It is widely recognized that
schoolchildren tend to thrive if their school environment is safe and friendly.
Thus many Primary schools see the benefit of running a weekly "Values"
programme. In these, pupils are taught such virtues as respect, tolerance,
acceptance, integrity etc.
Traditionally, most of these
"values" programmes in New
Zealand
have been provided by volunteer teachers drawn from local churches who operate
under the auspices of "Churches Education Commission." Parents are allowed to
withdraw their children from such classes if they so choose. More recently, with
the influx of migrants to New
Zealand
from many different countries, some have questioned whether it would be better
to replace these Christian based values programmes with ones that would be more
acceptable to people of all faiths, and even those with none.
Although many Primary schools still
have a "Christian" values programme, some have stopped them and have no "values
programmes", and some have replaced them with "Secular" values programmes. Some
schools even operate both, and give parents a choice of which one to send their
children to.
Do Christian bases values programmes make a
difference - Academically?
In a recent Newsletter (Number 83 -
www.mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com) I wrote an article "Does teaching "Bible" in state
schools make a difference?" Based on results from "National Standards" testing,
my conclusion (following analysis of the results from 29 schools in my
locality) was Yes, in the area of South Auckland, It does make a very real and
positive difference to the academic achievements of the students - not to
mention the obvious benefits to the students of learning the basics of the
Christian faith, including "God's rules for life."
There are two schools in my
locality, situated only 1 Kilometre
apart. However one is in a very deprived area. It's Decile number is 1 -
the lowest possible. However, it does run a Christian based values programme.
The other school is in a more affluent area, having a Decile number of 7 (the
maximum is 10). This school stopped its Christian based values programme three
years ago. Yet surprisingly (or it shouldn't really be a surprise to Christians)
National Standard results show that the Decile 1 school performed academically
just as well as the Decile 7 school.
Do Christian based values programmes make a
difference - Morally?
This of course is the main purpose
of these lessons. By teaching students about the importance of such virtues as
respect, integrity, honesty, tolerance, discipline, acceptance, forgiveness etc.
it is hoped to help develop a safe and friendly environment in which the
students will be more likely to develop good habits and be better equipped to
make better life choices.
Is their any evidence that this
actually happens? Over many years of teaching these classes, I have received
many letters and cards from students (Plus a few from parents and secular
teachers). So, I will let the students speak for
themselves.
"I have learned a lot of
values and to respect everyone, even people younger than me." ----- Ying (aged
11).
"I took your advice and told my
mother that I had eaten the (forbidden) chocolate bar. As you thought, she
wasn't angry at all and said that it was good that I had told her." ---------
Jessica (aged 10).
"When I got home I forgave my
sister, and now we seem to be getting along a lot better." -------- Danielle
(aged 10).
"Thank you for taking Jona for R.E.
He has certainly enjoyed your lessons, and has a positive attitude because of
them." ------(Parent, Karaka).
"Thank you for giving Room 7 an
amazing year of lessons. I have really appreciated your imput into the lives of
my class. Your visits were the highlight of my week." -------- (Class teacher,
Papakura).
"At the beginning of the year, three
pupils were withdrawn from 'Bible' lessons by their parents. By the end of the
year, they were all attending your class!" ------- (Class teacher,
Manurewa).
Do Christian bases values
programmes make a difference - Spiritually?
Although the purpose of
taking these programmes is not to share the Gospel, they do often lead to a
development of an interest in spiritual realities. Again, I will let the
students speak for themselves.
"Thank you for teaching me about the
Man above and about good and bad. It has changed me and I feel great." -------
Sue-Elyse (aged 10).
"You made stories in the Bible
relate to us." ------- Ashley (Aged 11).
"You made 'Bible' so interesting,
funny and enjoyable. Learning about Jesus and God was a lot of fun. -------
Olivia (aged 13).
"Your Bible lessons were a lot of fun. I now pray for
my family and other people like you, and for people who are sick." ------- Danny
(aged 10).
