Blog Posts - The Lighthouse of Christ

What Makes a Great Teacher by ABC News

1/11/2016

In this short news story video, which originally aired 2/26/10, ABC News enlightens us as to what makes a great teacher based on the research shared in the book, "Teaching As Leadership: The Highly Effective Teacher's Guide to Closing the Achievement Gap" by Steven Farr, Chief Knowledge Officer at Teach For America.

In this video, we learn that ideals like "work hard and get smart" is a secret sauce that when mixed with:

Making Certain Students Are Keeping Up,
Not Being Afraid to Change the Lesson Plan, and
Setting High and Ambitious Goals produces a recipe for great teaching and teachers.

We pray that those who are called to serve the purposes of God in the education of others will find this tidbit helpful as they discover, unlock and live their Godly destiny.

Teaching in the 21st Century by Sonja Delafosse

1/11/2016

For this video, Sonja Delafosse has actually created a slide show with background music that "was created as a summary of the ASB Unplugged Conference in Mumbai, India 2010." The slideshow presentation does a great job of stimulating thinking and challenging those called to live a Godly destiny in the world of education - and to consider what 21st Century education might entail.

So, to all those who desire to be high-impact educators, we hope you take nine minutes out of your day to allow these ideas to bring forth the creative genius God has hidden in you for educating in the 21st century. May your destiny as a high-impact educator come forth - in Jesus Name.

Is The End Near for Public Education by Don Peppers

12/3/2015

This article makes the point that the public education model is a failing edifice to a bygone era. Of course, education is paramount for a civilized and well ordered society and as such there must be a solution. This is where those with a Godly destiny to reform, rejuvenate, and reinvigorate education are needed. We pray that after reading this article, you will be stirred to discover, unlock and live your Godly destiny and as such profoundly impact the world of education.

Don Peppers opines, “It’s time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody’s role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It’s no surprise that our school system doesn’t improve: It more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy.” - Albert Shanker. For more than 30 years prior to his death in 1997, Albert Shanker was a pivotal force in the teachers’ unions, serving as President of both the United Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. But as hard as he fought for teachers’ rights, he also felt the public education system in the U.S. was sadly inadequate.

And with good reason. State-sponsored public education in almost every country in the world is unsatisfactory and inept, a scandal we’ve tolerated far too long.

The origin of comprehensive, state-sponsored schooling in the industrial era can be traced to 19th Century Prussia. In the early 1800’s Prussian military rulers implemented a national schooling program to ensure a supply of disciplined young soldiers capable of resisting any future Napoleonic-style invasion of their country. Under the guise of teaching young boys how to read and do numbers, Prussian schools grouped students by age, rather than by knowledge or ability, sat them at rows of desks facing a teacher, rather than arranging them in discussion circles, and rang a bell regularly, so as to discipline their day while they studied a variety of subjects.

The British adapted the Prussian model when they needed to create their own cadre of professionals to administer their far-flung empire. And Horace Mann, one of the early proponents of public schooling in America, returned from an 1843 visit to Prussia full of ideas for implementing the same kind of system in the U.S.

Teaching “reading, writing and ’rithmatic” was not the main purpose for these early school systems, however, because the vast majority of adults in Prussia, Britain, and the young United States were already literate, even before public schooling was instituted. The printing press had unleashed a tidal wave of demand for literacy, and most people either learned on their own, or were taught by a combination of parents and non-public, for-profit schools. Instead, one of the primary objectives of the public school system in most countries was to raise a disciplined work force and maintain the social order.

In Matt Ridley’s ambitious book The Evolution of Everything, he dedicates a full chapter to a sweeping story of how people educate themselves, when left to their own devices. If you look at how schools develop “in the wild” today, outside of government programs, you'll be amazed at the kind of systems that evolve on their own – simply because parents want to educate their children, and they’re willing to spend money to do so, especially when they see that a state-sponsored system is dysfunctional.

