Posted in Non-Traditional Schooling
The Origin and Unity of Educational Subjects-Why Should We Care?
Why is it important to understand the origin & unity of subjects in education?
First of all, the individuality and uniqueness of subjects is easier to identify than their origin and unity; although they are more individual and unique than we may think. But, what about their origin? What about unity? Let’s first address their unity; and in finding what unites them, we lay the foundation for discovering their origin.
What is unity? Well, unity is “the state of being one; oneness…unity is a thing undivided itself, but separate from every other thing.” [1828 Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language] So, simply stated, when something is united, it is undivided.
Secondly, let’s determine what we mean by subjects or subject matter in defining “education”. The subject matter we seek to teach our children is, of course, for the purpose of their education. “…Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations...” [1828 Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language] In education, we seek to provide our children with subject matter that is of good and redeemable value intended to enlighten the understanding…
So we come back to our first question; how are ‘subjects of education’ ‘unified’; that is, undivided? Haven’t we generally seen all subjects as fairly unrelated? What does science have to do with history, and what does history have to do with language, etc. But even if they are unified, how does this change how I teach? And, lastly, why does it matter?
The last shall be first—why does it matter? We’re all very familiar with the Scriptures of John 1:1-3a—In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him…” And, John 14:6—“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.’” Accordingly, all things were made through Christ and the only way to the Father is through Christ.
If all things were made through Christ and the only way to the Father is through Christ, then isn’t everything that is good and of redeemable value through Christ? Anything that we seek to teach our children that is good “intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations”, be it mathematics, language, science, history, etc., must have its source and origin in Christ because “all things came into being by him.” Not to say that the subjects haven’t been affected by the fall of man…but that is part of the teaching and learning process starting at the origin of a subject and progressing through the changes as life digressed in a fallen world.
So one of the reasons that all subjects, which are ‘intended to enlighten the understanding’, are unified, is because they originated in Christ—when all things came into being through Him as reflected in God’s Word.
How does that change our teaching? If we are to teach our subjects in line with the truth, it is good to begin at the beginning showing their origin and unity in Christ, just as God’s Word begins at the beginning. Then we will be teaching our children a deeper understanding of the things of the Lord. And I love how Noah Webster’s definition of education ends—“…To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.” [1828 Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language]
Staying faithful,
Karen
