Day 3

There were three major philosophers that impacted the educational development throughout history. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were all “characters” discussed and unpacked in my philosophy class this last semester as well. Socrates believed in the idea of self-examination and moral excellence. He defended the academic freedom to think, question and teach (68). Plato viewed reality as universal and eternal and claimed that the knowledge theory was reminiscence. This is the idea that a person can recall ideas present but buried in their minds (70). Finally, Aristotle saw reality as objective and he thought that humans had the ability to think and reason. He viewed knowledge as concepts based on objects (72). In philosophy we studied the idea of what is knowledge and where does it come from when we looked at the worldview questions. As Christians, we know what we know through interaction with the world whether it be through experience, reason, or faith. We place a priority on faith in our lives and that might be the best way to explain how we have knowledge. I think that I would agree with a lot of what Aristotle believed because we do have the ability to think and reason. However, the arguments that Plato and Socrates present are also true to the extent that we do have the freedom to think, question and teach and we can recall ideas in our own minds.

The ideas of education have changed a lot throughout the periods in time. During the Medieval Times the foundations of the university were established. The use of math and science were also brought into the Western world. The Renaissance Classical humanist educators developed a more, well-rounded, liberal education. During the Protestant Reformation there was a greater emphasis on literacy and vernacular education. This emphasis influenced many Colonial American Schools. The Enlightenment Period shaped the American political and educational institutions. The purpose of education was viewed as the process of transmitting and preserving the culture from one generation to the next. While that can be an underlying theme in my purpose for pursuing education, I really feel as though I have been called to be the light in certain schools and certain lives one day. I know that God has a purpose for me and that even though the world is a fallen place, he has saved me and now it is my duty to go out and share His love with others.

For the duration of educations history the view of the role of women has changed and their presence in the classroom as developed as well. Starting out, women were not allowed to be educated and their roles were to be a mother. As time went on women began to play a larger role in educating their children. Around the time of Martin Luther, during the Protestant Reformation, there was a lot of stress put on the education of all people, children included. They were to be educated with the proper religious doctrine. There were young men and women who were able to attend school and Luther stressed that everyone should read the Bible, men and women (86). While reading this it dawned on me once again how lucky I am. The fact that in the past women were not even allowed to be educated themselves and now I am at an institution where I can gain the knowledge to one day educate a group of students on my own is such a blessing.

The world is a fallen place and the entire world needs redemption. However, as claimed by Plantinga “godly obedience liberates people and helps them flourish” (85). He also quotes Calvin in saying, “until we grown into one body with him.” Plantinga points out that Calvin is talking about union with Christ (81). I think it is very important for Christians to remember this union and state of shalom as an entire body of Christ.  Though the world is fallen, God also displays great grace for all of us. He accepts sinners and does so through sanctification and justification. We are not defeated in this sin and we can rise above it to the best of our abilities with the help of God. Just like the “cure” to the longings is God, the “cure” to redemption from the fall is God also. I thought that Plantinga’s statement, “A person needs to attach to Christ by prayer, sacraments, and listening to the Word of God. A person needs to trust Christ, to lean on him, to surrender to him, to shape his life to fit inside Christ’s kingdom” (91). I found that statement quite powerful while reading the chapter. I think he nailed it. As a Christian it is important to remember all of those things and I hope to shape my life to fit inside Christ’s kingdom and be a great example of that to my students. Plantinga goes on later and says, “By opening his heart to the grace of God and by striving to obey God’s will, a Christian may acquire the virtues that fit a Christian life and may begin to perform the good works that flow from them” (92). These two claims by Plantinga are really things that I want to remember and strive to meet as a Christian in this world and as a teacher in whatever classroom I end up in.