Curriculum and Nature

Today's educational curriculum begins with utility because the authors are agnostic about nature. The value and worth of a thing is tied to its utility, they would say. This explains debates about abortion, end of life care, and sex education. Beginning with the nature of a thing brings about far different ends. Education before Dewey had character development and wisdom as its ends. After Dewey, education was pursued for utilitarian ends. I fear the day when a man's value is discussed only by his contribution to society and not by who He is as a human being.

The Contemplation of Nature

Classical Conversations introduced me to Andrew Kern's CD "The Contemplation of Nature." I'll have to listen to it a dozen times to grasp the implications of his lecture on education, but I did learn this. Public, and sadly Christian, schools begin with utility- a holdover from Dewey. To really understand something, you must begin with its nature. Everything that exists began as an idea in the mind of God.
To know anything, Kern says you must follow a three step process:
1. Understand its nature
2. Discern its purpose from its nature.
3. Grasp its propriety.
For example, as a leader, I must understand the nature of those under my care. A follower is made in the image of God, a sinner, a male or female, and one whose ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Propriety tells me the moral and fitting ways for that nature to be fulfilled.

Tabula Rosa or Innate Pattern?

As leaders at home, work, and church, what kind of human material do we work with? Ethicists would have us believe that man was born as a blank slate. Family, Schools, and Society write on us and we become what they envision.

The Creation Ordinances give us a different perspective. Man is made in the image of God, fallen though he may be. Our design reflects the sanctity of truth, life, marriage, work, and rest. When we live in line with those values, we flourish. When we try to write against the innate pattern given to us by our Creator, we flounder.

It makes a difference how we view those we work with. If we want them to become all they were meant to be, we had better lead according to their design. May God help us write better things into the lives of the people we serve.