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“The candidate for employment must understand and agree with the philosophy of Christian education and agree with a Biblical world and life view.”

(A way of looking at all of life according to God’s Word, and continually reforming one’s life according to that which God’s Word teaches)

I. CREATION (state of perfection)

God made all things for His glory, out of nothing, in the space of 6, 24-hour days. (Gen.1,2; Job 38,39; etc.)

The “crown” of God’s creation was His creation of man, who was made in the image of God; that is, in true righteousness and holiness. (Gen.1:26, 27, 31; Eph. 4:24)

Man was made “in covenant” with his Creator (meaning that he was made to have a relationship with his Creator, and this relationship was in terms of the Law of God). This is often called the “covenant of creation,” or the “covenant of works.” (Rom.3:20; Eph.4:24; Col.3:10; Psalm 8)

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were thus the immediate creation of God and made to be covenant representatives for the whole human race (that is, in them the whole human race is made responsible). (Gen.3; Rom. 5:12-19)

The Law of God was first presented in the commandment to not eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and later especially revealed in the Ten Commandments. It was this Law which described the covenant relationship between man and his Creator. (Gen.2)

Along with the Law, God also established the sanctions (enforcement) of this Law by announcing the curse of death if they should disobey. (Gen.2:17)

Man by nature, out of his free will, perfectly loved and served God according to this Law and so was walking the path of blessing and life, leading to eternal life. (Gen.2:15-25)

This perfect state of man was in every part of his being and in every part of his life.

II. THE FALL (from the state of perfection)

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, under the deception of satan, willfully decided to disobey the Law of God and so placed themselves under the curse of God, and began to walk the path of death, leading to eternal death. (Gen.3:1-13; John 8:44; 1Tim.2:13,14)

Since Adam and Eve are our first parents, and covenant “heads”, God counts (“imputes”) their sin to the whole human race. (Job 14:4; Isa. 53:6; Rom. 5:12-19)

Therefore all mankind is conceived and born in sin; all sin because they are sinners in Adam, and all are born walking the path of death, leading to eternal death. (Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21; Job.14:4; Isa. 53:6)

Man is thus “totally depraved”; meaning that he is “dead in sin” in every part of his being. His will, emotions, mind, (etc.) are spiritually unable to love and serve God according to His Law. (Eph.2:1-3; Eph.4:17-19; John 3:27; John 8:34)

As sinners all are therefore under the wrath of God and of His curse; walking the path of death, leading to eternal death. (Since sin is never abstract, God hates the sinner and his sin). (Psalm 7:11; John 3:18,36; Rom.1:16ff; Eph.5:6; Heb.9:27)

In this fallen condition man continues to be “the image of God” and to have a covenant relationship with God (relating to God according to His Law). However, due to this fallen condition, this image is badly marred and the covenant relationship is in disobedience and rebellion. (Deut.7:9-11; Psalm 5:4-6; Heb. 10:30-31; Matt. 25:45,46)

Man continues to exercise his will however now he is able to only choose to do what is evil. (Rom. 3:10ff)

This fall of man from the state of perfection is in every part of his being and in every part of his life.

III. REDEMPTION (bought back to the state of perfection)

Out of pure grace (undeserved gift) and for His own glory, God chose to take a specific number of people from the path of death and place them on the path of life. This is often called the “covenant of grace,” which is revealed as “old covenant/testament” and as “new covenant/testament.” (Gen. 3:15; Isa.42:6; 1Cor.5:7; 1Cor.11:25; 2Cor.3:6-9)

To do this, He sent His only begotten Son to pay the penalty for the sins/disobedience of His elect. In His death on the cross Jesus suffered the curse of God in the place of all those chosen to life; His death actually purchased the salvation of specific sinners into a relationship of obedience to God. (Eph.2:5; Rom.6:5,6; Phil. 3:10)

In this way Jesus is the “last Adam” and the covenant representative of the new redeemed humanity (that is, in Him the “new” human race is made responsible). (1Cor.15:45-49; Rom. 5:14)

Jesus, in His perfect obedience to the Law (righteousness), earned this righteousness for the elect and this righteousness is given (“imputed”) to them; so that God sees them in this perfect state from the moment of their new birth. (Rom.3:22-28; Rom.5:17-19; 1Cor.1:30; 2Cor.5:19-21)

