The Bible and Our Schools (part two)
Concerns relating to Coherence. Competence, Confidence and Capacity seem to introduce significant hurdles to an effective Biblical Literacy Program.
But there’s more!
There is the issue of CONFUSION. Many of our students may not come from faith backgrounds. Are we to treat students differently according to their belief?
There is the issue of CONNECTION – to what degree is a Biblical Studies Program meant to provide knowledge and literacy and to what degree is it to illicit a faith response?
How do we CONNECT Biblical Literacy development with all other subject areas? How does Biblical Literacy inform or CONNECT with our Mission and Service-Learning actions?
Becoming increasingly familiar with the Bible is meant to increase our knowledge and understanding, but also to elicit a heart response and to change our actions. How does that work?
Then there is the issue of CURRICULUM. How do we define the purpose of Biblical Studies and Literacy? What should be the sequencing? What about the assessment processes?
Where do we find the right support for Teacher development, when and how does training take place? Where do we find worthwhile resources? Who makes this happen?
These are just some of the more obvious questions and struggles that schools face in this area of developing Biblical Literacy.
Again, we need to banish despair, and look to hope. How important is it that we and our students know the God of the Bible? The answer to that question will determine how we will persevere to overcome the difficulties and to provide the best input that we can.
Blessings
Brian