Philosophy of Education

The Garrett Memorial Christian School, founded in 1999, is a ministry of Garrett Memorial Baptist Church . The goal of GMCS is to provide a warm, loving and safe environment conducive to learning, so that each child can learn and develop to his/her potential spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically. We believe GMCS is a place where education & character meet.

The apostle Paul instructs fathers to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). This goes beyond enrolling them into a Christian school, but extends to raising them in a Christian home and culture and teaching them how to live out the instruction in the world. The role undertaken by GMCS in this task is to aid students in building a scripture-based, educationally-informed foundation from which to live a Christ-exalting life. At GMCS we believe that the beginning place of knowledge is the fear of God (Proverbs 1:7). Therefore, education is inherently religious. For this reason, all subjects taught will find their center in the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). A correct and high view of God is the ultimate goal for our students, and we contend that a biblical view of God not only comes through devoted study of the Bible, but also through devoted study of nature, science, math, literature, history, etc. As Francis Schaeffer once said, “All truth comes from God and leads back to God.” All truth is God’s truth. On this basis, every rule of geometry, every fact of history, every law of science plays a part in the story of God. Our hope is that each student who spends time under GMCS care will be pierced with the truth that they have been created for the glory of God, and that the ultimate goal for their life is to champion God’s fame to the world, whether it be through medicine, business, teaching, preaching, farming, missions, or accounting.

Two basic building blocks our philosophy stands on come from the book of Deuteronomy.

1. God is the center and apex of all teaching

Deut. 6:1-5 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.”

In this text Moses is leaving his final instructions for the Israelites. He is giving them the commandments God commanded him to teach. Notice the goal of the teaching—“that you may fear the Lord your God.”

These commandments were not just lessons to be learned for church, but were to govern all of life and be kept all of your life. Why was this so? “That it may go well with you.” The only way to live a complete, satisfying life is to “fear the Lord,” and “love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.” God must be the center and apex of every area of study. Without Him, the subject has no meaning.

2. Parents are responsible for instilling these values and disciplines in their children.

Deutoronomy 6:4-9 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

GMCS should not and does not replace the God-ordained, parental responsibility. Instead, the school strives to be an aid to the parent. It is our dream that students exceed us in faith, knowledge, and fruitfulness.

In order for this to happen we (parents and school) must have a greater vision for our children than the world’s vision for our children. That vision includes school and parents working together to provide an environment conducive to learning, love, discipline, and stability.

Often, we can be very short-sighted when we approach Christian Education. Are we merely teaching children to obey their parents and to share with their brother or sister, or are we strategically and consistently teaching them in a way that communicates the calling on their life to teach their children who will teach their children to fear the Lord and to walk in His ways? Are we merely providing our young disciples a fun experience at school to help them form meaningful relationships with their peers, or are we diligently establishing traditions in the church and within our families that will endure across generations and establish the people of tomorrow's GMCS firm in their faith? A strategy for ministry to children and their parents must be very explicit and pro-active in pursuing a vision for future generations lest we be left "few in number among the nations. (Adapted from Bethlehem Baptist Church’s Philosophy of Ministry to Children, www.bbcmpls.org)