Through the preaching of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, God applies the purchased salvation in the heart of the elect (gives new birth) so that, in His time, they become convicted of sin, repent, and believe in Jesus Christ as their only Savior and their only Lord. (Rom. 8:30; Rom.9:11; Rom. 10:14-17; Eph.1:17,18)

In this restored relationship to God true believers more and more grow in righteousness and holiness. They grow in their understanding of sin, they grow in their sorrow and hatred of sin, and they grow in their desire to obey (love) God according to His Law. As a result their lives become a life of thankful service (living sacrifice) to God for His salvation. (Rom.6:1ff; Rom.12; Phil.3;12; 2Cor.7;1)

This is how they live as citizens of God’s Kingdom; always praying and working: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” And they know that this takes place as they and others more and more submit to God’s rule and live in obedience to His Law. (Ps.105; Matt.13:47-52; Matt.16:18,19)

These same true believers are also given the sure and living hope that Christ will return at the last day and will bring His Kingdom to perfect completion, will destroy the present heaven and earth, and will complete the new creation in the form of a new heaven and new earth in which only righteousness will dwell forever (perfect obedience to His Law). Included in this final state, is the fact that hell will be the eternal place of suffering for the devil and for the unsaved (all those who continued in their rebellion and sin). (Rom. 8:20-25; 1Cor.15:20-28; 2Peter 3; 1Thess.5; Rev.20:11-22:17)

Clearly, this state of being restored to perfection is in every part of his being and in every part of his life.

BECAUSE OF THIS “WORLD-AND-LIFE VIEW” BIBLICAL CHRISTIANS HOLD TO THESE PARTICULAR TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES Concerning Holy Scripture.

A). The Bible is the very Word of God, given by direct inspiration and therefore without error. (2Tim.3:16,17; 2Peter 1:20,21)

B). The Bible interprets itself but man needs the Holy Spirit in order to truly understand it. (1Cor.2:11-16)

C). The Bible is the final authority for all matters concerning doctrine and life, and the final authority for anything about which it speaks. (1John 4:1; 2John 1:10)

D). The Bible is God’s final direct revelation to mankind. Once it was completed, God no longer speaks through visions, dreams, tongues, direct prophecy, etc., because He is done speaking this way. (Deut.4:2; 1Cor.13:9-13; Heb.1:1,2; Rev.22:18,19)

As summarized in the Ten Commandments and taught throughout the Bible, this Law-Word continues to teach about sin as well as a teach how a believer is to show his love to God and his love to his neighbor. (Matt.5:17-20; Matt.22:34-40; Rom.3:31; James 2:8-12)

That our Lord has gathered His Church from the beginning of the world (Gen.3:15) and will do so until the end of the world. All those who become saved are united to Jesus Christ and therefore to His Body, which is the Church. This Church is “universal/catholic” and is locally gathered in particular churches on earth. (Psalm 46; Hebrews 12)

It is every believer’s duty, as a member of Christ, to join a true Church and to be faithfully engaged as a member, submitting to the Lord as He rules through His Church/elders. To them our Lord has given the “keys of the Kingdom” (preaching of the Word and discipline), and the administration of the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. (Matt.16:18,19; Matt.18:15-20; Acts 2:40-47; Rom.12:1-8; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb.13:17; 1Pt.5:1ff)

The true Church can be known by the marks of the pure preaching of the Word, the pure administration of the sacraments, and the faithful exercise of discipline according to the Word. It is the duty of every true believer to separate from a false church and be joined to the true Church. (Acts 6:8-15 & &:51-60; Gal. 4:8-31; 2Cor. 6:11-17; Rev.2:9; Rev. 3:9)

The sacrament of “covenant baptism” - The covenant of grace, both in the O.T. and N.T., was made by God with believers and their children. (Gen.17:9-14; Mark 10:13-16; Acts 16:15,34; Col.2:11,12)

Baptism is a sign of this relationship, and children who do not come to repent and believe are “cast out” of this relationship (Matt.8:12; Rom.4:11,12; 1Cor.10:1-12; Hebrews 3:16-19).

