Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/74

Contributor - Eric J. Schulze

Title - Christian Education in The Home

Topic - Family

The home is still the world's greatest educational institution because more things are learned within that setting than in any other. There are many influences upon our lives today, such as the school, the church, our social Deer group, the sights and sounds of the screen and tube, and many uncategorized agents. Yet the early associations influence, by far, the largest segment of our personality.

Despite the instability of family life today, and the lack of it for many persons, most children grow up in some kind of family setting, be it in the "complete" setting of two parents with brothers and/or sisters, in single parent families, or in some fairly stable relationship with guardians or foster parents.

Therefore the family setting is where much early learning takes place, whether intentional or unintentional, structured or unstructured. It is predicted that there will be many changes in family life in the next 25 years, but let's concern ourselves with today's situation, so we can better meet tomorrow's.

We as Christians must understand that if Christian principles, ideas, and knowledge are to be transferred from one generation to another this must happen within the home. We cannot delegate this responsibility and privilege to the Church (the Sunday School or Catechism class), nor to the school, even if the children go to a Christian School. The Church and School can only help the home in teaching Christian principles, ideas, knowledge, behaviour, and sow the seed that will bring the child fully to a growing covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

But let us ask: How can this best happen in the home? Many parents are wondering how they can communicate Jesus Christ to their children, so that it is effective Christian education. Or perhaps we can best state our concern in two questions:

1. What are children to be taught in our homes? (The Curriculum).

2. How can this curriculum be taught? (The Methods).

THE CURRICULUM

It may be helpful to summarize what could be taught in the family's Christian Education program. Here are a few considerations.

1. Bible Content

This is part of the, curriculum of the Sunday School, but it ought also be in the family's Christian Education program. Parents can purchase inexpensive Bibles and children's Bible story books with pictures to read to them, in a language they can understand. This will open up many opportunities for questions and parents can learn together with their children the contents of the Bible.

As the children mature they ought to have access to books they can read for themselves and to each other (and to their dolls and dogs). Acquaintance with the contents of the Scriptures can also come through home movies and recorded dramas of Biblical events. These will become more and more available as movie projectors and tape recorders become more common in our homes.

2. Christian Commitment

Parents should be free enough to be able to talk about how people become Christians, and how they themselves experienced God in their lives. The meaning of baptism can be explained to children, and how they grow in Christian faith. Talk about others who become Christians either through Christian upbringing, sudden conversion, or gradual change.

3. Christian Living

This part of the Christian Education curriculum is very dependent upon the home. While Sunday school teachers can explain how to show Christian love and life and the Ten Commandments, they will depend on the experiential teaching, learning by doing, of these principles in the home.

For example, children can be told to be honest by parents and Sunday School teachers, or they can read it in their Bible' story books. They really learn it, however, when parents live honestly in the presence of their children and when a parent can guide a child in such things as drawing the store clerk's attention to the wrong change, especially if it is too much.

Other principles of Christian living also need to be taught in the home and again good books can be a big help. It is important that the Biblical content be translated into action for growing children at various age levels.

4. Responsible Living

The family setting is where responsibility is first learned and lived. Children can learn to care for grandparents, invalids, pets, property, as well as bear ecological responsibility in caring for nature. The family camping trip provides a beautiful setting and opportunity for this.

We could go on and mention talent discovery and encouragement, parental and self-discipline, relationship building, which are also curriculum items for the family's educational system. But we should go on to the question of how these curriculum items are taught.

THE METHOD

We have already implied a lot of teaching techniques which are useful in the family setting. Let's take a look at some.

1. Direct Instruction

Parents will have many opportunities to give instruction about any item of the curriculum and will also need to make time for this. It happens when there is opportunity to relate experiences and share knowledge. Just like the child needs to hear that the stove is hot, so he/she needs to hear that God is love. This instruction needs to be in words which are understood and at a time when the child is listening.

2. Example

Children will learn many things from the parents' example such as going to Church on Sunday and driving no faster than the speed limit. The realization comes as quite a shock when you ask, "Where did he/she learn that?" and the obvious answer is, "From Mom or Dad?"

A father was walking through the freshly fallen snow one evening to get a drink at the nearby tavern. He happened to turn around to see his young son behind him. When the father asked, "Where are you going?" the son simply replied, "I'm trying to follow your footsteps." That father discovered that he was doing some teaching when he did not intend to.

3. Experiential learning

We learn most effectively by doing, although we can learn much from what we hear, see. or feel. You can tell a child how to pray, show him by example, but he learns most effectively by praying himself. Because most of the child's doing is governed by parents, they have a responsibility io let such learning take place. The items in the Christian living curriculum are best learned this way.

4. Situational teaching

Parents know that at certain ages there will be questions asked by their children. These are very important opportunities. When questions go unanswered, or worse yet, when they can't even be asked, a significant learning experience is lost. When a question is asked, the mind of the questioner is open to receive information. To explore together to find an answer can be education at its best.

To be able to talk about death when a grandparent dies, or even a beloved pet, is situational teaching. Difficult as it is at times, parents need to be ready with an honest answer, or at least be willing to share their ignorance.

5. Mutual sharing

There are times when it is important to "just talk" maybe at bed time, maybe after a little game, maybe right after school. Building communication through listening, watching, touching is a means of establishing a relationship in which a lot of learning takes place. Sad to say, however, when such talking can be most meaningful parents may be too busy or not home. Other obligations can easily be "more important". That's when the educational program of the home shows its weaknesses.

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