School to ‘train Christian leaders'

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 17

School to ‘train Christian leaders'

A school which uses the Bible as its text-book, and where pupils learn from self-instructional booklets and tapes as well as ,'rom a teacher, opened in Christchurch earlier this year.

The Koinonia Christian School educates 29 pupils, aged from seven to 12, under the Accelerated Christian Education Programme. devised in the United States more than nine years ago by Dr Donald Howard, a pastor and evangelist. The school occupies a leased building in Ferry Road, Woolston. The Accelerated Christian Education Programme, which can be used by pupils of any denomination, incorporates teaching about Christian life and action into traditional school subjects, such as English, reading, spelling, science, social studies, and mathematics. A new school set up in the United States in 1970 was the first to use the programme, and it is now used by more than 2000 schools around the world. Most are in the United States, but there are 24 in

Australia and 13 in New Zealand, including four in the South Island. I he.se are at Nelson, Hokitika, Rangiora, and Christchurch. A feature of the programme is that pupils learn at their own speed, using self-instructional P.A.C.E. (packet of Accelerated Christian Education) booklets, and tapes, supplied by the programme’s headquarters in ballas, Texas. Two children of the same age may therefore be working at different levels. Pastor Ron Wallace, principal of Koinonia, and pastor of the Faith Community Church, which sponsors the school, says its aim is to train children to be Christian leaders. The school is not taking children out of society, but is training them to go into society as Christian men and women, strong in what they believe. Christian parents in Christchurch have wanted such a school for a long time, Pastor Wallace says. The Accelerated Christian Education Programme provides Christian children

with an education “permeated” by Christian life and action. Koinonia covers the State school curriculum but in a Christian way. Children “achieve” at their own level through the programme. He cites as an example the child who has missed school through illness and who can come into the programme at the level with which he or she can cope. Koinonia (the Greek word for sharing) is the first stage in a long-term plan. Christian leaders hope it will eventually serve mainly pupils of secondary school age, and that local churches will educate younger children, using the programme. Any church could use the programme and feed pupils into the secondary school, Pastor Wallace says. With this goal in mind, the school has its sights on a 2ha property in Opawa. and is trying to raise $lOO,OOO to buy the land and prefabricated buildings to go on it. A “one thousand founders” scheme has been launched

through which people are invited to give money, or make interest free loans. About S3OOO to S4OOO has been raised so far. With their own buildings, Pastor Wallace, says Koinonia could cater tor three times the number of pupils now enrolled. In time, he sees the school having its own uniform. At present, Koinonia leases a building from St John’s Anglican Church, Woolston. The large main room has been furnished as a classroom, or learning centre as the programme defines it. Brightly painted desks with high wooden partitions on each side, so the child cannot see his or her neighbour, line the walls. Each is called the pupil’s “office.” A small library has been set up in an adjoining room. Mrs Mary Flaws, a State-trained teacher, is the supervisor, and she is assisted each day by two volunteer teacher-aids, known as monitors. A Christchurch businessman, Mr David Wilkinson, is deputy principal, and will ’"‘er "take over as principal. J

Parents pay a weekly fee of $lO plus about $3 for booklets, for their first child at the school. This works out at about $520 a year. This fee reduces to $8 a week plus the cost of booklets for the- second child, $6 for the third child, and $5 for the fourth child. The Koinonia day begins at 8.50 a.m. when pupils gather to pledge their honour to those in authority in New Zealand, to God and to the Bible. They sing, read from the Scriptures, and pray before settling down to their academic work. Some pupils work on the P.A.C.E. booklets; others are taken aside lor group activities such as reading and spelling, using a tape. Although the programme material is prepared in the United States, it has been “internationalised” for use in any country. Pastor Wallace says New Zealanders are now supplying material. The booklets provide the pupils’ lessons. Mrs Flaws supervises their learning, and goes through sections with them if they

have misunderstood something or are having other difficulties. When pupils finish a topic in any subject they must do a selfmarking test, and at the end of the booklet pupils pass a test marked by the supervisor before they can move on to the next level. The booklets are supplemented by project work. After lunch, various activities may be arranged, such as craft work, nature talks by pupils, walks, or sport. Although the school has no recreational facilities of its own, a reserve is nearby and the Woolston Primary School gives the use of its swimming pool. Pupils go on field trips to factories, shops, and other places of interest. Pastor Wallace says it is hoped to bring in specialist teachers to train pupils in singing, and manual subjects such as cooking, clothing, and woodwork. Koinonia pupils are contented, and responsive, Pastor Wallace says. They are keen, enjoy their work, and mix well.

By

Margaret Butler