Sixth Annual Education Consultation 2006
Hosted by IAPCHE and the Dordt College Center for Educational Services (CES)
Holland Room – Hoffman House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Saturday, April 8, 2006
-- A Summary Report –
I. Introduction:
For the past five years, IAPCHE, in collaboration with CES, has hosted a consultation of various agencies involved in international and/or cross-cultural educational outreach. Included with the invitation was a request to submit a report of the agencies’ activities and to provide comments on the usefulness, format, and future of these meetings. Although both interest and participation have steadily increased in the consultation’s brief history, the IAPCHE/CES leadership looked for a clearer sense of purpose and direction.
II. Participants:
A total of 34 agencies/institutions/organizations were represented – the largest number thus far. We were particularly encouraged by the presence of a goodly number of international folk. The following participants, listed in alphabetical order of agency, both attended the Consultation and submitted reports (for further details, see below, Section III, C).
- Al Boerema, Calvin College
- H.A.C Jet Weigand-Timmer, Centre for Reformational Philosophy/Free University, The Netherlands
- Clinton Stockwell, Chicago Semester
- Finn Laursen, Christian Educators Association International
- Adrian Guldemond, Christian Schools Canada
- Sang-Jin Park and Ha-Min Beak, Christian School Education Research Center, Seoul, Korea
- Dan Beerens, Christian Schools International
- Bishop M. Dorai, CSI (Church of South India), Coimbatore (India) Diocese
- CSI Bishop Appasamy College of Arts and Science
- CSI Industrial Training Center
- CSI Polytechnic College
- CSI Nursing School
- CSI Teachers Training School
- Nursery Teachers Training School
- John Van Dyk, Dordt College, CES
- Don Oppewal, Friends of Mkar (Nigeria) University
- Anne Maatman, George N. Monsma Jr., John C. Vander Stelt, IAPCHE
- Jack Fennema, independent consultant
- Lee Hollaar, Education Leadership Consultations, independent consultant
- Darrel Hilbrands, Instituto Libre de Mexico de Estudio Superiores, Mexico
- Richard Edlin, National Institute for Christian Education, Australia
- Ron L. Hartgerink, NetAct (Southern Africa)
- Hilda Roukema, Ontario Christian Schools Teachers Association (OCSTA)
- Jim Lont, Reformed Ecumenical Council
- Daniel Nandwa, Reformed Church of East Africa
- Rich Snoeyink, Trinity Christian College
In addition, the following agencies were unable to send a representative but submitted written reports:
- ACSI, Dave Wilcox reporting. Dave intended to be present but was prevented by a last-minute emergency
- Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, Anne Maatman reporting (Anne recently attended the CCCU meeting in Texas)
- Christian Reformed Church, Mike Bruinooge reporting
- Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA), Jim Drexler reporting
- European Educators’ Christian Association (EURECA), John Shortt reporting
- Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, David Smith reporting
- Redeemer University College, Jo Kuyvenhoven reporting
- St. Petersburg School of Religion and Philosophy (Russia), Natalia Pecherskaya reporting
- Worldwide Christian Schools, Scott Vander Kooy, Dale Dieleman, Steve Geurink reporting
The Prairie Association of Christian Schools (Canada) was not able to report but referred to its website for further information.
The Institute for Christian Studies (Toronto) was unable to attend or report.
III. Proceedings:
A. Welcome and introduction:
John Van Dyk, director of CES, convenes the meeting at 8:30 a.m., welcomes the participants (with a special word for the overseas representatives), and reviews the agenda. The reports submitted, according to John, present an overwhelming but encouraging picture of Christian educational activity in all parts of the world.
B. Devotions:
George Monsma, chair of the IAPCHE Board, reads from Ephesians 2, comments, and leads us in opening prayer.
C. Submitted reports:
Anne Maatman, IAPCHE Director of Operations, leads us through the reports received and invites additional commentary. Full reports are attached. A summary of comments follows:
1. ACSI. An extensive report received for information. The report includes a request for IAPCHE member institutions and individuals to help provide continuing education for Christian school teachers.
