By Martin Chemhere
CHRISTIAN based education, among other visible religions, is responsible for much positive accomplishments in Kempton Park and South African society in general.
Worldwide many parents seek to place their children at Christian education institutions, as this has many advantages.
Online platform Family.com, lists the five advantages to sending children to a Christian school as no use of objectionable textbook material, more positive peer influences, Bible teaching, character training and higher standard of conduct.
Mr Grant Kauffman, vice-principal at Sonrise Christian School in Edleen, views the importance of Christian education as entirely based on one’s perspective as a parent or educator.
“If you do not have a Biblical world view, it is unlikely that you would see the necessity of Christian education. However, this depends on what information the parent or educator has at his or her disposal and how in-depth the research is,” he said.
He would not say government education or non-Christian education has no value but his opinion is that the latter holds the most value in terms of guiding students to become confident, responsible citizens.
Kauffman also believes such children achieve to their highest potential, care for their fellow man (regardless of culture, race or religion) and go on to become leaders in their homes, communities and industries.
In elaboration, he stressed that Christian education was of critical importance in the educational, social and political landscape of South Africa.
“In the context of South African schools, Christian education holds the key in an education system that is widely accepting of universal beliefs and secular humanism is becoming more prevalent,” he said.
“The breakdown and ridicule of wholesome family values by the media continuously undermines parents and attacks the very ones (our children) they claim to stand for.
Society as a whole has adopted a permissive style of parenting that Kauffman attributes to what the media portrays as right or acceptable.
Furthermore, he notes that in terms of academic achievement of CSG (Christian School Graduates) who attended universities, they have excelled. This fact is substantiated with the most recent study on tertiary performance of a Christian curriculum (Dr J Rossouw 2012) Alumni 1999-2011.
Belief is that students who attend a Christian school are “far better equipped” to tackle life’s challenges than students who come from a secular school system. However, Christian education has many success stories but it also, naturally, has negative ones.
Kauffman’s analysis is that the first generation (graduates from Christian schools) has a great impact on industries ranging from medicine and engineering to business and politics and everything in-between.
Whether there exist a relation between teenage or youth delinquency and lack of Christian education in early years, is not known. Kauffman’s thinking is that this is dependent on research, one’s values and various socio-economic factors.
And many believe that a school with a strong focus on discipline is quite likely to produce students who are disciplined. But studies show that students who come out of an authoritarian system are more likely to rebel or more inclined to raise their own children in this manner.
While Christian schools have a relational approach to education, according to Kauffman, this approach is more conducive to learning, developing a strong work ethic, self respect, respect for one’s peers and authority and openness to mentorship and relationship building.
This sentiment is shared by Mrs Zanele Asika of Birchleigh based Glowing Angels Daycare. She believes Christian based education has its place raising disciplined young people and therefore a morally bound society.
Realising that children need early exposure to ways of the Bible, she gave the daycare name as a revelation, meaning “the divine Glory and hand of God is upon the Children under the roof and shelter of our school”.
She is resolute that the Word should be the foundation to good educational standards in schools. This approach largely enhances acceptable and responsible behaviour in the public space.
Her ambition is to help parents in the Kempton Park community and the country in general, in bringing up children in the ways of the Lord to grow with it.
