Providence Classical Christian School

Our Educational Vision:

Partnering with Christian Families

The core of a child's world is his family.  Children learn about what they should believe and how they should live more from the family than from anywhere else.  We believe that the Bible clearly instructs parents, and specifically the father, to "bring children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).  The father, or head of household, is ultimately responsible for his or her child's education. Providence seeks to determine how every school decision will affect the families involved.  We desire to provide necessary educational experiences without diminishing a student's necessary time at home. 

Providence recognizes its place beside the family and not in place of the family. We understand that we are a part, not the whole, of the education a child receives.  We, therefore, exist to assist families in their task of raising faithful children. Providence offers an education distinct from others by dividing the work of education among the staff. This division of labor enables each teacher to become specialized in his particular subject or grade.  Because of this division of labor and specialization, we are able to offer an education that is distinct from other means that are available.

Providence functions in loco parentis, which, in Latin, literally means "in place of the parents".  The concept of in loco parentis encompasses the beliefs outlined below:

1.       The father or head of household is ultimately responsible for the education his or her child receives.

2.       The education a child receives at Providence is a part and not the whole of bringing up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

3.       When sending a child to Providence, parents temporarily delegate their authority to the school during the school day.

4.       Providence assists parents to develop the character of their children through moral, academic and physical training.

5.       Providence should enhance and build upon what is taught at home.  Therefore, basic agreement between parent and school in the doctrines of Christian faith and how that faith works itself out is vital.

Our faculty are the heart of the training each student receives at Providence.  At school, the faculty are the persons through whom maturity is borne in the student.  The faculty have a profound influence on the students' love for learning, their fellowship with others in the classroom and ultimately on their understanding of how the lordship of Christ affects all things. Providence seeks teachers who:

1.        Love the Lord

Our faculty first have a love of the Lord.  They demonstrate in their lives a commitment to biblical principles and to Christian character.  This is evidenced both in their ability to articulate their beliefs and in how they fellowship with their neighbor.

2.        Love the Students

None of the above is relevant if the faculty does not also love the students.  It is through a love for each student that each course at all levels is communicated.  This love begins with a model of education that matches the student's frame and is coupled with loving discipline that grows into discipleship in the older grades.  The final goal of classical education is not a mere transfer of ideas, but it is true mentorship built upon a teacher's knowledge of the students' strengths and weaknesses and a desire to see the student mature.

3.        Love Learning

The faculty love learning.  A proper love of learning is contagious in the classroom, infusing the students with a desire apply themselves to further study. The faculty must also love learning so that they may continue to grow in the subject matter they teach - and even subject matter they don't teach - in order to be equipped to teach more fully and to create an enhanced culture of education at the school.

4.        Love Subject Matter

Very much like a love of learning, each faculty member loves the subject matter they teach.  When this is the case, an unquenchable desire to bestow the wisdom of a particular subject to the student is found in the faculty.  This desire imparts in the faculty member skills that cannot be gained in teacher training courses. 

Our teacher's love of the Lord, love for the students, love of learning, and love of their subject matter affect the look of our classrooms.  These loves drive them to fulfill the mission of Providence: to partner with Christian parents in educating their children, in the classical tradition, to think and act biblically and to pursue academic excellence in joyful submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.  They do this by exposing the students to the truth, beauty, and goodness of God throughout their coursework and by not being satisfied until the students see it, too. 

We begin by assuming that our students recognize Christ as Lord of all life.  But, as Christians, we are not given knowledge of truth, beauty and goodness at salvation; we are only given the eyes to begin to see those things.  Therefore, Providence seeks to teach the students what is true, good, and beautiful.  Each student must be taught to understand the objectivity of these things as defined by the Word of God.  The student must be taught to love that which is good and Godly and hate that which is evil and God-hating.  Therefore Providence understands its place as a part of the sanctifying work of God in each student's life, but not a part of the saving work of God.  That is His alone.

The role of the student at Providence involves submission to his teachers in pursuit of his vocational calling as a student. The students are placed under the authority of a master or masters to gain knowledge, understanding, and eventually wisdom from those whom the Lord has given to them as teachers. Students are expected to work diligently as unto the Lord, to love their classmates as brothers and sisters in Christ, and to seek Godly wisdom and virtue.