A) The “last days” are those days which describe the final stage in history. These began when Christ came to earth and will end when He returns to judge the living and the dead. (Isaiah 2:2ff; Micah 4:1ff; Acts 2:16ff; Heb.1:2)

B) At a time known only to God, the last day will be when the Lord shall return from heaven. This will cause the general resurrection of both the godly and ungodly. The ungodly will be judged and given over to eternal suffering and judgement in a place called hell, and the godly will enter into heavenly joy and glory (inherit the new heaven and new earth). (Matt.25:31-46; 1Cor.15:20ff; 1Thess.4:16ff; 2Thess.1:6-10; Rev.20,21,22)

A) “Total Depravity” - That man in every part of his being (mind, will, etc.) is inclined to hate God and his neighbor. (Rom.3:10ff)

B) “Unconditional Election” - That since man is “dead in sins” his salvation is only possible if God has chosen to give him life (John 6:44,45; Rom.9; 2Thess.2:13,14)

C) “Limited Atonement” - That the death of Christ was for those whom God the Father had elected to save. That is, His death truly paid the penalty for their sins. (Matt.1:21; John 17:9; Rom.8:28ff; Eph.5:27)

D) “Irresistable Grace” - That God the Holy Spirit works in sovereign/almighty power to overcome the stubborn will of the elect, so as to change their heart of stone into a heart of flesh. (Ezek.36; Eph.2:1-3; 2Thess. 2:13,14)

E) “Perseverence of the Saints” - That those whom God has elected and saved, He preserves so that they persevere in faith and obedience, through every trial, to the end. (John 19:28; Rom.8:35-39; Phil. 1:6; 1Peter 1:5,9)

“This school operates on the basis that performance precedes promotion and remuneration.”

This school was begun to serve several purposes:

1) To provide a Christian education in the English language for the children of doctrinally like-minded, Reformed Christian parents;
2) To provide this same education for children of parents who do not have the same beliefs, but who are willing to have their children educated in this way;
3) To utilize this educational process as a way of influencing and shaping the lives of the next generation with the laws of God;
4) To reach families, and individuals therein, with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The school is intended to be Christian in its goals, standards, curriculum and staff; but is not restricted to a Christian student body. (Therefore, the government of the school is designed to accomplish these goals and maintain its standards.) Consequently, it functions constitutionally rather than democratically.

What is the scope and function of a Christian school? It is to be a school in the best tradition of schools. It is not a fringe movement in a society -- negative, sectarian, and divisive. It is rather an agency of Christian culture in the life of a Christian community. To be a school in this sense requires that its task be defined and limited. In general, together with the church and the home, it exists to complement in the development of the child of God into the man of God, "perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." The point emphasized here, however, is that the school must be the school; that is, that it has its own unique task to perform. This means that its task is essentially to provide education that will be formal, thorough, total and humane -- always in the Reformational Christian perspective. It is such education which every child needs. It is such education that will be the development of man as man, as human, as rational-moral person, as image-bearer of God. Children educated in such a way become responsible individuals and the foundation for stronger families, churches and nations.

A culture influenced by children who live out such an education in their adult lives will be increasingly transformed into a Christian culture and receive the blessing of God.

Christian education is founded upon the covenant which God established with man, as expressed in the Holy Scriptures (Genesis 17:7). This is a relationship agreed to by parents also for their children, and it is an agreement that the children of Christian parents entered by commitment on the part of their parents. This covenant encompasses all truth for the Christian, touching every realm, every sphere, and every relation of life. (Deut. 6:5-9)

Christian schools attempt to develop and strengthen a “Biblical world-and-life view.”

The school's task is twofold:
(Done by means of the curriculum that is clearly based upon God's truth)

The first aspect is a rational objective: to gradually unfold and set forth the essence of a Christian, worldwide, lifelong system, unified and concrete; of truth, of goodness and of beauty fully consistent with the totality of biblical revelation.

The student must be taught the history of human thought and behaviour -- sympathetically and honestly. At the same time he must be taught to view all of this in the light of truth, i.e., Christian presuppositions and Christian philosophy derived solely from the Scriptures. In the process he is growing in his understanding of the Christian view of life and the world, espoused by the school and Christian community. The student must have such a system so that he may order and direct his life properly under God.

The second aspect of the school's ultimate objective is to lead and encourage the child increasingly to accept this system as his own, that is, to identify with it and to live out of it. Through successive and increasing obedience on the part of each child who follows the school's teaching, this school becomes another instrument in the hands of God used to disciple this nation for Christ.

The students are being trained for responsible living for God; this implies at once a life of diligence, or exertion, of contribution to the godliness of their societies. It implies that students will more and more ask, and ask earnestly, not, "What can I get out of life?" but, "What can I contribute in life? How may I best serve the Lord in my brief time in this one life He has given me?" The development of such an attitude is nurtured by instruction in the Christian faith, exposure to the needs of society, and by the quiet example of the public life of the teachers.

