Fifth Annual Education Consultation 2005
Hosted by IAPCHE and the Dordt College Center for Educational Services (CES)
Thornapple Room -- Hoffman House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Saturday, April 16, 2005
-- A Summary Report --
I Introduction:
For the past four years, IAPCHE, in collaboration with CES, has hosted a meeting to explore possibilities of cooperation and coordination among various agencies involved in Christian education overseas. Last year’s consultation led to a number of resolutions. Among these were the following: (1) construct a website/web ring; (2) identify individuals, institutions, and organizations currently engaged in teacher education programs and promote networking and consultation among them, and (3) broaden the consultation’s scope beyond international concerns to include schooling in urban centers and among Native Americans.
Growing interest in these gatherings and their resolutions prompted IAPCHE/CES to convene a fifth consultation session.
II Participants:
A total of 23 agencies/institutions/organizations were represented. The following participants, listed in alphabetical order of agency, both attended the Consultation and submitted reports (for further details, see below, Section III, C):
- Susan Hasseler, Calvin College
- John Van Dyk, Center for Educational Services
- Dirk Vander Steen, Christian Reformed World Missions (arrived during the post-break strategy session)
- Jim De Korne, Christian Schools International
- James Vanden Bosch, Eastern European Ministries Council
- Lee Hollaar, Educational Leadership Consultations, independent consultant
- Anne Maatman and George Monsma, IAPCHE
- Jack Fennema, independent consultant
- Harry Fernhout, Institute for Christian Studies
- Richard Edlin, National Institute for Christian Education (Australia)
- Johanna Kuyvenhoven, Redeemer University College
- Liz Rudenga, Trinity Christian College
- Gloria Stronks, Worldwide Christian Schools
In addition, the following agencies were unable to send a representative but submitted written reports:
- Christian Reformed Church of North America, Mike Bruinooge reporting
- The King’s University College (Canada), John Hull reporting
- Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning. Included in the Calvin College report. David Smith,
its director, intended to participate, but could not do so due to illness.
- Northwestern College (Orange City, IA), Diane Murphy reporting
- North West University, Potchefstroom (South Africa), Julialet Rens reporting
- Reformed Ecumenical Council’s Commission on Youth and Nurture, Jim Lont reporting. Jim intended to
participate, but was unable to do so due to illness.
- Rosebud School of the Arts (Canada), Margaret Van Dyke, Paul Muir, Terry Schlinker reporting
- St. Paul University of China, Sam Hongzhuan Song reporting
- Jim Vreugdenhil, independent consultant report
- Worldwide Christian Schools – additional regional reports from Dale Dieleman, Scott Vander Kooy, and
Steve Geurink
ACSI and Partners in Learning across Cultures were unable to attend or submit reports, and referred to their websites for further information (www.acsi.org and www.partnersinlearningacrosscultures.com)
III Proceedings:
A. Welcome and introductions:
After breakfast – compliments of IAPCHE – John Van Dyk, director of CES, convened the meeting at 8:25 a.m. and welcomed the participants. The continued and growing interest in this Consultation reflects, according to John, (1) the reality of rapid growth of the Christian school movement around the world, (2) a desire of various agencies to encourage and support this growth, and (3) continuing desire to explore collaboration and coordination of efforts.
B. Devotions:
George Monsma, chair of the IAPCHE Board, reads from Romans 12 and leads us in opening prayer.
C. Submitted reports:
Anne Maatman, IAPCHE Operations Coordinator, leads us through the reports received and invites additional commentary. Full reports are attached. The additional comments can be summarized as follows:
1. CRCNA. Report received for information. This extensive report details the components of the CRC Ministries Plan (formally endorsed by CRC Synod 2002) that focus on (a) its support for Christian elementary, secondary, and higher education, (b) collaboration strategy to include Christian day schools into the CRCNA mission program, (c) the objective of CRC agencies to nurture children and youth, and (d) the various ways in which the CRCNA plans to implement its commitments.
2. Calvin College. Sue Hasseler reminds us of the various projects sponsored by the Kuyers Institute, and encourages participation, especially in the June 20-24 curriculum workshop, and the September 22-24 conference. She reports on her recent work in South Africa. The report includes Calvin faculty involved in the UK, Korea, and regional and national teacher education conferences and consultations.
