Running head: MY PEDAGOGIC CREED 1

My Pedagogic Creed

Brian J. Martin

Bob Jones University

July 27, 2019

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My Pedagogic Creed

What the Learner's Nature Is

1. I believe that the learner is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, KJV). This
implies that teachers need to view and respect them as God’s highest creation.

2. I believe that the learner need to be viewed as Gods creation, but fallen. Through
disobedience they became sinful in nature. This subjects them to physical death and the
power of the devil, which they cannot save themselves from (Rom. 3:23, KJV).

3. I believe that learners need the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives to empower them
for a life of service and to overcome their sinful nature. (John 16:7, KJV).

4. I believe that the learner “must follow the instructions of his guide.” (Aristotle, trans.
1999) This guide is God, the Holy Spirit, and authority figures in the learner’s life.
“Humans cannot thrive without some sense that there is a purpose for their existence.
They need ‘reference points’ that place events, other human beings, and the world
generally, into a comprehensive framework that shapes their values…” (Moore, 2002)

5. I believe that the learner is part of God’s team asked to have dominion over the earth
(Genesis 1:28). He should use his education for this purpose.

6. I believe that the learner is created a lover (Smith, 2009) with the primary capacities of
thinking, feeling, doing, and choosing. At our core humans are created to love something.

7. I believe the learner is a being with thoughts, feelings, and a need for love as well as
discipline and correction (Prov. 13:24).

8. I believe that the learner is to grow up to contribute to the work of the Church, the body
of Christ on earth meant to carry out his will, and society (Brubaker, Coblentz, Lehman,
Miller, & Roth, 2015).

9. I believe that the learner has at various times in his life, a varying capacity or cognitive
structure, which affects the optimal educational methodology and information acquired.
(Piaget, 1958).

10. I believe that the learner is more interested in materials that resonate with their personal
experiences (M. Speziale, K. Speziale, McCook, and Letwinsky, 2016) and (Dewey,
1899).

What the Teacher's Nature Is

1. I believe that the teacher is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, KJV).
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2. I believe that the teacher is living in a fallen state. Through disobedience they became
sinful in nature. This subjects them to physical death and the power of the devil, which
they cannot save themselves from (Rom. 3:23, KJV).

3. I believe that teachers need the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives to empower them
for a life of service and to overcome their sinful nature. (John 16:7, KJV).

4. I believe the teacher should respect the views of his/her students. Treating them like they
are created in the image of God. (Matt. 7:12 & Gen. 1:27)

5. I believe that the teacher should have “an extreme love for children.” (Dock, 1770/2012)

6. I believe the teacher with the help of the Holy Spirit needs to imitate the example of Jesus
to their student (Lk. 6:40 & I Cor. 11:1).

7. I believe the teacher is accountable for the education of the student (James 3:1).
Therefore he is responsible to ensure learning take place (Wilkinson, 2005).

8. I believe that the teacher must continue to develop his/her God given skills to help the
work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11 – 12).

9. I believe that “the teacher must know that which he must teach” (Gregory, 2004).
Teachers must first internalize information before it can be dispersed to others. In the
words of Mann, (1867) teachers must be qualified.

10. I believe that the teacher, in order to maximally impact his/her students must not only
say, but also believe and do (Schultz, 2006). Our students watch us, and we need to
believe and live what we say.

What Education Is

1. I believe that true education is knowledge and fear of God (Prov. 1:7).

2. I believe that education must be based on the word of God (Matt. 24:35; Ps. 119)

3. I believe that education should include moral teaching (Herbert, 1824) and (Spencer,
1859).

4. I believe that education will lead to worldviews and systems of belief patterned after the
worldview and belief system of the teacher (Schultz, 2009) and (Lk. 6:40).

5. I believe that education enables students to uncover layer upon layer of reality as they
gain deeper understanding of God’s truth (Van Brummelen, 2002).
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6. I believe that education is primarily formative, not primarily informative. It should shape
our hopes and passions, our vision for the good life, and not merely sever as a
dissemination of knowledge (Smith, 2009).

7. I believe that education is primarily the responsibility of the parents (Duet. 6:4 – 9; 11: 18
-21).

8. I believe that education is a process that goes on continually, both in school and out of
school. Student learn from their peers, parents, relatives, and society (Schultz, 2009).

9. I believe education is for males and females (Luther, 1524). God has a need for men and
women with a variety of esoteric expertise.

10. I believe that education helps to ensure that adult roles, whether religious, economic, or
personal, are properly filled by members of the next generation (White, 1920).

11. I believe that education should follow some national or state standards to compare one
institution to another (Elliot, 1901).

What the School Is

1. I believe that the school and the church should work together to raise children to serve the
Lord. (Schultz, 2009).

2. I believe that the school and home should work together to raise children to serve the
Lord (Schultz, 2009).

3. I believe that the school should be funded in part by the churches of participating patrons.
(Brubaker, Coblentz, Lehman, Miller, & Roth, 2015).

4. I believe that school is a place where the church community intersects to carry out their
vision for God’s kingdom in their contemporary age (Schultz, 2009).

5. I believe that the school is a place where the next generations of mathematicians, doctors,
lawyers, nurses, engineers, and scientist etc. are cultivated and given opportunities to
succeed (Jefferson, 1779).