And why not? After all, no one thinks a government monopoly is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of fitness centers, or hotels, or grocery stores, right? But just like hotels and groceries, non-government schools maintain their quality because they compete with each other; state schools do not.

It's Time To Admit College Is Driven By Speculation by Zachary Slayback

12/3/2015

One of the perplexing problems facing the world is the idea that higher education may not be offering any value. As Christians, who are called to be salt and light, we must understand that this is an area in desperate need of solutions. We know God has an answer to this dilemma and we know it will be found as those called to the world of higher education discover, unlock and live their Godly destiny. Is yours the destiny that solves the higher education value proposition crisis?

According to Zachary Slayback, "One of the most popular tropes among career advisors, guidance counselors, school officials, and college recruiters today is that going to college is an investment. As more and more options for work experience and education outside of the higher education cartel crop up, those pushing the college option on young people are forced to fall back on telling the young that, though it may look costly now, it will pay off in the future. Like their Housing Crisis predecessors, they urge young people to take on the seemingly-unimaginable cost with some statistics and graphics showing that, in the recent past, a college degree pays for itself over a lifetime.

It’s time that we admit that this isn’t the case.

The “it’s an investment!” strategy of sending young people to universities is one of the last options available to those urging people to take on this stodgy, quickly-outdated, and inefficient way to build the life that they want. If anything, this idea that it will pay off in the long run is mere speculation, not investment.
Let’s take a look at what I mean.

In the investing world, making speculations is contrasted with making intelligent investments. Investments tend to have a safety of principle and an adequate minimum return. A speculation is something that doesn’t provide this.

All investment requires an element of risk — this doesn’t mean that a speculation is simply a risky investment. It’s an investment that doesn’t give you reason to believe that you’ll actually preserve your principle (the money you initially put in) and give you a return (get you the money that you want).

STOP CITING THOSE ROI STUDIES

Here’s where the college recruiter/advocate interjects, telling me that on my own definition, college is a great investment. “Just look at the ROI rankings put outby Payscaleand Forbes and US News! They say that the data clearly point to a positive ROI!”

But this is misleading.

This assumes that the graduate is a mere lottery ticket and the aggregate of all the attendees at their school. This includes comparing a petroleum engineer to a philosophy major to a Gender Studies major to a business student. At best, this just tells us more about the selection bias in these schools.

(I have written more on problems with these ROI reports and their inability to parse out the selection bias inherent in higher-ranking schools here. In short, these schools take people who would probably be successful anyways and then claim credit for their success. It’s a great recruiting and fundraising tactic, really.)

To rely on this data is to be too quick to declare that the degree is an investment with a minimum ROI. A better study would be to take a large sample who got into the same university (status really doesn’t matter), with the same SAT scores and aptitudes, and follow them over the course of their careers as half drop out and half completes the degree. You would also have to control for elements like where they moved, family structure, background, and more.

If this sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is. There are so many other factors that go into determining the success or failure of a young person over the span of their careers that to turn it on one issue is ludicrous.
But let us assume that the college factor is the overriding, major contributing factor to one’s career. Maybe ROI isn’t the best factor. What about attempting to get the job?

Flipping the Classroom by Nation Swell

11/6/2015

In this video, we encounter the educational innovation implemented by Clintondale High School. In 2011, Clintondale High School was the first school in the nation to flip its classroom. This simply means that homework is done at school with the help of the teacher and other students, and the lectures are viewed at home via video.

This innovation has resulted in a lower failure rate and a higher college admission rate. And, since 2011, hundreds of schools around the country have adopted the "flipped" model.

This sort of creative problem solving is precisely what the Lord loves to do through His people. And, is why your Godly destiny to serve in the world in some aspect, like education, is so important. We believe this video will greatly encourage you as you seek to discover, unlock and live your Godly destiny.

Who Killed the Liberal Arts by Heather MacDonald

10/28/2015

If you have ever wondered why our educational system is failing students, then this video is for you. While this is not representative of the whole picture of what's plaguing modern education, it is an important piece of the puzzle. And remember, as a Christian with a Godly destiny, your job is to solve vexing problems and bring forth solutions as salt and light.