3. CES. John Van Dyk describes the recent work of CES. CES serves Christian education both independently and as an arm of IAPCHE. Examples of independent activity are the current projects in Central America, Peru, and India. As arm of IAPCHE, CES has conducted Track 2 sessions at regional conferences in Hungary, Philippines, Brazil and India, and is scheduled to do so in Moscow in August. John explains that at Dordt College CES is under review in light of a recently completed process of strategic planning.
4. CR World Missions. Dirk Vander Steen, former missionary to Nigeria and retired estate planner at Bethany Christian Services, works as Missionary-at-Large for CRWM. This position enables him to help develop resources for ministries, especially in North America and Africa. He assures us that funding and resources to support international educational efforts can be found and made available.
5. CSI. Jim De Korne underscores CSI’s emphasis on fostering local sustainability, indigenous leadership, and transformational vision for the curriculum in Christian schooling. With the departure of John De Jager and the retirement of Dan Vander Ark, CSI is currently considering changes in leadership. CSI continues to receive requests for help in school improvement. Jim points to CSI initiatives regarding urban and Native American schooling as well as distance education.
6. EEMC. Regarding the Council’s support for Christian primary and secondary education, Jim Vanden Bosch refers to the descriptions supplied by Ron Geerlings of CRWM and Cal Bremer of the Back-to-God Hour (though now destined to become the new “CRC Pope”). Jim explains that EEMC has no budget and no power to make initiatives.
7. IAPCHE. Anne Maatman reports the growing membership and encourages anyone present who has not yet signed up to do so pronto. Membership, Anne says, “positions you for continued networking.” Anne also reports on the plans for various IAPCHE conferences and the current state of the CASC program (Christian Academic Studies Certificate, officially launched at the Chennai, India, conference last January).
8. ICS. Harry Fernhout describes the various degree programs at ICS and Doug Blomberg’s role in on-campus and distance education. ICS works with OACS on programs leading to the Christian school certificate and certificate in school administration. ICS remains interested in exploring M.Ed programs in conjunction with other institutions. Harry reaffirms the ICS commitment to provide one course in each one of the five categories of the CASC program.
9. King’s University College. Report received for information. John Hull serves as instructional leader for Eastern Europe on behalf of Worldwide Christian Schools.
10. NICE – Australia. Richard Edlin, Principal of NICE, distributes catalogs and other materials. He explains the basic degree programs of the organization, which now serves 400 students by way of distance education (20% of them outside of Australia). NICE has licensing agreements with a number of foreign institutions, and takes its courses overseas as “residential schools.” NICE is underwritten, in part, by Australia’s Christian Parent-Controlled Schools (CPCS). Richard expresses concern about the decline in commitment to Christian schools in Australia. He reminds us of the need to address the issue of contextualization when exporting teacher education programs overseas. He recommends a reformational bent on “critical realism” as a foundational approach to Christian schooling.
11. Educational Leadership Consultation. Lee Hollaar urges us to develop teaching models peculiarly suited to overseas situations. His central question: How do we enable those who go out to teach? He recommends reviewing the literature on adult education, and to invest time in hearing the stories of Nonwestern teachers. He also decries brief stopovers and urges us to consider longer-term partnerships with schools and programs in the developing countries.
12. Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa. Report received for information.
13. North West University (formerly Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa). Report received for information.
14. Redeemer University College. Jo Kuyvenhoven reports that during the past year the teacher education program at Redeemer has been preoccupied with accreditation issues. She is pleased to report a steady increase in the number of applicants and subsequent enrollment in its program, including growing numbers of students from foreign countries. The Redeemer education department is in discussion to offer religious education for Catholic schools. Redeemer in committed to fostering student-teacher relationships with overseas institutions. Jo further reports on her experiences in and future plans for work in Sierra Leone. She has done considerable work in foundational literacy in Sierra Leone.
15. Reformed Ecumenical Council. Jim Lont is ill and unable to report in person. Jim De Korne highlights the report submitted by Jim Lont. A key point is the forthcoming REC Conference in the Netherlands July 12-26. This conference will be preceded by a Consultation on Christian Day Schooling. Delegates from some 18 countries will tell the stories of the role Christian day schools play in the denominations they represent.
16. Rosebud School of the Arts (Canada – Alberta and B.C.). Report received for information.
17. St. Paul University of China. Report received for information. We will encourage this project to coordinate its efforts with those of ACSI in China (and the work of Gloria Stronks).
