I am taking a sabbatical as I organize my thoughts to answer, Why a Lutheran School I want to present a perspective of Lutheran schools for 21st Century families, that faithfully reflects the mission of Christ, as visioned by President Newton, and makes sense to our education professionals.,

I started teaching about 40 years ago. I’ve been through a number of educational reforms; some with more enthusiasm than others. The one constant in those reforms was the tendency to cast all current strategies as obsolete. This is still true today. My intent for 2012 is to use this forum to put 21st century teaching strategies into perspective. Personally, I like trying new things. But new hasn’t always been better, and the best and the brightest haven’t always been right. That puts my opinion into perspective, as well.

In the world of 21st century education, the skill and importance of memorization gets minimized, or even lost, in the quest for higher order thinking skills. The following quote is typical of 21st century education enthusiasts.

“Knowledge is not memorization of facts and figures, but is constructed through research and application, and connected to previous knowledge, personal experience, interests, talents and passions. The skills and content become relevant and needed as students require this information to complete their projects.  The content and basic skills are applied within the context of the curriculum, and are not ends in themselves.”(http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/What_is_21st_Century_Education.htm)

I think this opinion is correct, but it is also misleading. Knowledge is certainly more than the memorization of facts and figures, but you can’t have knowledge without content. Neither can you sustain knowledge, if you don’t commit it to memory. Current brain research tells us that one cannot think, without having content to think about. Establishing a body of content, in our memory, is critical in the learning process. They also say that committing something to memory, is not a mindless task, but a complex undertaking requiring significant skills. Teachers have always known that automaticity is essential and that it only comes from memorization.

Again, I am not saying that all 21st century learning strategies are bogus. It’s just that sometimes, in our enthusiasm for change, we forget that our brains learn the same way in this century as they did in any other century. The context and tools have changed, but the brain hasn’t. Neither has the motivation. From the beginning, on-time learning of information and strategy has been necessary for survival. God’s creation has never been static. As the world turns, it changes.

Every year has its challenges, but 2011 has especially been a test for many who serve in our schools. But this is seldom evident when I visit. There is always a warm welcome, a generous smile, and enthusiasm in every move. You all are patient, yet relentless in your insistence that your students continue to challenge themselves. You are firm, but there is always a ready smile, a reassuring word and ready help. But what I admire most is your hope. The hope you have in Christ is the same hope you bring to the lives of your students. Thanks for another great year; I am honored to be a part of your ministry.

On Saturday night, I worshipped at Christ Lutheran, in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the opening service for a synod conference I’m attending. The worship was inspirational and the conference is interesting. However, that is not conference I want to tell you about. The conference that might interest you, is coming up in February, 2012 and will also be held at Christ Lutheran; it is not sponsored by synod.

Here’s how Christ Lutheran describes the conference,

“A free conference encouraging pastors, church workers and lay people as we reach out with the gospel of Christ.” The conference, Best Practices in Ministry, is “for those who love the local church, the unchurched and the LCMS.”

Keynote Speakers

• Mike Ernst, Lowering the Threshold, Raising the Bar
• Bill Tucker, Above Medioocrity
• Mark Zehnder, The Wounded Leader
• John Mehl, Into all the World

Conference Speakers

• Wayne Graumann
• Luther Brunette
• Jim Bender
• Diane Bahn
• Greg Finke
• Miriam Krause
• Church Mueller
• David Luecke
• Diane Bahn
• John Kieschnick,
• Max Murphy
• Sue Trinklein

• Topics
• Missions
• Leadership
• Worship
• Dealing with conflict
• Growth Ministry skills
• Strategies that work
• Staffing
• Planning
• Church Culture
• Discipleship
• Reaching Multiple Audiences
• Schools and the Church, and more.

Click here for the registration form, and here for the conference schedule. I will post more information later.

I am on my way to CAPSO. See you there.