School bullying: Zero-tolerance to mutual respect
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School bullying: Zero-tolerance to mutual respect

I find it interesting that fostering healthy, rights-respecting relationships emerges as the most effective way to prevent bullying, abuse, sexual exploitation, rape culture and other forms of violence against young persons. Sounds Biblical to me.

Building on the cornerstone
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Building on the cornerstone

The cornerstone of Christian education is to see God in all things, with a goal to help students build on this foundation.

Back to classroom teaching
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Back to classroom teaching

In Scripture Jesus is sometimes called Teacher or Rabbi, a teacher of the law, but I doubt he ever taught statistics; it is possible he may have taught carpentry. However, from Jesus’ teaching of his disciples, we learn that true teaching is a sacred act of love for your students.

The Bible as a fantastic comedy
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The Bible as a fantastic comedy

C.S. Lewis once argued that realistic fiction might actually be the most dangerous genre of literature for Christians, including Christian children. As he pointed out, few children really expect to meet a dragon because of reading fantasy, but many may come to believe that getting rich through hard work is a primary human value after reading certain “realistic” fiction.

Who’s in charge?
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Who’s in charge?

When you’re a teacher, you’re a leader. I once attended a workshop where the presenter asked, “Who’s in charge of your classroom?” After two incorrect responses from the audience, I raised my hand and said, “I am.” That’s the answer he was looking for.

Campus ministry: The unpublished stories
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Campus ministry: The unpublished stories

If you’re the praying type – and I suspect you are – please do send up a prayer for your campus ministers! A word of encouragement, too, should the opportunity arise. It’ll mean the world to the folks who’ve been called to this good work.

A tribute to the life of Rev. Dr. Henry R. DeBolster

A tribute to the life of Rev. Dr. Henry R. DeBolster

Henry DeBolster and I shared a journey of 40 years focused on Christian higher education and centred on what has become Redeemer University College. I’ve had this privilege, or as Henry might say, this “particular” privilege, largely because of his faith, vision and encouragement.

A blessing for graduates

A blessing for graduates

God remains excessively ambitious. All indications are that God is still very serious about completely renovating “the works.” This includes you and me and absolutely everything else he created. Do you see what an immense project this is?

Teaching math faithfully

Teaching math faithfully

My passion for teaching was fostered by being raised in a Christian home and blessed with a Christian education.

What makes an education ‘Christian’?
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What makes an education ‘Christian’?

Does hiring Christian teachers and administrators automatically yield a Christian education? Well-meaning and sincere Christians have taken very different approaches to Christian education and scholarship. What follows are six examples.

I owe you all a sabbatical
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I owe you all a sabbatical

As most people know, a sabbatical for academics is a period, typically one year or a half year, during which many of our normal responsibilities are put aside.

What the world needs now

What the world needs now

In my last column, “Stepping back from the firehose” (Dec. 8, 2014), I wrote about the different approaches Christians have taken to culture and how those approaches have worked themselves out in Christian education. I ended the column by saying:

We need to step back from the firehose a bit – and ask ourselves what the world around us really needs. How can we, as Christians, help our kids to speak to the longings of a broken world that is bathed in bits, drowning in information and struggling to find meaning? If we can find the answer to that question, Christian schools will have found a new educational purpose – and the classrooms will fill up again.