18. Trinity Christian College. Liz Rudenga, Provost at Trinity, reports the interest of Trinity Christian College in continuing participation in the network of those engaged in teacher education. Currently Trinity students go abroad during the interim, notably to the Philippines and Jamaica. The College has established formal partnerships with Elim Christian School and Roseland Christian School.
19. Jim Vreugdenhil, Mount Hope Educational Consultants. Report received for information. In this report Jim details his recent work in Niger and in Kenya.
20. Worldwide Christian Schools. Gloria Stronks serves as chair of the board and has recently been appointed as Director of Continuing Education. She reviews the basic program for teacher education overseas, consisting of team leaders for the various regions and including a three-year plan for implementation designed to achieve self-sufficiency. Gloria has available a survey to determine the needs of schools and teachers in overseas locations. Additional WWCS regional reports are received for information.
D. Strategy Session:
John Van Dyk facilitates. We explore and discuss the following themes:
1. Website / Web ring:
a. Anne Maatman reports that last year’s recommendation to construct a web ring has been implemented. Currently the web ring includes the following sites: ACSI, BeCal, CAN, CES, CSI, FLN-ICS, Kuyers Institute, OACS, REC, SCSBC, Stapleford, WWCS, and IAPCHE. As a group we recommend additional sites. We suggest that the web ring be clearly identified as focused on K-12 education and include the websites of Christian college education departments.
b. Gloria Stronks reports that the WWCS website carries information for teacher continuing education. The route is www.wwcs.org --> teacher continuing education ---> TCE Training Log. Gloria requests we submit our own specialized information and stories.
2. REC:
We encourage REC to make sure that Don Oppewal, who will represent North America at the July Pre-Assembly meeting in the Netherlands, is fully informed about the intent and character of the program and agenda.
3. Networking teacher education programs:
John Van Dyk introduces this theme, which emerged from last year’s resolution encouraging IAPCHE to identify individuals and institutions engaged in teacher education programs, and to arrange for networking and consultation among them. John expresses concern about the continuing tendency towards individualism, turf protection, and “the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.” He reviews the multiple ways in which teacher education and staff development now proceeds. He voices a vision of a global network of all Christian teacher educational activity.
In the ensuing extensive discussion a number of points are raised and questions posed. Among these are the following:
- We need to avoid falling victim to a “rescue mentality,” as if we have the final answers.
- We need to plan for preparing younger people to take our place when we retire (or leave this earth altogether).
- We need to work slowly in order to understand how the pieces of a network fit together.
- What are the benefits of decentralization of agendas?
- Should we consider forming a “consortium”? Gloria Stronks proposes this possibility on behalf of WWCS. This suggestion creates a discussion about the difference between “consortium” and “consultation,” and the role IAPCHE could/should play.
- Can we turn this annual consultation into a two-day conference complete with invited papers and time to explore issues in depth? Such a conference could serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and as a clearing house of information about activities.
- Other models may be an option, e.g., Calvin College sponsoring research seminars followed by a conference a year later. Such an arrangement would invite younger scholars into the conversation. If we go this route, we need to make sure the focus remains on teacher education and K-12 education, and on the question of how to support teacher education programs across cultures.
- Could our consultation piggy-back on international conferences (e.g., the September, 2006, conference in Canada) in view of the potential benefit of meeting somewhere else than in Grand Rapids?
- What role can technology play in these consultations?
E. Recommendations/Resolutions:
We agree to proceed as follows:
1. IAPCHE will create a List Serve of consultation participants. This List Serve allows us to engage in e-mail discussion. Participants are requested to participate in this discussion.
2. After six months or so, several of the consultation participants will be commissioned to prepare specific proposals, outlining the future of these IAPCHE/CES consultations and ways of implementing networking strategies.
3. We will meet at least one more time in Grand Rapids next year to consider the commissioned proposals and decide on future action.
4. IAPCHE will explore ways and means of sharing information regarding the consultation planning with those outside its current network.
F. IAPCHE Conferences:
Anne Maatman reports on the regional conference planned for Moscow in August, 2005, and the international conference in Nicaragua in early 2007.
G. Adjournment:
We adjourn at 12:50 p.m. Anne Maatman closes with prayer.
Prepared by John Van Dyk