If you feel called to serve the purposes of God's Kingdom via education, then this video should provoke you to "get after it."

Prager University opines, "What in the world happened to the liberal arts? A degree in the humanities used to transmit the knowledge and wisdom imbued in the works of great Western artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers like Shakespeare and Mozart. But today, that same degree stresses Western racism, sexism, imperialism, and other ills and sins that reinforce a sense of victimhood and narcissism. So, what happened? Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute explains."

How to Change Education by Ken Robinson

10/19/2015

According to RSA, "Sir Ken Robinson addresses the fundamental economic, cultural, social, and personal purposes of education. He argues that education should be personalized to every student's talent, passion, and learning styles, and that creativity should be embedded in the culture of every single school."

Are you ready to become a thought leader in the world of education? Are you excited by the idea of working with the Lord to bring excellence, greatness, and creativity to the education system? Then, please dedicate yourself to discovering, unlocking, and living your Godly destiny.

What 60 Schools Tell Us About Teaching by Grant Lichtman

10/19/2015

According to TedxDenverTeachers, "The rate of change in the world demands that we re-imagine and restructure the foundational learning relationship among students, teachers, and knowledge. In September 2012, pursuing a decades-long passion for transformational education, Grant packed up his Prius and set off on a solo, nationwide research tour to discover what schools are doing to prepare students for an evolving future. Find out what he learned from three months on the road visiting 21 states, 64 schools, and the great ideas of 500 educators."

If you are a Christian with a destiny to affect the world of learning, then from this video, you can see that we need you to live your Godly destiny. Will you step up and be the expression of Christ we need in our educational system?

Teacher Demonstrates Unconditional Love in the Inner-City by Deidox Films

8/26/2015

What does it take to become a high-impact educator? Does it require a thorough knowledge of the latest government standards of education? Does it require a Ph.D. in education? Does a teacher have to work in the most prestigious of academic settings? While these conditions may be helpful, we submit to you that they are not the most important requirements for being a high-impact educator.

After watching this amazing short story about a teacher named Lindsay, you will see what a profound difference she makes in the lives of her students every day. Lindsay demonstrates the unconditional love of God in her classroom by intentionally demonstrating caring and acceptance for each of her students.

Maybe you are called to show the unconditional love of God through education. Even though overtly sharing faith in the public classroom has become restricted and controversial, God still demonstrates His love every day through the affirmations of caring, encouraging, and validating teachers who rely on Him for strength and wisdom as they relate to their students.

Deidox Films shares: “How can we show the love of God to people who’ve been mistreated, to those who ‘don’t trust love’ because love has not proven trustworthy? Watch as Lindsay, a teacher at Middle School 223 in the Bronx begins each school year with a message of God’s unconditional love to her students: ‘I’ve been thinking about you all summer. You can’t earn my love. No matter what you do this year, I will still love you.’ Witness Lindsay faithfully walk out those words each day in one of the toughest neighborhoods in America.

Filmed over 5 days in New York, Lindsay was the first Deidox film we ever produced. We were introduced to Lindsay through a friend who went to church with her. Lindsay graciously let strangers follow her around with cameras even though she had no idea what the film might look like, and in the end we were all surprised at how great it turned out. Her heart is big, her soul is filled with love, and her film is still one of our favorites.”

A Speech Every 2015 College Grad Needs to Hear by Prager University

6/29/2015

Sometimes, humorous satire is the best way to make a point. In this video, George Will employs just such a technique to make an important point about the need for change in higher education.

Prager University states it this way, "There were thousands of college commencement speeches around the country this year for the Class of 2015. But there was one missing -- one very truthful, funny and witty speech that graduates should've heard, but didn't. Well, here it is, spoken by George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at the Washington Post."

Are you called by God to change the world of higher education, so that it prepares young people for their destiny - rather than setting them adrift with false doctrine and debt crushing poverty? God has a solution to this problem. Is it you?

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