"Thank you for making us believe that God is real." -------
Toni (aged 8).
"Thank you for leading me to a good and happy life."
------- Katerina (aged 9).
"I have learnt that Christmas isn't about
presents. Christmas is all about Jesus Christ." ------- Sharnalee (aged 9).
"I learnt a lot about the Bible that I didn't know. It was a lot of
fun." ------- Tessa (aged 8).
"It is because of your Bible lessons
that I now go to church regularly." ------- John (aged 13).
"After your lesson, I felt that God
wanted me to go and tell my Gran that He loves her. So I did." ------- Rachael
(aged 11).
"Yesterday, I asked my mum if I could become a Christian. She
said 'Yes', so I did - I asked Jesus into my heart." ------- Sarah (aged
8).
"Thank you for all the effort, time
and love that you have put into Bible in Schools whilst teaching Amanda-Sheri.
She has continually come home with only special words of you and your teachings
of the good Lord. You have made an impact on this young girl." ------- (Parent,
Karaka).
"Thank you very much for coming
and teaching my class. It is wonderful to see them so enthusiastic about 'Bible'
each week, and to hear the conversations it sparks later on." ------- Class
teacher (Papakura).
In conclusion my results suggest that a Christian
based values programme is likely to benefit students spiritually, morally and
academically.
T.T. 56 - God's
unconditional love.
One of the hardest truths for both
children and adults to grasp is that of God's unconditional love for us. It is
natural to think that if we obey God, spend time worshipping Him, and are good
to others, He will love us more. Conversely, if we disobey Him, ignore Him, and
treat others badly, God will love us less. However, unlike our love for each
other which often changes, God's love for us is always at it's maximum. No
matter how good or bad we are, God's love will never increase or decrease. There
is nothing we can do to make Him love us any more or any less than He already
does.
The lyrics of an old song "More than
yesterday" say "I love you more than yesterday, and less than tomorrow." This
reminds us that human love can increase each day. But, if it can increase, it
can also decrease. Not so with God. He may like or dislike the things we do, but
His love for us cannot change. He cannot love us any more or any less than He
does today.
I once asked a group of children how
they knew that God loved them? I was expecting responses like "Because He sent
Jesus to die for me." But one ten year old girl gave a very insightful answer.
She said "I know God loves me because He made me. If he didn't love me, He
wouldn't have made me." How true that is. God loves all His creations
The amazing thing is that God loves
each one of us just as much as He loves His Son, Jesus. You may ask "But what
about the really "bad" people, the tyrants, terrorists, and mass murderers and
all the evil people that we read about in history. Does God love them just as
much?" Yes! "But most of them are dead now, does that mean that because God
loves them - despite what they did - they are now in heaven?" No! People don't
go to heaven because they are good, and they don't not go to heaven because they
are bad. They go to heaven or not depending solely on whether or not they have
accepted God's love by receiving
His love gift of Jesus Christ into their lives. (John 1 v. 12). The behaviour of
the tyrants etc. indicate that they have almost certainly refused to accept
God's love so, much as God still loves them and grieves over the fact that they
have rejected Him, I don't expect to meet them in heaven.
Conclusion. Our Creator loves us, not because we are
lovable, but because "God is love."
(1 John 4 V. 8).
Story - The
wise man.
A very old and wise man was
nearing the end of his life. An admirer asked him "Over your many years of
study, what have you learned about life?" He replied "I have learned that the
things of life fall into three groups - those that are not important, those that
are a little important and those that are very important."
The old man went on to explain.
"The things of life that are not important include a big house, a comfortable
car, a healthy Bank balance, control over others and the admiration of
others."
"The things that are a little
important are having enough food to eat, having clean water to drink, and having
a way to keep yourself warm."
"The things that are very
important are doing all you can to ensure that others have enough food to eat,
clean water to drink, and a way to keep themselves warm."
That really sums up the Gospel.
Jesus said "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed
clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison
and you came to visit me. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Whatever you did for the least
of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25 vs. 35-36,
39).
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