2. Calvin College. Al Boerema, a relatively recent addition to Calvin’s education department, reaffirms Calvin’s plans for the expansion of the educational leadership program, including international outreach.
3.Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Anne Maatman summarizes the CCCU’s new “International Faculty Network” designed to connect available professors with places overseas that need faculty and/or administrative assistance.
4. Center for Reformed Philosophy / Vrije Universiteit (Free University). Jet Weigand-Timmer expands on her report by describing the threats the continuing secularization of the Netherlands poses to Christian education. At the same time, there is hope, as the Dutch government requires justification of a school’s existence, which leads to renewed reflection about identity and mission.
5. Chicago Semester. Clinton Stockwell explains how this program’s professional semester introduces student teachers to multi-cultural realities in a big city. He stresses the importance of helping the teachers to expand their worldview. Clinton also alerts us to plans for a conference on worldview and social action, scheduled for the spring of 2007, and invites participation.
6. Christian Educators Association International. Finn Laursen, executive director, describes the mission of CEAI (an organization of Christian teachers in mostly public schools). He reminds us of the numerous misunderstandings surrounding the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment, and explains how his organization provides an alternative to, e.g., NEA and access to free legal services.
7. Christian Reformed Church. Report received for information. Don Oppewal reminds us of the CRC’s recent recommitment to Christian day schools.
8. Christian Schools Canada. Adrian Guldemond summarizes this organization’s work of coordinating national concerns, especially in regard to legal and administrative issues and professional standards. He shares information about the forthcoming international leadership conference scheduled for September, 2006, to be held in Toronto.
9. Christian School Education Research Center in Seoul, Korea. Sang-Jin Park reports the three-fold task of this new venture: research, teacher education, and leadership training. The goal is to contribute to the development of Christian schools in Korea. The institute consists of three departments: educational foundation, curriculum development, and teacher education.
10. Christian Schools International. Dan Beerens refers to the report submitted by Jim de Korne. He underlines the new vision of CSI to create networks around the world.
11. Covenant College (Georgia, U.S.). Report received for information.
12. Church of South India (CSI) programs in Christian education. We have extensive reports. Bishop Dorai provides background to the CSI efforts, explaining how the schools originated with missionaries who established churches, schools, and hospitals. Christian schools in India count many Hindus and Moslems among their students. Bishop Dorai explains the current difficulties, especially with regard to government regulations which seriously limit opportunity for faith development among students. The Bishop looks for closer ties with CCCU colleges and IAPCHE.
13. Reformed Ecumenical Council. Since Jim Lont must leave shortly for a funeral, he reports at this point in the line-up. Jim reviews the role of REC’s Youth and Christian Nurture Ministry, and reports on the pre-assembly conference on Christian schooling conducted in Doorn, the Netherlands, last summer. Many stories about Christian schools, representing 30 denominations, were told at this assembly. These were recorded and collected, and are available for further dissemination. Jim asks for suggestions as to where these stories might go.
14. Center for Educational Services, Dordt College. John Van Dyk summarizes recent international activity and reports that CES is currently under administrative review
15. EURECA. Report received for information.
16. Jack Fennema reports on his recent work at ACSI Christian teachers conferences in Lithuania and Russia.
17. Lee Hollaar challenges us to pay more attention to adult education, and to develop community leadership in overseas locations.
18. Friends of Mkar University (Nigeria). Don Oppewal highlights various activities supporting Mkar University. These activities are focused on one institution, of one denomination, in one country. Volunteers provide funds for professors and students and send materials (such as computers, classroom chalkboard and desks). Mkar has now achieved accreditation as a four-year university. Engineering students from Calvin College have been asked to help develop appropriate facilities. Travel advisories present some problems.
19. IAPCHE. Anne Maatman reports. We will return to the proposed Nicaragua conference at the beginning of our strategy session.
20. Instituto Libre de Mexico de Estudio Superiores. Darrel Hilbrands reviews how the government has taken control of all education in Mexico. ILMES, along with other efforts, seeks to develop alternatives to the government program. The government does support the orphanage associated with ILMES. Darrel explains the need for developing relationships with Christian educational organizations outside of Mexico. Among the specific needs are computer help and curriculum resources.
