This week I was at a regional UMSI luncheon and heard someone begin to say something about a classical charter school and then stopped before voicing their opinion.  I told them I wanted to hear what they had to say, and they proceeded to explain that they felt that a classical education without Christ is missing the key of knowledge.  We need to raise up a generation of believers with the wisdom, knowledge, skills and faith to reconstruct nations according to the wisdom and rule of Jesus Christ.  I often hear people say that man is created with a god shaped whole in their heart that can only be filled with Jesus.  I believe St. Augustine said it better when he wrote, “Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.[1]” If our education is not revealing Christ to our children, then they are missing the most important and satisfying educational objective.

I think it is important that we promote Christian charity through the conviction that every person and every family has to hear God personally and follow His leading with their educational choices.  We also have to recognize that, because Christian education is not free today, not everyone can afford a Christian education.  We are unique at Fortis in that we are also classical and University Model, requires additional commitment from families to participate in.  The point is that it is a great privilege to me to be able to educate my daughters at Fortis.  I have personally witnessed their faith, character and skills grow tremendously at Fortis Academy.  When I got home today, Eliya was telling me how excited she was about the speech she was writing because she prayed for understanding and experienced God answering her prayers and opening up scripture to her.  I know that I am not the only parent who has seen their children’s faith grow at Fortis.  Recently, Karynna Allan gave an incredibly moving message at morning assembly.  She told the whole student body that if it wasn’t for Fortis Academy, she would not love Jesus today as much as she does.

Another important aspect of a good education is training our children to be successful in the world.  One of the ways we do this is by requiring them to do things that are uncomfortable.  Many parents today will often make excuses for their children and not encourage them to do that which is difficult for them.  I often have to tell students that if they give a speech and completely mess it up, the fact that they were willing to do something they are uncomfortable with and are able to overcome their fears, that they are exhibiting the character that will help them become successful in life.  It would not be right to name names, but some of our students who are able to give extremely powerful speeches were once almost debilitated with fear.  I also know that because we have a co-teaching model, that parents paid a heavy price to help them face their fears.  They were held to standards and expectations that were uncomfortable and costly, but the results turned out to be worth it.  We are living in a day where irresponsibility and excuses are the norm in the upbringing of children.  At Fortis, we have a whole community that is committed to forming excellence of character and virtue in our children.

Our goal is for our children to be well prepared to succeed in the world, and while there are many aspects to an excellent education, without Christ it all ultimately is unprofitable.

[1] Augustine of Hippo, “The Confessions of St. Augustin,” in The Confessions and Letters of St. Augustin with a Sketch of His Life and Work, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. J. G. Pilkington, vol. 1, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886), 45.