3. As in many other applications, these numbers are part of the amazing Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89…).
Pythagoras’ (572-492 BC) discovery of counting number ratios in musical notes served to intensify his conviction that “all is number.” He is said to have discovered that the fifth and the octave of a note can be produced on the same string by stopping 2/3 and 1/2 of its length. He also believed that musical proportions governed the motion of the planets, hence the phrase “harmony of the spheres.”
Every note of the musical scale has an exact frequency; each note vibrates a certain number of times per second. The frequency doubles every octave, and musical intervals depend upon simple arithmetical ratios. Sounds that are pleasing to the ear will display a graph that reflects order and regularity. This can be described mathematically as the summation of sine functions. To fully comprehend the wondrous order and complexity in music involves a thorough knowledge of trigonometry.
The order and harmony of true music will create order and harmony in those who listen to it and play it. Those sounds that are not pleasing to the ear we call noise. Noise and dissonant music do not display regularity. The disorder of noise, and much of the popular “rock music” of today could be proved mathematically to be noise, will create disorder in those who listen to it and play it.
The basic structure of a piano keyboard consists of an octave of 13 notes, 8 of which are white and 5 of which are black. The black keys come in groups of 2 and 3. As in many other applications, these numbers are part of the amazing Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89…).
Pythagoras’ (572-492 BC) discovery of counting number ratios in musical notes served to intensify his conviction that “all is number.” He is said to have discovered that the fifth and the octave of a note can be produced on the same string by stopping 2/3 and 1/2 of its length. He also believed that musical proportions governed the motion of the planets, hence the phrase “harmony of the spheres.”
Every note of the musical scale has an exact frequency; each note vibrates a certain number of times per second. The frequency doubles every octave, and musical intervals depend upon simple arithmetical ratios. Sounds that are pleasing to the ear will display a graph that reflects order and regularity. This can be described mathematically as the summation of sine functions. To fully comprehend the wondrous order and complexity in music involves a thorough knowledge of trigonometry.
The order and harmony of true music will create order and harmony in those who listen to it and play it. Those sounds that are not pleasing to the ear we call noise. Noise and dissonant music do not display regularity. The disorder of noise, and much of the popular “rock music” of today could be proved mathematically to be noise, will create disorder in those who listen to it and play it.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
I love cribbage....
A few years ago, my seven-year-old nephew taught me how to play cribbage. I've loved it ever since. As a math teacher, I must say that a night of cribbage is a great way to practice mental math while having a lot of fun. Any other cribbage fans out there??
Monday, August 23, 2010
The state of Christian education
Much has been said and written about the state of public education in recent years. But what about our Christian schools? Many parents send their children to Christian schools because they believe they provide a safe place to learn, a nurturing environment, and high academic standards. How do you think our Christian schools are doing? What should be the primary goals and priorities of Christian schools?
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