Eureka at EurECA

By Mrs Ruby Holland, St Paul's Grammar School

Posted on 23 June 2009

For an Australian, the term ‘Eureka' conjures up images of foolhardy bravery at the Eureka Stockade or of scientific discovery in Archimedes' bathroom. In ‘eduspeak' we refer to the ‘Eureka moment', a surprising flash of understanding which has a long-term impact on the learning of a student. There were many Eureka moments at the EurECA (European Educators' Christian Association) Conference in Vevey, Switzerland in May, held under the auspices of The Evangelical Alliance.

The seven Australians who attended brought an understanding from a different context to the proceedings and included Bryan Cowling (Anglican Education Commission), Alison Weldon (AEC), Tim and Pam Wright (Shore), Bill and Ruby Holland (St Paul's Grammar) and Rob Herschell (Heritage Christian College). We gathered to hear Dr. David Smith from Calvin College (appropriately in this 500^th anniversary year of Calvin's birth) speak on ‘Faith in Pedagogy: Changing Visions of Learning'. Dr Smith, as a leading Christian language educator, brought deep insights from his study of the impact of various theories of learning on the pedagogy of language teaching.

At the heart of each learning theory, be it behaviourist, Rogerian or constructivist, lies an understanding of people which can only ever capture part of the learning process because all fail to capture the full, biblical picture of students, whose biggest need is spiritual. For many at the conference, the Eureka moment came with the challenge to go beyond such narrow, historically contingent constructions of our subjects and to transform them in a creative and life-changing way. Dr. Smith used the example of language texts treating students primarily as consumers/tourists rather than spiritual beings in need of challenge to their personal values and cross-cultural understanding. Equally, a consumer emphasis in the text results in a lingering distortion of the life and culture of the speakers of that language.

While Dr. Smith's analysis was helpful, it referred to Christian thinking in the curriculum/pedagogy area of the school only. Such an approach depends for its success on a cohesive approach to Christian education which includes forums for evangelism and discipling, pastoring and nurturing. The whole learning community then aligns its energies in an imaginative and beguiling Christian framework for meaning, whether this is constructed as ‘nurture' or worldview development. Further, Dr. Smith's presentation opened up for this observer the perennial challenge for Christian educators in treading a fine line between ‘common grace' truths available to all and the distinctives of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I suspect there are far fewer ‘eureka moments' in meeting this challenge and more consistent, rigorous reflection-on-research-and-praxis moments.

Overwhelmingly, fellowship with Christian educators from across Europe was very special, sitting in a lush spring meadow overlooking both Lake Geneva and the snow-covered Alps. A principal of the only Christian school in Bulgaria, a pastor from Romania, a support teacher from Switzerland and English educators, Trevor and Margaret Cooling are just some of those who informally encouraged and challenged all conferees. The overwhelming impression is of a post-Christian Europe with educators involved in a constant struggle against enormous secularising pressures.  What a privileged and blessed position we are in New South Wales, with SRE and state and federal funding for faith-based schools. Pray that we will wisely use this gracious provision and pray also for our evangelical sisters and brothers in Europe.