Adventist Education Philosophy.pdf

Assumptions:

God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe
Humans were created perfect but rebelled against God, causing sin and separation
God's plan of redemption aims to restore humans to His image and the universe to its original state
God invites humans to choose His plan of restoration and relate to the world creatively and responsibly

Philosophy:

Christ-centered education under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Restoration of human beings to God's image through education
Balanced development of the whole person: spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially
Education spans eternity, fostering faith, respect, and character development

Aim and Mission:

Prepare people for useful and joy-filled lives, fostering friendship with God and selfless service
Foster whole-person development, Bible-based values, and friendship with God

Agencies of Education:

Home: primary educational agency, parents as first and most influential teachers
Local Church: provides atmosphere of acceptance and love, discipleship, and understanding of God's Word
School, College, and University: build on foundation laid by home and church, Christian teachers as ministers in the plan of redemption
World Church: oversight responsibility for lifelong learning, ensuring access to Adventist education

Key Components:

Student: primary focus, loved and accepted, helped to reach highest potential
Teacher: central importance, committed Adventist Christian, exemplary role model
Knowledge: grounded on faith, recognizing supernatural and natural order, encompassing cognitive, experiential, emotional, relational, intuitive, and spiritual elements
Curriculum: promotes academic excellence, includes core of general studies, spiritual insights, and Christian living.