6. I believe that the school should be governed by a board of directors that gives general
supervision to the school (Curry, Kinder, Benoiton & Noonan, 2018).

7. I believe that the school should be required to report its progress and learning outcomes
to the government or some third party to ensure accountability in performance (Holmes
Group Report, 1986).
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8. I believe that schools should have in house lead teachers and administrator (Carnegie
Corporation, 1985).

9. I believe that the school should have adequate buildings to house and enhance the
learning opportunities (Mann, 1837).

10. I believe that the schools governing body shall assign persons to comply with state and
federal regulations (Pennsylvania State Code, Ch. 73, 2019).

What the Subject Matter Is

1. I believe that the subject matter should include some general electives for the learner
(Elliot, 1901). Students, especially young students, should also be required to take some
classes that they might not be interested at first. Studying these subjects may nurture an
unknown interest.

2. I believe that curriculum should include some career focus (White, 1920). We need to
prepare our students to function in society.

3. I believe that curriculum should include Mathematics. It is the language that describes the
universe that God has created. Using its power we can fulfill the creation mandate
(Jefferson, 1779) and (Nickel, 2012). It should teach us that God has embedded structure
in the universe and deepen the awareness of how the world operates (Van Brummelen,
2002).

4. I believe that curriculum should include Language. God has blessed man with this gift,
with it we can share the Good News (Matt. 28: 18 – 20)

5. I believe that curriculum should include Fine Arts and Music. These subjects are and
expression of man and can be sincere worship (Ps. 100) and (Eph. 5:19).

6. I believe that curriculum should include Science. Investigating and identifying objects in
God’s creation (Makenzie, Farnell, Holt & Smith, 1998).

7. I believe that curriculum should include Bible. God’s way of preserving his word and
truth through the ages (Col. 1:17) and (Rom. 12: 1 – 2).

8. I believe that curriculum should include Physical Education. We can use our physical
health to serve God and others (Zuidema, 1995). It also helps us take good care of the
temple we have been given (I Cor. 6:19).

9. I believe that curriculum should include History and Geography (Jefferson, 1779).

10. I believe that the school curriculum should include a business tract (Brubaker, Coblentz,
Lehman, Miller, & Roth, 2015). Many of our people will use this to serve God.
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11. The curriculum should cultivate a Christ-centered focus on work and money (Van
Brummelen, 2002).

What the Nature of Method Is

1. I believe that to be effective a lesson must follow a general series of steps. The teacher
must gain students’ attention. This can be done with a story, question, statement, or
other opening device. New material must relate what has previously been learned. A
lesson should begin with initial instruction followed by teacher guided practice and then
independent practice. Assessment for learning should inform the teacher’s next steps
(Wilkinson, 2005).

2. I believe that teachers should vary there learning strategies to meet the needs of various
learning abilities and learning preferences (Gardner, 1999). These include but are not
limited to; discussions, field trips, narration, competition, organized debate, stories,
technology, visuals, chants, recitation, questions, reading, wring, projects.

3. I believe that educational methods should include differentiated instruction and various
methods for activating physical and motor skills (Montessori, 1912) and Pestalozzi (as
cited in Rippa, 1997).

4. I believe that the learner performs better when he or she is actively engaged in the
learning process (Dewey, 1897).

5. I believe that the school should endeavor to provide a safe learning environment for all
its children. The classroom should foster “an atmosphere of openness, trust, and
security.” (Van Brummelen, 2002).

6. I believe that methods should follow Egan’s primary layers of understanding; primary,
romantic, and philosophic (Egan, 1997).

7. I believe that educational methodology should include peer and self-assessment

techniques (Moss & Brookhart, 2019).

8. I believe that educational methodology should include methods for exceptional learners
(Valle & Connor, 2011).

9. I believe that teachers should use various assessment methods to check for lesson
mastery, including but not limited to, formative, diagnostic, and summative assessments
(Chappius, 2015).

10. I believe that teachers should employ a broad spectrum of instructional strategies that
are proven successful for students of various learning abilities, backgrounds, and
interests (Bain & Jacobs, 1990; Cotton, 2000).
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What the Goal of Education & School Is

1. I believe that, “the end, then, of learning is to repair the ruins of our firs parents by
regaining to know God alright … to love him, imitate Him...” (Milton, 1644/1960).

2. I believe that “The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than
what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves,
than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men.” (Beattie, n.d.).

3. I believe that “The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for
learning; it should produce not learned but learning people. The truly human society is
a learning society, where grandparents, parents, and children are students together.”
(Hoffer, 1973).

4. I believe that the student should have a sense of identity and vocation as a Christian and
will see his occupation as a way in which to serve Christ (Eph. 4:1)

5. I believe that the student should be concerned about spiritual, social, and economic
opportunity for the poor and the oppressed (Adams, 1902).

6. I believe that education must teach children to view their lives and the future from an
eternal perspective (Schultz, 2009).

7. I believe that the school should nurture obedience to God (Brubaker, Coblentz,
Lehman, Miller, & Roth, 2015).

8. I believe that the school should nurture fear of God (Prov. 9:10).

9. I believe that the school should nurture love for God (Matt. 22:37)

10. I believe that the school should nurture a love for our neighbor (Matt. 22:39).
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References

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