SCHOOL NEWS

NORWICH, ONTARIO

The Rehoboth Christian School of Norwich, Ontario is seeking applications for a qualified principal-teacher and also a senior teacher for grades 8, 9 and 10, for the next school year.

Those desiring additional information regarding these positions are requested to contact one of the following:

Mr. Henry Scholten, Pres.

8 Main St., East

Norwich, Ontario

Canada N0J-1P0

Tel. 519/863-3825

Mr. John Honcoop, Sec.

46 Main St., East

Norwich, Ontario

Canada N0J-1P0

Tel. 519/863-2127

May the Lord incline hearts unto this work, fulfilling our needs.

CORSICA, SO. DAKOTA

The Netherlands Reformed Christian School of Corsica, So. Dakota is in need of a teacher for grades 5 thru 8 and a possible principal position for the 1982-1983 school year. May the Lord lay the needs in all of our hearts to seek Him at the throne of Grace for the needs of all of our Schools.

Interested applicants contact:

Mr. Henry D. Spaans, President

Box 218

Stickney, So. Dakota 57375

Phone: 605-732-4233

Mr. Cornie Blom, Vice President

R.R. #2

Corsica, So. Dakota 57364

Phone: 605—243-2341

NETHERLANDS REFORMED EDUCATION CONFERENCE – HELD IN KALAMAZOO AUGUST 11-13,1981

The following is an account of the minutes from the three day Netherlands Reformed Congregation Education Conference which was held this past summer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. One of the decisions made at this Conference (during the Synodical Education Committee — Principals’ meeting) was that a special note of thanks should be issued to the congregations for their support of the Conference. Also it was asked that an account of the minutes be printed in the Banner of Truth for the joint benefit of those who could not attend and for the congregations in general.

This past Conference included approximately six hours of doctrinal instruction, open to all Conference participants, and conducted in three morning sessions by the late Rev. A. Vergunst. A brief summary of these and other major presentations are included in the minutes, as well as the details of the Principals’ meeting conducted over the three day Conference. The rest of the Conference consisted of several meetings, workshops, and topic presentations for the teachers, principals, school board members, and Synodical Committee members, and are listed at the end of the article under the heading ‘Conference Program’.

For those of us who were in attendance it is regrettable that the atmosphere of unity and support, which could be especially felt at this Conference, cannot be adequately related in an account such as this. Neither is it possible to reduce all the topics discussed and meetings held into a brief summary — especially the major presentations given. Therefore it has been decided that cassette copies of the major presentations will be made available to the congregations. Details of which topics are available and where you can send for them will follow the minutes.

May all these things redound, not to man’s honor, but to the honor of the Lord and to the extension of His kingdom.

On Tuesday, the conference was opened by the late Rev. A. Vergunst with the singing of Psalter 398 and Psalter 10, all verses. He read Matthew 13:24-35 and then lead the assembly in prayer. In behalf of the principals and the Synodical Education Committee, Rev. Vergunst heartily welcomed all who attended the conference. He remarked what a great privilege it has been to have seen in recent years the many efforts that have been made towards the education of our young people according to God’s precious Word; especially seeing how many years had gone by where the cause of Christian education scarcely had any attention given it in the United States and Canada. This may be viewed as a sign of God’s mercy and goodness. Rev. Vergunst also felt it was a very good thing for all the teachers etc. to come together to discuss the many matters that concern Christian education in hopes that one may be a help for the other. He hoped that all these things would redound to God’s glory and the welfare of our schools.

Rev. Vergunst then proceeded to make some remarks on the portion of God’s Word that was read. In the parable of the wheat and tares we are assured that the work of God in this life will be accompanied by Satan’s influences. Further we may know that God’s true work is never abandoned. He expressed what a blessing it would be if we could see, either now or in the future, fruits meet for the Lord’s ‘garner’ springing forth, even from among our own children. Our attention was then directed to the parable of the mustard seed. Regardless of the size of our field of labor or perhaps the seeming insignificance of it, still we are to call to mind that tiniest of seeds grow into the greatest of herbs. Finally, in applying the parable of the leaven, we should all hope and pray that God may cause the instructions based on His Word to leaven the whole ‘lump’ of our children, who, the Lord willing, are the future of our church.