21. Kuyers Institute. Report received for information.
22. National Institute for Christian Education (Australia). Richard Edlin reviews the Institute graduate programs, degree courses, and publications. 400 teachers are currently enrolled in the distance education courses (300 in Australia). NICE runs “residential schools,” where the professors meet with the students. The Institute collaborates with a number of local partners.
23. NetAct (Southern Africa). Ron Hartgerink reviews the organization’s background and mission. NetAct consists of a consortium of seminaries. It has not yet addressed K-12 Christian day school issues.
24. OCSTA. Hilda Roukema serves as executive director of this professional teachers organization. Hilda observes that attending the consultation helps us see that “Christian education is bigger than our classrooms.”
25. Redeemer University College. Report received for information.
26. Prairie Association of Christian Schools (Canada). See www.paocs.ca
27. Reformed Church of East Africa. Dan Nandwa describes the challenge of incorporating Christianity in schools essentially taken over by the government.
28. St. Petersburg School of Religion and Philosophy (Russia). Report received for information.
29. Trinity Christian College. Rick Snoeyink, member of Trinity’s education department, reports the college’s intentional stress on cultural diversity. The department has forged new partnerships with public schools, as well as with Rehoboth in NM. Their “New Horizons” program allows student teachers to do their internships anywhere in the world. An increasing number of Trinity graduates teach in Christian schools in foreign countries. Trinity also offers programs in adult education.
30. Worldwide Christian Schools. Reports received for information. Don Oppewal stresses the worldwide character of WWCS.
D. Strategy Session:
John Van Dyk facilitates. John reviews some of the resolutions proposed by previous consultations, along with the key issues presently before us. The following themes emerge for discussion:
1. IAPCHE plans. Anne Maatman makes a brief power point presentation describing the services IAPCHE offers. She then focuses on the plans for the November, 2006, international conference to be held in Nicaragua. Anne describes the nature and intent of “Track 2” of the conference, specifically geared to address the question how Christian higher education can and should serve K-12 day school education. She invites proposals for papers and respondents in Track 2.
2. Web ring and list-serve. Anne reports that the web ring and list-serve proposed at last year’s consultation has been established. IAPCHE will add the “new” agencies represented at this year’s consultation for the first time to the web ring. However, thus far the list-serve has seen no activity.
3. Networking. We discuss ways of increasing the functionality of networking among the various agencies. The following issues are addressed:
a. How can we enhance connections between countries, e.g., Mexico and the U.S.? Can we develop concrete programs (such as facilitating transfer of credits among IAPCHE-related institutions)?
b. What are the possibilities for international accreditation of programs? At this point we discuss the CASC program.
c. How can we construct avenues to expand information about resources? What organizations provide what resources?
d. What funding problems attend network activity?
e. Should we design a network/clearing house of specific use to K-12 educators?
4. The benefits and future of the IAPCHE/CES consultations. A number of participants volunteer opinions. The consultations, though brief, are generally judged to be very worthwhile and valuable, even empowering. Several suggestions emerge regarding frequency, focus, time frame and location of future consultations. Among these are holding the meeting every other year, piggy-back the meeting onto international conferences, and extend the time frame to at least one full day.
E. Recommendations/Resolutions:
After considerable discussion, we adopt the following resolutions (to be submitted to the IAPCHE Board for approval):
1. We will conduct the consultation every second year instead of every year. Our next meeting – one full day -- will be held in 2008, preferably in conjunction with a scheduled international conference. IAPCHE will commission a paper on a relevant consultation issue, and invite responses.
2. A consultation will be held at all future international IAPCHE conferences.
3. IAPCHE will enhance its information services by creating specific categories of resources available (e.g., accreditation issues, government relations, curriculum research, and the like).
4. IAPCHE will explore ways to create a network of volunteers.
F. Adjournment:
We adjourn at 12:55 p.m. John Vander Stelt closes with prayer.
Prepared by John Van Dyk