Biblical vs. Secular approach to education: What's the difference?

[Jay313 (Jay Johnson)]

@Ashley_Lande

There are gaps in every education.

True. I should clarify that I was not criticizing homeschooling in general. Just throwing up a caution flag based on my own experience. Your mileage may vary …

@Ashley_Lande

And while a secular versus Biblical view might not matter in, say, math, I would say it matters a great deal in something like literature and history.

Not true. Is there a Biblical history of the Civil War that differs from the secular history? Is there a Biblical method for analyzing a short story or poem that is different from the secular method?

@Ashley_Lande

for someone hoping to instill a worldview in their children that recognizes Christ’s death and resurrection as the defining event of history, using secular materials in ‘all subjects’ is not necessarily the best course. I feel implicit in that is the view that secular materials are necessarily ‘better’ or ‘more advanced’.

I hope you succeed in your goal. But I trust you’ll understand what I mean when I say that your own example of faith will do much more to instill that worldview than a stack of textbooks.

I suppose I should explain my earlier comment. On curricula and texts, my general impression is that secular materials are better. Too many authors of Christian “worldview” texts and materials are not subject matter experts. Again, I’m speaking in general, and I’m sure there are excellent Christian homeschool materials. @Christy seems aware of some of them. But it is hard to separate the wheat from the chaff if you don’t know what to look for, and most parents don’t know what to look for. In any case, rather than risk choosing a subpar curriculum just because it carries the “Christian” label, I simply suggest picking the best educational materials you can find and supplementing them with separate lessons on Christianity and the Bible. That’s how I would approach it if I were in your shoes. But, of course, I’m not, and they probably would pinch my feet if I tried.

I also want to say that in your role as teacher, you are never tied down and held captive by your materials. Just because you are working from a secular curriculum does not mean that Christ becomes an afterthought. You remain in control, and you can work your faith into any and every lesson, no matter the source. That is part of the “art of teaching.”