The first major topic in the morning session, which was directed to all the conference members, was an address by Rev. Vergunst on ‘Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility’. It would be neither possible nor appropriate to reduce this excellent address into a few words. Some highlighting points follow.

Rev. Vergunst reminded us that these two fundamental doctrines of human responsibility and God’s sovereignty should not, and in fact cannot, be separated. They go together. However, though God’s sovereignty underlies and supports all other doctrines, and should underlie and support all preaching and teaching, care should be taken not to try to lessen our feeling of the weight of our responsibility by always bringing sovereignty to the foreground. Rev. Vergunst also defended the harmonious balance between these two fundamental doctrines by the use of Scriptural example and various writings based thereon. He especially mentioned that responsibility stresses our guilt and not that our lives are simply subject to fate, as some might try to assert. This guilt begins with our willful disobedience in Paradise. Rev. Vergunst reminded us that we must press upon the children that this guilt is increasing every day. We must also speak of God’s mercy, which is included in this sovereignty. Thus the Lord is proclaimed as a sovereign, just, and merciful God. Sovereignty proclaims His infinite superiority over all His creatures. We cannot explain every decree of the Lord. We should not even try, for none need to be advocate for God. Let us maintain the doctrine of sovereignty but also stress, time and again, our human responsibility…guilt on our side and justice and mercy on the Lord’s, through Christ. Emphasis also should be made to bring to our children’s consciences what a fullness there is to be found in the Lord and in His ways, and then also to stress the word of the Lord, ‘…how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.’ (Hebrews 2:3)

After this deeply interesting presentation, a question and discussion period followed where Rev. Vergunst responded to questions concerning his topic.

Later in the morning session Mr. David Engelsma, principal of our school in Grand Rapids, gave a very serious and thought provoking presentation on the grave danger of the spreading influence of humanism in American education. Humanism briefly can be described as a religion, way of life, or philosophy where man is the center of importance. Some of the more shocking beliefs of this ideology are included in a statement called The Humanist Manifesto which states the following ideas: There is no God: Every man is his own creator: There is no right or wrong: Ethics are situational: There are no absolutes: There must be no feeling of individuality but we are to live only as part of a group, since it is the humanist’s desire to eventually come under a ‘One-world’ form of government: Man is inherently good: Man is an animal evolved from lower life forms: Common practice should set the standards: Bad environment is to blame for all evil: Abortion, euthanasia, suicide, and other anti-Scriptural ideas and practices are acceptable: Satisfaction in life should be our main goal.

One might be wondering, ‘Is it possible that such horrible precepts are actually being taught outright in the public schools?’ Well, perhaps on the surface it may not appear so, but if we were to closely examine some of the latest textbooks that are in wide-spread use in our country, examine what is currently being taught to future teachers and educators in many college classrooms, and view some of the changes over the years in what is acceptable student behaviour and what is not, we may be in for a very great disappointment. Mr. Engelsma’s presentation was complete with many examples from real life situations and materials, so that a great impression about the seriousness of this threat could be felt by all present. Further, he showed a film which actually included a humanist explaining the humanist philosophy, and also segments that showed how these atheistic and anti-Scriptural ideas are subtily spread in the schools.

Mr. Engelsma discussed how we, as Christian school educators, ought to be on the alert for traces of this influence being brought into our own schools through undesirable textbooks, teaching methods, and standards which taint of humanism. This ‘religion’ of humanism (for so it was defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1961) which has filtered into personal morals, politics, social values, and the public schools must not be allowed entrance into our schools, and subsequently, our children too. May we in the Christian schools and parents at home, as well as children, join in trying to pray for the promise found in Isaiah 62:6, ‘I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.’ Let us not forget, however, that ‘…except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.’ The morning session was closed by Mr. Engelsma with prayer.

