Concepts of Teaching
a scroll for Dr. Steyn’s class “Philosophy of Education”
by Bryan Bissell
October 8, 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. EDUCATION...... page 1
2. TEACHING...... page 2
5. CURRICULUM...... page 3
6. METHODS FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING...... page 3
7. DISCIPLINE...... page 3
METHODS OF EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE...... page 4
WISDOM VERSUS KNOWLEDGE...... page 6
CONCEPTS OF TEACHING
“Education”. That word can bring joy to some and strike terror to the hearts of others. What is the proper way of education and how do you transmit your important values to your children has long been a question of many people. As I have given Bible studies and taught English, I have wondered more and more how do you convince someone of the truth of what you are saying. If you say one thing is true, there are sure to be at least 10 others saying that it is false or not important or just a relative truth. Our post-modern world has created this idea in the hearts of many people who haven’t even studied about philosophy. Just from watching the TV News you get the idea of how difficult it is to arbitrate and how both sides think they are right and have “evidence” to support their claims. Education together with family atmosphere seem to have a major influence on how people think(although the media is becoming a factor that is almost just as important). Consequently, our methods of education need to carefully constructed according to clearly defined goals and definitions of best and true education. So, here are a few definitions and opinions of what I think true education should be.
1. EDUCATION
Ellen White says, “Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range...True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. it means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. it prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.”[1] Ellen White also speaks of true education being religion and of it being mission training. All of these are important. Most education these days is learned in a classroom and requires study of many books. This is often useful although I am strongly critical of highly technical books. They have almost never helped me. I have been inspired and my mind has been convinced far more by books from Tony Campolo or Josh McDowell than any kind of material from Barth or Bultmann or any of these supposedly great Theologians.
I also think that the important things that students take from class could in most classes be taught effectively in 1/2 or less the time that they presently are being taught. All this free time, I think should be used for teachers and students to work together outside of class and apply what they have learned to real life before they graduate. I think that there should be businesses that business students are involved in; Bible classes and evangelistic meetings that are using modern technology in an effective way to present the gospel; counselling practice for psychology students to gain experience in (free or very low cost since they are not experts yet). This is one thing that I like so much about the Health Promotion Courses that we have here at this college. They don’t just learn in class, they actually go out and actively work in the community. I know I’m talking about a massive change in the way we do education, but, I think it would radically change the effectiveness of our education as well as the interest of the students in the classes. When I was at Walla Walla College and Singapore, I asked very few questions because, I had never really done that much work in the church as far as Bible studies or those kinds of activities were concerned. I had done Ingathering and handed out tracts but, I had never really taught anything about the Bible. But, after I was a Bible teacher for 4 years in Korea and came here, I had many questions that I wanted to know about. I wanted to be a better teacher and consequently I became a more involved and questioning student. When you are doing something and you want to do it well, it will inspire you to learn a lot more than otherwise. If it’s impossible to set up real businesses or activities at first, at least you could set up virtually real situations by computer or educational games or activities. There’s an incredible amount of information in this world. What I am looking for does exist somewhere and eventually I will find it.
2. TEACHING
A little girl came to Ellen White and asked, “Will you please ask the minister to speak easy words that we can understand? Will you please tell him that we do not understand large words like ‘justification’ and ‘sanctification’ We do not know what these words mean.” Ellen White said about this, “The little girl’s complaint contains a lesson worthy of consideration by teachers and ministers...Make your explanations clear, for I know that there are many who do not understand many of the things said to them...Speak as little children, remembering that there are many well advanced in years who are but little children in understanding.”[2]
“Christ might have opened to men the deepest truths of science...He might have made suggestions in scientific lines that till the close of time would have afforded food for thought and stimulus for invention. But, He did not do this...He did not deal in abstract theories, but in that which is essential to the development of character, that which will enlarge man's capacity for knowing God and increase his power to do good...He unfolded principles that struck at the root of selfishness.”[3]
Our teaching these days has many good things about it, but, sometimes it seems like we are studying things that are very technical and difficult to understand before establishing a strong and sure foundation. I especially think that we need a better presentation of the power and necessity of the gospel in the students lives. We talk a lot about it being spiritual and needing God in our lives but, often we don’t show people concretely how to accomplish this in their own lives.
