The Christian Teacher

A Christian School is no greater than its faculty.  Though teachers must recognize their limitations, they must also be aware of the power of God in a practical way and demonstrate this in their lives and teaching ministries.  This assumes that each teacher of necessity gives evidence of knowing Christ as their personal Savior.

Each faculty member must be committed to the ministry and to First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake and to the mission and philosophy of Westwood Christian Schools.

Teachers must do more than impart knowledge to students.  Proper organization of material and conduct of classes would be expected in any school.  Teachers must be wholly committed to following and obeying Christ, thus being wholly committed to a life of service to man for Christ’s sake.

Satan will bring discouragement and temptations, but God is greater than he/she. Thus each faculty member must be diligent in his/her devotional life and to walk humbly before God. Students should see the fruit of the Spirit manifested in the life of the teacher increasingly day by day.

Teachers should have a passion and commitment to the specific subject areas in which one teaches with an understanding how they fit into the larger mission and goals of the school. There should be a desire for improvement in one’s teaching ministry, a familiarity of what is happening in ones teaching area by reviewing appropriate literature, gleaning new ideas, aware of significant materials and the incorporation of what is suitable into ones teaching ministry.

He/she should possess academic and professional learning necessary to perform his task.  The teacher should be committed to maintaining and improving upon academic credentials needed to carry out his responsibilities.

The teacher should be committed to principles of teaching that provide variety and are directed toward specific objectives.  Objectives that go beyond the mere acquisition of facts, recognizing at least five levels of learning: 

1. Exposure level-awareness of the content of the subject
2. Activation level - doing something with the content (drills, recitations, explanations, illustrations, other devices for reinforcement)
3. Comprehension level - relating content to other areas of knowledge and experience (connecting truth and forming patterns of thought)
4. Conviction level - truth becomes part of the student’s life
5. Application level - putting truth into practice. 

These are summarized in Deuteronomy 31:12, hear, learn, fear and do.

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