In any discussion, practical or philosophical, it is most helpful to begin with a clear and common understanding of the terms used in the discussion. In essence, it is wise to start at the beginning with the basics. It is said that Vince Lombardi began each training camp with this seemingly obvious introduction: "Men, this is a football." His players had undoubtedly spent countless hours with the thing, and yet the most basic and most fundamental element of the game is the very place the famed coach began. We have begun to discuss and pray about starting a school... so brethren, what is EDUCATION? The word means many things to different people and conjures up various images, opinions, emotions, and aspirations. In our conversation, we must be of one mind regarding this matter because it will shape the rest of our discussions. Additionally, we must understand the role the school has in education. This is the beginning.¹

What is education or what does it mean to educate? The word comes from the Latin word educare, meaning to bring up, to nourish to maturity, to rear.² It has the sense of encompassing all of those actions in which a parent engages in order to facilitate and nurture the child’s growth to maturity. In the Vulgate the word is used in Ephesians 6:4b, "…educate illos in disciplina et correptione Domini." The verb form, in the imperative case, means "Raise!" or "You[pl] raise!"³ The word that is translated educate in Latin is rendered "bring up" in most English translations of the scripture⁴.

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (NKJV)

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord. (ASV)

The apostle Paul assumes that the educating or rearing of children is happening and should be done a certain way, that is, in the training and admonition of the Lord. Note also that in this text fathers are specifically given the injunction to provide a godly context for the raising or educating of children. Noah Webster in his 1828 dictionary gives us this:

EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. 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. 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.⁵

His explanation of the verb form is also very helpful.

ED'UCATE, v.t. [L. educo, educare; e and duco, to lead.] To bring up, as a child; to instruct; to inform and enlighten the understanding; to instill into the mind principles of arts, science, morals, religion and behavior. To educate children well is one of the most important duties of parents and guardians.⁶

A modern Merriam-Webster dictionary tells us that education is, "the action or process of educating or of being educated."⁷ It further states that "to educate" is to train by formal instruction and supervised practice, and to develop mentally, morally, or aesthetically, especially by way of instruction.

These definitions give us a few key ideas embodied by the word. First, education is a dynamic activity. It involves process and practice. Secondly, it is often specific and directed. There ought to be explicit instruction involved with identified goals in mind or at least directed activities with an end in view. (It could be argued that children are also educated simply through experiences. As much as this is true, it argues in favor of a planned and conscientious attempt by parents to shape and ensure profit from each life experience.) Thirdly, it is progressive and ongoing. Although not specifically stated in the definitions cited, it can be assumed that any process of development of the human faculties is incomplete and therefore must be ongoing. While we yet live on the earth we will be in need of more education. Lastly, it is holistic. The entire child, every facet of the person, is the target of education.

An excellent and succinct statement defining education is given by R.L. Dabney who wrote, "Education is the nurture and development of the whole man for his proper end."⁸ The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks the next obvious question. If education is to nurture and develop the whole man for his proper end, then… "What is the chief end of man?" In his definition, Dabney lays before us three important elements of education. He names the activities of education (nurture and develop), the subject of education (the whole man), and the objective of education (man’s proper end). So then what is that end? The Westminster divines reply, "Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." John Milton wrote, The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents by regaining to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as we may the nearest by possessing our souls of true virtue, which being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the highest perfection.⁹ We can say that education is the entire activity of raising a child to love and fear God.¹⁰ This is not merely the activity of the Sunday school and pulpit or family devotions. Nor is education merely that activity that occurs in the school or classroom. It is all of it together. It should also include play, sport, and other recreations. In each of these activities, learning of one kind or another is taking place. Education is the entire activity of raising up a child to maturity and beyond. Furthermore, it has one single supreme goal. All of a child’s education has one end in view… Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Cor.10:31) …bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... (II Cor.10:5b)

If education is such a multifaceted endeavor, what is the role of the school in such a task? Surely the school cannot provide all that a child needs to be nurtured into maturity? Some have thought that possible and perhaps some boarding schools of the past have attempted to achieve that goal. Unfortunately, many in our society think that an education is something one "gets" at school. This perspective has laid an impossible burden on the public school system. It has spawned many classes, programs, and services that would be accomplished better in a home. A school, lacking real parental authority and complete access to the child, will always fall short of providing a full education. A school is neither a home nor a church (and teachers are neither fathers nor pastors). It cannot replace the educational responsibilities of those sacred institutions.

So then ideally, what can we expect of a school? Or what is the purpose of the school at all? The purpose of an educational institution is to assist parents in the training of children to live and operate in God’s world in a manner that would most honor and glorify the Lord of all.

Every study and class in any subject has this same end. Students should become scholars in the language arts because God’s revelation of the Gospel is communicated through words. God has revealed himself in words; therefore, we must read well. We must write and speak with eloquence because our God is the God who has spoken. Students should be taught to recognize the hand of God in providence (i.e. the study of history) and in creation (i.e. the study of math and science). To this should be added the fine arts as a means to develop a proper sense of beauty and creative expression as is fitting of an image bearer of the Creator Himself. These and other subjects should all work to equip children to think and act in the world and culture God has placed them. Whether the student is eventually called to a secular or sacred vocation, he should excel in it to the building of the kingdom of God and the honor of His name.

The role of the school is to aid parents in providing some help in certain parts of a child’s education. The subjects themselves are just portions of the whole body of learning that makes up an education. Unfortunately, no single institution can provide all of the training and instruction or all of the experiences and correction that children need to be well educated. Nevertheless, the school can often, by the wise division of labor and economy of scale, provide better instruction in several subject areas. Where parents feel unqualified to teach some things to their children, they may delegate, or contract out, some portions of the child’s instruction. By dividing up the subject areas, experts in the various fields can be contracted to teach the children giving greater educational opportunity to the child. The school can also provide a cohesive curriculum that works together from year to year, common instructional and administrative practices, objective standards of scholarship, and the strength of developed best practices shared between teachers and practiced year to year. In short, the role of the school is to do the things that many parents feel they cannot do themselves.

Perhaps if we, as a society, were to better understand the grand scope of a true education, we might better strive after it for our children in every facet of life. Perhaps we would better practice the strategy commanded in Deut. 6:6-9… "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Perhaps if we were to appreciate the school’s limited ability to provide a full education, we might liberate schools to do those things it can do well. Perhaps if we can create a school that truly aids parents in this grand endeavor, we might have a generation of people that far surpass us in usefulness in the Kingdom of God. Perhaps we should envision a school that aids parents as it reinforces the home’s moral training, that supplements and expands on the application of the preached Word, and that provides an atmosphere and level of instruction that we never experienced.