In the afternoon session all groups reconvened to hear the topic, ‘Learning Difficulties Associated with Vision Deficiencies,’ presented by Dr. G. Deur. The session was begun with the singing of Psalter 325, followed by the reading of Psalm 119:33-40, after which Dr. Deur led in prayer.

The focus of Dr. Deur’s presentation centered on the practical aspects of vision deficiencies and how they affect classroom learning and behaviour. Dr. Deur explained many of the terms related to the concept of vision and cleared up several misconceptions that we often have concerning terminology used in vision and visual skills. He also showed how the concept of vision encompasses much more than simply sight. This concept is related to the way incoming information is not only brought in by the learner, but also how it is processed. Various techniques and guidelines were discussed that the classroom teacher could use to help detect vision difficulties in students, thereby helping in the screening and referral processes. It was enlightening to see how poor attention span, deficient performances in academic areas, and many other problems can often be attributed to visual deficiencies. An informative handout accompanied his presentation which gives the classroom teacher various symptoms that are to be found in a variety of visual problems.

Later on in the afternoon session Mr. W. Timmer and Mr. M. VanderSpek had a discussion/workshop on the topic of how to go about establishing and/or maintaining parental involvement and contact with the schools. In an open discussion, the assembly met in small groups to list the various techniques and types of programs and projects which were used in the different schools to meet this end. The small groups all presented their results which were then discussed by the whole assembly. This was a helpful idea-sharing session which got us all thinking about the important role parents play in our schools’ operation, and how this role may be enhanced.

At 3:15 the assembly broke up into various separate meetings which can be found on the Conference Program.

In the evening we all enjoyed a dinner prepared jointly by Dorcas Guild Service Committee and Parents’ United, and served by several students.

Rev. Vergunst opened the Wednesday portion of our conference with the singing of Psalter 289 vs. 1, 2, 3 and Psalter 425 vs. 4 & 5. He read Psalm 105, verses 1-15. Afterward, he led in prayer.

Again he welcomed us on this second day of the conference. He expressed what a good thing it is to be together at this time. He looked back at what was said concerning Humanism, expressing that it was his wish that many might have been able to hear it, because it could be instructive to see what is going on around us. He mentioned that there are other dangers also and posed some very striking questions at this time. Is it necessary for us to have our own Christian schools? Is it worth all the sacrifices that are made? Why not try to cooperate with other people to work together in schools that already exist or that may be brought into existance?

In order to begin an answer to these questions, Rev. Vergunst stated that our churches have a particular identity, one that does not only stem from the Reformation of Luther’s era, as many churches may claim, but also from that ‘further Reformation’ of the 17th century, especially found in Holland. This reformation was not a breaking away from the original Reformation, but a desire for total reformation: a reformation of life — a personal reformation. Thus a personal need for each individual to have knowledge of God for himself was stressed. This tore away from man the hiding places of church membership and being under the means of grace. Yes, these are privileges not to be despised, but more is necessary. Thus we are brought to the topic of this address — ‘Covenant Children?’

Rev. Vergunst began by disclaiming the superficial doctrines which deny the necessity of this personal conversion. He also felt reconfirmed by the discussion of Humanism the day before that the public school is not a place where our children should be found. It is something which is almost unimaginable in the Netherlands, and parents there who send their children to public schools (even if we do not have our own denominational school in the area) are objects of church discipline. He also recognized the difficult decision parents have to make when they must see their children go to a christian school that perhaps is not altogether in agreement with our doctrine. Then we see how parents should be admonished to take advantage of the great privilege of sending their children to a school of our own, if one is available.

Concerning the idea of ‘Covenant Children’ we can briefly sum up Rev. Vergunst’s comments thus: Does it mean, as some say, that all our children are partakers of the covenant of grace? Automatically? No. But, on the other hand, should we stress the great responsibility and obligations we and our children are under due to our baptized foreheads and our access to the pure means of grace? Yes. What are we doing with the privileges? He desired that in our christian school this be laid at the hearts of the children, showing them what is to be found in the Lord.

Questions left over from the previous day and ones concerning this topic were then discussed.

to be continued…..

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