A multi-part video series tentatively titled Christian Perspectives on Education has been produced by the Council on Education under The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). The aim is to provide Christian perspectives on the work and mission of Methodist schools. The topics will address issues that Methodist school principals, teachers and staff will face, in particular, how being a Christian educator in Methodist schools affects what they do.
Why was this series created?
The Methodist schools have an important part to play in the MCS’ mission and vision. The teachers and staff already receive much training from the Ministry of Education based on secular themes. However, in recent times, educators have been challenged by various societal movements at odds with the Christian faith.
According to Ms Kwok Wan Yee, Education Secretary of the Council on Education, the series was produced at the suggestion of the Methodist school principals as a primer on Christian perspectives on education and a tool for group discussion. “It is important to keep the Christian perspectives in our schools and live up to our educational mission. The MCS mission is to nurture each new generation of students, raising them to be men and women of godly character and integrity, equipped to make responsible contributions to society. This series hopes to provide pointers for reflection and affirmation for our staff as they carry out their mission in the field of education,” Ms Kwok said.
Addressing core issues
The first three episodes produced will cover:
1. Christian Ethics and the Mission of the School
Rev Nathanael Goh, faculty member of Trinity Theological College and pastor with the Chinese Annual Conference, shares how schools, being communities of mutual learning and benefit, are important to the moral formation of the students.
2. Revisiting Your Calling: Heart, Hope and Humility
Prof Tan Oon Seng, formerly the Director and Dean of Teacher Education at the National Institute of Education (NIE), and now Director of the Centre for Research in Child Development, talks about three kinds of teachers: teachers that need forgiveness, “colourless” teachers and “imperishable” teachers. He draws parallels between teaching and nursing and discusses how genuinely caring and inspiring teachers can leave a lasting legacy through generations of learners.
3. Being a Christian Witness in School
A panel comprising Dr Shirleen Chee, Principal of Anglo-Chinese Junior College; Dr Phillip Towndrow, former Programme Director of the Teacher
Professionalism and Learning Research Programme at the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, NIE; and Mr Wee Tat Chuen, Principal of Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary), discuss the importance of consistency, authenticity and the need for grace and support to be a Christian witness in schools. Remembering who we are, that we are all imperfect; having a community to encourage, uphold and journey with; and accepting that we have to keep learning, are all key to being an effective witness.
More videos are being planned.
Making the videos: Behind-the-scenes
A small group of Methodist school principals were involved in discussions on the format of the videos and topics to be covered. The speakers featured in the videos are all leaders in their own speciality areas and chosen because they strongly believe that education is the beginning of a lifelong journey towards personal and social holiness.
Dr Towndrow is the author of Walking with God as a Christian Parent and Walking with God as a Christian Educator. Prof Tan, a leader in teacher training, was himself mentored by the late Dr Ruth Wong, a pioneer educator who transformed teacher training in Singapore and is a Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame inductee.
“It is an ongoing effort to ensure the Christian character of our schools, and that the vision and mission of the Church is fulfilled. We thank God for the many who heeded his call to be teachers, and by God’s grace, they have impacted generations. We thank God also for the many partners in this ministry, including parents, alumni, church members and volunteers who give of their time and talent,” Ms Kwok said.