For the child of non-Christian parents, these same academic processes will be at work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, knowing that God has providentially brought this child to this school. Perhaps, it will be His purpose to bring this child into ultimate covenant relationship with Christ our God and Lord.

The school is primarily an arm of the family since God entrusted the education of children to parents (Deut. 6:6-7). While the school is admittedly an arm of the family, it is also acknowledged that in today's societies not all families accept this responsibility seriously under God. Nevertheless, God's command to parents is the authorization for its existence.

That the primary responsibility for education rests upon parents to whom children are entrusted by God, and that Christian parents should accept this obligation in view of the covenantal relationship which God established with believers and their children. They should seek to discharge this obligation through interaction with the school and its staff.

Christian teachers, both in obedience to God and in cooperation with parents, have a unique teaching responsibility while educating the child in school.

This responsibility is to understand and practice the fact that they are “servants of God” but also “in the place of the parent.” As a result they are accountable to both, for what they do in the classroom. They must do all they can to provide an environment for learning to take place; which includes diligent preparation, creative teaching, consistent discipline, and so on. Their accountability to parents is by way of meetings and discussions with them. Their accountability to God, as teachers, is especially by being accountable to the administration of the school.

Christian schools must take into account that their students, though they are God’s image-bearers, are sinners (or at best saved sinners). This should be reflected in the learning goals, curricula and discipline of that institution. A truly Christian education will constantly seek to teach and to show that man was created with the purpose to glorify God and education is only profitable if it aids man in fulfilling this purpose.

This commandment teaches us about authority; both how to administer it and to submit to it. The teacher must administer authority in class because God requires this, and it is only in this way that proper education can take place. At the same time, a teacher must first know how to submit to God, and to God-given authority, before he will be able to truly administer authority himself.

To be in conformity to the policies of the school (see “Discipline Procedures”), and with regular input from teachers to improve these policies and procedures

A serious function is to oversee that a consistent Christian influence is shared by all its employees. This includes the knowledge that all employees are regularly attending church, living a morally pure life, and that a reasonable positional distance is maintained between students and teachers. Any reports of immoral conduct must be dealt with efficiently and appropriate action taken. If an investigation reveals that an immoral situation exists, some discipline measure becomes necessary. The effect such sinful conduct may have on the individuals and the school must be considered. Privacy is to be maintained as much as possible during the investigation and after. However, on cases of serious immoral conduct the church authority of that employee may be notified.

Should there be any unresolved situation, all employees are encouraged to appeal to the Headmaster and Board.

As believers living in a fallen world and struggling against sin, we know that we will become involved in various conflicts. However it is important that we deal with these conflicts, and that we deal with them according to God’s Word. The reason for dealing with conflicts and not ignoring them is that believers are commanded to “not give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27). Believers are also commanded that whatever they do (and this certainly includes dealing with conflicts), they must do it to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31) Obviously to deal with conflicts to the glory of God is to deal with conflicts God’s way and not our own.

These conflicts are dangerous to the spiritual and physical efficiency of the school. Especially critical are those problems which are kept unresolved. Often the problems that are easier to handle are those where a verbal conflict erupts and the individuals are able to vent their emotions. Greater care must be taken of more complicated problems that are not mentioned outwardly. Problems of jealousy, ignorance, and jumping to conclusions are some of the more dangerous ones. It is wise and correct to give recognition to anyone who has done something commendable. (Some problems stem from the fact that one feels unappreciated for his effort or thinks that his effort is insignificant, so he then tries to discredit the work of another. An obvious problem results.)

As much as possible, problems should always be handled privately with individual people, with the goal to build up rather than to tear down. (Matt. 18; Rom. 14:19) If the problem cannot be resolved at this level, an employee should then bring the matter to the administration.

A) Recommendation for tutoring should only take place after a teacher has told students and parents of extra free help from the teacher available from teachers between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m.

B) Teachers must remember that their primary responsibility is to teach at school. Consequently they must continually evaluate their use of time in order to be sure that they give themselves enough time to prepare for their main task of teaching at school (7:30 AM to 2:00 PM is teaching time and the official hours of work are 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM)

C) Teachers must always be sensitive toward any possible accusations/concerns when tutoring a student that he teaches in a course at school.