There are things that we need to know about practical living and about sharing Jesus before we begin investigating the finest and minutest points of doctrine. If we get these first things solidly in people's minds, then we can go on to things that are not so well known, but, let's get our priorities straight first. Our teaching needs a lot more emphasis on things that will actually be used in real life after we graduate or even better before and after we graduate. I think that I will probably only use 25% of what I have learned. I wish this was not true but, it is. I think that if we could have teachers working together with students in applying the things that are studied, it would be a whole lot more effective and realistic. When you actually do things it fixes it in your mind much better than if you just read or listened to something. I think that this is one reason why Ellen White suggested that Theology graduates should ideally spend a couple years under a senior ministry.
In Education page 565, Ellen White also says that our teaching needs to be interesting. I have come to the opinion that if education is not interesting, it will be mostly if not completely useless. There are so many ideas in our days that there really is no excuse for a teacher to continue to teach in a boring way. There are videos, activities, ideas in books and internet, educational games and other things in almost every area of teaching. The teacher usually just needs to take some effort and look for it(there are some teachers who have a limited budget or for some other reason are hindered from doing their best, but, at the same time, there is a lot of free or cheap teaching aids available from many places. Usually it just takes searching and keeping your eyes open all the time for new ideas.) For example, a couple weeks ago, I read about a method of teaching the Bible called the HoneyWord method(I think that's right). It is being used in some Christian schools in America and the kids love it. When the time comes for them to go and study science or some other subject they usually moan and want to continue studying the Bible. Education doesn't have to be boring and these days there is very little excuse for it not being interesting since there are so many brilliant ideas available.
Ellen White also said in 2T 580 that teaching should use the simplest and clearest terms possible. I strongly agree and I think that using too much complex language usually makes an idea ineffective in reaching the masses. I’ve spoken about this elsewhere so, I won’t elaborate here.
5. CURRICULUM
Ellen White said, “Do not spend time in learning that which will be of little use to you in your afterlife. Instead of reaching out for a knowledge of the classics, learn first to speak the English language correctly. Learn how to keep accounts. Gain a knowledge of those lines of study that will help you to be useful wherever you are.”[4]
Our schools have followed this advice somewhat at least in the high schools where I went. The girls(and even the guys at least somewhat) should be taught to cook in delicious ways). There are things like knowing how to have a secure financial state(including knowledge of the danger of credit cards and debt), simple engine repairs, raising children, teaching people how to witness for Jesus with the talents that they possess and other things like this that are far more important than calculus, Greek or literature. I also read just a few weeks ago that Tony Campolo has started teaching a masters program that trains Christians to go into poor areas and create jobs. That is brilliant and it is another thing that I think is a whole lot more important than many of the courses that are taught here. Ideally I wish that everyone could be trained to be social reformers with concrete and simple ideas for changing our communities into co-operative agencies for help. Our church could be amazingly helpful if it did that. I want to eventually do some of these things in the language school that I start in the future. But, first, it seems like I need to get a computer and some mobility before I can do that much.
6. METHODS FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING
Ellen White states that “In teaching children the Bible, we may gain much be observing the bent of their minds, the things in which they are interested, and by arousing their interest to see what the Bible says about these things. He who created us with our various aptitudes has in His word given something for everyone. As the pupils see that the lessons of the Bible apply to their own lives, teach them to look to it as a counsellor.”[5]
This is a high ideal but, it is difficult to actually put into practice. Many times I had students ask questions about certain issues and I knew that Bible principles could be used, but, I hadn’t memorized the text for that particular issue. I guess I’ll just continue reading and trying to remember all the information that I have studied.
