Educational Philosophy and Goals

Next to a school’s well-developed Mission Statement in importance is its statement of the philosophy of Christian school education. Board members and administrators need to carefully develop their school’s philosophy because all other policies, which guide the school, should be directly influenced by the school’s philosophy. All Christian schools need a written philosophy!

The philosophy of Christian education calls for an educational process that puts the Bible at the center and asks the teacher and student to evaluate all they see in the world through the eyes of God as revealed in Scripture.

The educational philosophy of the Community Christian School of Willmar, Inc. is based on a God-centered view that all truth is God’s truth, and that the Bible is the inspired and the only infallible authoritative Word of God, which contains this truth. God created all things and sustains all things through His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the universe and all life are dynamically related to God and have the purpose of glorifying Him. Because man is a sinner by nature and choice, he cannot, however, honor or know God in his life. He can do this only by choosing God’s free gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ (being born again), thereby committing his life to God’s will and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

We believe the entire process of education is seen as a means used by the Holy Spirit to bring the student into fellowship with God, to develop a Christian mind in him and to train him in Godly living so that he can fulfill God’s total purpose for his life personally and vocationally. He must be taught the Bible and come to know God and His nature, learning to see all truth as God’s truth. All learning should center on Christian values integrated with and interpreted by God’s Word. In the focus of the Christian faith, CCS utilizes all of man’s being as a study of God’s revelation so that intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development is given balance, unity, and direction.

We believe the student must be educated as an individual with his own unique abilities and personality. He must learn to live and work with others at home, in the church and in a changing secular society. He must interact with and be taught by parent and teacher models that are, themselves, born again and have this biblical perspective on life.

We believe the right and responsibility to educate children belongs to parents, and CCS depends on and belongs to the parents and the Christian community. It does not belong to a church or the state. The parents may delegate a part of this responsibility to an institution that is able to carry forward their God-given task. The authority of the teacher in discipline and character development is delegated by the parents. The teacher derives authority in subject matter from faithfulness to the laws of God.

We believe, as Christians, we have an educational obligation to educate students whose parents subscribe to our philosophy. It is the purpose of CCS to give attention to the individual needs of the student, to guide their interest, and to equip a child of God to be a positive acting Christian in the daily encounters with the world and community.

We believe the educational task of CCS is to create an excitement for learning in an atmosphere where there is a conscientious search for truth and excellence. The successful completion of this task is the educational transition of the student into society with an understanding of the duties of a Christian citizen.

We believe it is important that students learn to do their tasks cooperating in a group as well as independently. We believe they should be taught courtesy and love for others, with sincerity in attitude toward God and their work. They should be taught to respect authority, and to accept responsibility for the Christian life in society.

We believe CCS must be concerned with the mastery of the fundamentals of human knowledge, and strive to transmit our Christian heritage of the student. We must strive to integrate God’s revelation into all of life.

We believe CCS must provide a truly Christian education in a wholesome Christian environment in which the student can learn. We must offer genuine academic excellence, because anything performed in the name of Christ deserves the best quality. Therefore, as a Christian school, it is our purpose to meet and/or exceed all the academic standards set out by the state.

Our philosophy, based on scripture, is reflected in our goals or objectives, which are established to implement this philosophy.

The Philosophy of Christian Education for CCS shall be the guiding tool to apply Biblical principles to teaching practices. All philosophies of subjects, policies of the school, curriculum materials and teaching methods shall conform to the Philosophy of Christian Education. Any use of materials or practices inconsistent with the Philosophy of Christian Education shall cease. The Board and staff members must understand and apply the Philosophy of Christian Education in their decision-making in board meetings and in their daily work for CCS. Employees shall be committed to fulfilling the principles outlined in the Philosophy of Christian Education in every reasonable way.