Little Is Much When God Is in It
In some Christian schools, enrollment is small and resources are scarce. Both administrators and teachers may find that some questions keep coming to their minds. Mostly, the questions arise because in our society size is the main measure of success. When a small school is looking at closing, the Christian worldview can often lose its place at center stage. In a Christian setting, what counts is not size. It’s service.
“If God wanted this school to stay open, wouldn’t He send more students?”
The true reason for Christian education is not to simply keep children out of the world and its influences; it is to acknowledge that Christ must be central to every part of life. To get the Christian view back into the center, look at the school’s philosophy of education. Does it acknowledge Christ as the center of all things? Can the school close and that philosophy be maintained for the students some other way? Is your little school the only option for parents who want their children to have a Christ-centered education? If students have the option of attending another good Christian school locally, closing could be an option. Homeschooling might also be a way, but not all parents can homeschool. Even in a school of fourteen, there will be parents who would have no choice but to put their children into public school or to move if the Christian school closes.
I Corinthians 2:11 says, “Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
It is not the job of the Christian to determine what God should and should not do. He does not need to understand God’s way; he simply needs to walk in God’s way. The size of an organization is not a measure of God’s blessing. Gideon did not need to command an enormous army; a small army showed it was God’s power, not Gideon’s. Jonathan is known not for his mighty conquests but for being an encourager and friend to one man. Ruth took care of one lady, Naomi. Rahab hid two spies. God blesses obedience; blessings cannot be measured in human terms.
“Do we have enough money to pay our teachers?”
For an administrator of a very small school this is a deep concern. Creative ways to employ fewer teachers can ease this concern. Individualized study programs work well for many students when closely monitored. The computer, VCR, DVDs, and BJ LINC programs open up opportunities for foreign language, typing, and computer classes. With supervision, responsible, godly upperclassmen can make wonderful teachers for one or two lower elementary classes; it is good experience for them also. However, the necessary teachers must be paid a living wage; it is up to the administrator and school board to find ways to do this. Our tiny school raised $2,300 this year just recycling aluminum, copper, and scrap metal; but it takes everyone saving and one parent willing to put in some time.
“Can we offer our students what they need with so few resources?”
This question also goes to the philosophy of the school. What is the purpose for Christian education? While sports, music, and drama are wonderful and can be important, it is very possible to produce godly graduates without having any of the three. However, a school can have all the extras, but not have Christ as the center of everything, and produce ungodly students who are wonderful athletes, thespians, and musicians.
Do we sometimes fail to keep the main thing the main thing? So there is no way to have all traditional classrooms and extra class offerings. Who is to say traditional is the best for all situations? A school must have high educational standards, be orderly and disciplined, but it does not need to be traditional. Our high school could not afford an Algebra II teacher this year since we had only one student in the class. He is now being tutored online. The student is averaging 98% on regular Algebra II tests. If our graduates adapt well to college, the work force wants our students, and the school is faithfully producing students who go on to live for the Lord, are we not giving the students everything they need?
Today’s Christians must be a light in the dark world; Satan will strive to extinguish that flame in any way he can. Christian school personnel must be careful not to become discouraged and allow small size and frustrations to become Satan’s tools to dim that light. Those deciding the fate of the small Christian school must remember not to use the world’s yardstick to measure its success. John 12:26 says, “If any man serve me, . . . him will my Father honour.” God’s honor may not be in school size, athletic trophies, or the praise of man. Teachers and administrators will very likely not see their rewards until they see their students and those they reached in heaven some day.
“I am an educated person; I can do more than work in a school of fourteen. Am I wasting my talents here?”
Talents are gifts given by God for the express purpose of fulfilling His plan in one’s life. God equips His servants for the jobs He wants them to do. Talents are not something to be used to get recognition and remuneration; they are the equipment God gave man to serve Him.
“Small school” is the vocabulary of a discouraged administrator or teacher, not an awesome God.
Jesus spent His earthly ministry teaching twelve men. If He could “stoop” so low as to train only twelve, is the small Christian school below an administrator’s dignity? Those twelve men were not known for their athletic ability; the Bible does not mention their musical talents. One of them even left the school and betrayed the Administrator. But because this little school was Christ-centered, the men changed the world. One student in today’s “small school” who learns academics, self-discipline, and Christlikeness, can go out and change the world around him. The Christian faculty, who prepared him, can know their work helped change hundreds of lives through that one student.
Pam Horneck is the administrator of Faith Christian Academy in Glenbeulah, Wisconsin, and has taught for more than 15 years.