A Simple Definition

In Social Studies, Laura has been studying a little of the history of Christian Education.  She's read about the Middle Ages and John Wycliff.  She studied about how Jesus was taught in the Temple.  She learned about how Christians should take seriously the teaching of others.

Perhaps my favorite lesson for her was the simple definition she was given on the word Education.  Education is learning how to live.  Isn't that beautiful?

So often it is easy to get complicated, caught up in standards and the next lesson.  But the truth is very simple.  If a child goes to school and gets the best of teachers and books, but doesn't know how to live, then what has he gained?  That simple definition encompasses so much more than knowledge.  Learning how to live means learning to live with wisdom.  Knowledge and wisdom are two entirely different things.  The simple definition also leads me to consider the habits and character we are instilling in our children.  Good habits and good character will do a lot more than a bunch of knowledge.  Knowledge can always be acquired, but the other things come from true education.

This simple definition definitely should encourage those of us that are striving to teach our children, not only about math and science, but about how to live for Jesus.   As a Christian, if learning how to live is education, there is no life without Jesus Christ.