The Shelly Beach blogsite. Philosophy. Apologetics. Theology. Humour. Worship. Prayer requests. Comments.
For a while now i have been concerned that this blog would be seen as a representative voice for the views held by those at Shelly Beach Christian Life Centre. Ususally not a problem as the posts are ususally generic and invite comment from all directions of faith... This however can restrict comments in someway ......... so the blog must go on but with a new name and be open to all and with a new 'take no prisoners' attitude.........
Not only must we honestly announce that pain and work are the irremovable and irreducible accompaniments of genuine learning, not only must we leave entertainment to the entertainers and make education a task and not a game, but we must have no fears about what is “over the public’s head.” Whoever passes by what is over his head condemns his head to its present low altitude; for nothing can elevate a mind except what is over its head; and that elevation is not accomplished by capillary attraction, but only by the hard work of climbing up ropes, with sore hands and aching muscles. The school system which caters to the median child, or worse, to the lower half of the class; the lecturer before adults—and they are legion—who talks down to his audience; the radio or television program which tries to hit the lowest common denominator of popular receptivity—all these defeat the prime purpose of education by taking people as they are and leaving them just there.”
From Adler's “Invitation to the Pain of Learning,” in Reforming Education: The Opening of the American Mind (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1988), 232-233, 235.
Those who teach in the church, particularly with our children and youth, must consider Adler's words. In the world of youth ministry, not only do we lower the bar of expectations but we succumb to the cultural tempation to entertain rather than teach. It is no wonder that "in spite of their generally positive attitude toward religion, almost no teenagers...can articulate the most basic beliefs of their faith."
