Curriculum

The Curriculum and Its Development at QCS

The school’s curriculum must grow out of its philosophy.  It is the roadmap to the enterprise of Christian education.  There are three basic ingredients which affect the enterprise of Christian education at Quisqueya Christian School.  The first is the school’s philosophy which gives rise to the vision and mission of the school.  The second is the staff who implements the philosophy in and out of the classroom.  The third ingredient is the curriculum, the tool by which the teachers affect the minds, hearts and hands of the students.

This Curriculum Handbook is a summary of the program of studies at Quisqueya Christian School.  It will serve as a basic guide in explaining the school curriculum.  It is prepared for the teachers, but is of benefit for the parents and interested friends of Christian Education.

All educational activities must provide the student with the stated academic skills; they must also bring the student to the consciousness of sin, so that he will seek a Savior, find and receive Him, commit himself to Him, live unto Him and so fulfil the purpose, calling and responsibility of life.

The content selection, the teaching style, the evaluation, etc. must be consistent with the direction of the school, reflecting the school’s goals in guiding the children to maturity.

Vision and mission in every decision.

Each part of the curriculum does its part to organize the mind, shape personality, develop character and give understanding of the creation in the light of the Truth.  “—and God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom” (Daniel 1:17).  A God-centred education is an education calling for a response or re spond ability.

The following guiding principles should find expression in the curriculum:

1.    find its basis on the Word of God.

2.    be comprehensive – it should include the study of the Bible, the language arts, mathematics, science, social sciences, the fine arts, and physical education.

3.    show progression from one grade and subject to the next, and the relationships to the subjects.

4.    help nurture the child into a mature citizen of God’s kingdom.

5.    recognize the nature of child growth and provide for individual differences.

6.    recognize the general principles of learning.

7.    openness to incorporate planned changes.

CONCERNS TO BE LEARNED

Every school program should have a way of identifying the basic parts in its curriculum.  Not only is it important to distinguish the parts, but also to see the parts as part of the whole picture.

The total subject material to be learned is 100% Christian.  God is at the centre of everything.  He made all things.  He guides and controls them.  He demands that we, His creatures, honour Him as Lord and Saviour in everything we do.  Within the subject material of the curriculum, there are ‘clusters of learning’ that need to be distinguished in the identification of the objectives.

The concerns that need to be learned and taught are the following:

Knowledge
    a transmission of the facts by telling, reading, writing, discussion, research.
    the information of the subject matter which are tools for living a life of committed discipleship.

Understanding
    the meaning of the facts, ideas in relation to God, the creation, others, and himself.
    using the knowledge to build towards a Christian way of life.

Skills – Habits
    learning to do things both mentally and physically.
    practise a skill until it becomes a smooth operation.
    it is not an end in itself.

Specific Concerns
    nurturing to build attitudes that reflect the Christian life.
    see the need for an on-going repentant life because of the fall, and redemption in Jesus Christ.
    learning the attitudes of awe, responsibility, love, gratitude, self-denial, etc. in the light of God’s world.
    the head knowledge should become a heart knowledge.  The knowing the will of the Lord becomes doing the will of the Lord.  In this the Holy Spirit is actively involved.

“What do we really want to achieve through the process of education?”  Jan Waterink stated the following in a single-sentence statement of the aim of education:

The forming of man into an independent personality serving God according to His Word, able and willing to employ all his God-given talents to the honour of God and for the well-being of his fellow-creatures, in every area of life in which man is placed by God.