She also speaks about thinking for your self and letting the students explain things and discuss it among themselves in Counsels to Teachers...page 434 & Fundamentals of education 390. Teaching people to think for themselves is of prime importance. I’m not sure if it was my parents, or my school or my work as a missionary that taught me to think for myself but, probably it was a combination of all three. I sometimes wonder if I’ve been taught to think too much for myself but, I think I’ve found a pretty good(not perfect yet) balance in this area. I also use the technique of having students discuss an issue among themselves a lot, both in school and in Sabbath School. It is often a brilliant technique but, it has its limits and should not be always done. The teacher needs to have input and question the outcomes of the students to help them see the difficulties and work towards a better solution or philosophy.
7. DISCIPLINE
“The teachers are to bind the students to their hearts by the cords of love and kindness and strict discipline. Love and kindness are worth nothing unless united with the discipline that God has said should be maintained.”[6]
This is so true. The last sentence is also true in the reverse. Discipline is worthless without love and kindness. As I grew up, I didn’t really like the discipline I got, but, I always knew that my parents loved me very much and wanted the best for me and usually I knew that I deserved what I got. My parents were very firm and fairly conservative, but, they didn’t always force me to follow their way of thinking. As I got older, they let me have more and more freedom to make my own decisions. For example, in music, they didn’t always like the music that I liked, but, they didn’t forbid me from having it and listening to it. They often suggested and gave their opinions(sometimes quite strongly) but, they never actually made me sell or destroy any of the music that I liked. I appreciated their respect of my desires while at the same time I listened to what they said and sometimes agreed. Actually after a few years, they have changed their opinions about music quite a lot and they(especially my dad) actually like a lot more contemporary Christian music than they did before. I’m glad they were so open minded and willing to wait before they passed judgement on it. This same kind of thing can be done in schools by teachers. They need to have firm but, loving control and administer discipline. Usually physical discipline is not necessary. It is only a last resort if other ways have failed. I read a book that had some excellent suggestions about how to discipline and I’ll just quote a few examples here for you.
METHODS OF DISCIPLINE[7]
Sixteen-year old Vicky had been dating Jake, an older boy whom her parents considered “questionable company” for her. Vicky and Jake were getting quite serious about each other, and her mother feared that an early marriage between the two would certainly lead both of them into an unhappy future.
Vicky’s parents considered forbidding their daughter to see Jake, but they knew that she would most certainly rebel and sneak out to be with him. She might even run away just to prove her independence. Her infatuation with Jake seemed to blind her to his insensitivity and laziness. Her parents were convinced that if Vicky had an opportunity to see him as he really was, she could come to a more considered judgment. On the other hand, they had to admit their own evaluation could also be mistaken.
Instead of forbidding her to see Jake, Vicky’s parents included him in virtually every family activity. Her mother invited him over for dinner every night and on week-end excursions with the family. he was around the house constantly, appearing to enjoy the attention and companionship from the entire family. Vicky’s mother and father even began to enjoy his straightforward manner.
Vicky, however, became edgy without a minute to herself. Jake was always around. She began to see him in a different light, commenting on his insensitivity to other people’s feelings and his failure to volunteer for any family chores.
After two and a half months, Vicky told Jake not to see her any more because she was too young to get tied down. she began dating other boys and now wonders what she ever saw in him.[8]
This story illustrates the first method of stopping undesirable behaviour.
THE SATIATION PRINCIPLE: To stop a child from acting in a particular way, you may allow or insist on him continuing to perform that act until he tires of it.
Another example was of a couple boys who were enjoying bouncing balls and distracting the class while the teacher’s back was turned. The teacher said, “That
looks like a lot of fun. Let’s all do it.” She gave balls to everyone and told them to start bouncing the balls. At first it seemed fun, but after a minute or two the novelty wore off. A couple students stopped. She told them that they couldn’t stop and must continue bouncing. For over 5 minutes they bounced balls. Finally she stopped. Needless to say, no more balls were bounced in her class.
In high school, my friends and I used to say, “Rules are made to be broken.” This principle destroys the thrill of doing something forbidden and so there is no danger or excitement in it anymore. In addition, kids often get bored very easily especially if they are required to do something as this principle advocates(in certain situations). So, if you require them to do the unwanted behaviour until they hate it(you must not stop before they hate it), they probably won’t want to do it again for a long, long time. If the undesirable behaviour is harmful, this method should not be used. Our second method is: