Introduction
There is great variation among Christian schools in their application of Biblical principles and utilization of the best educational methods. Some schools see a Christian perspective as a complement to their academic program; others, like the Koinonia Schools, believe that Biblical principles should permeate every aspect of the school from staff to students, text books to policy manual. Many schools uncritically accept the latest trends in textbooks and methods and change them as often as the department of education changes its emphases. It is, therefore, very important that parents carefully evaluate a school to determine whether, in practice, it is thoroughly Christian and educationally sound. Koinonia Schools have, since 1982, developed a reputation for both spiritual and academic excellence because of a number of specific practices being implemented in every Koinonia School. These practices are not immediately apparent to a visiting parent, nor are they true of all Christian schools, but they are, in large part, what makes a Koinonia School truly distinctive and truly Christian.

Q. Is yours a "Discipleship" school or a "Missionary" school?
Schools which follow the Missionary model will include a certain percentage of non-Christian families in the school for the purposes of evangelism. The history of Christian education has shown that these schools tend to lose focus as the influence of unbelievers increases with time. Koinonia Schools use the Discipleship model of Christian education. We believe that the Christian school is designed to assist Christian parents in raising their children for the Lord. At least one parent, therefore, must be born again. Koinonia Schools are Christian institutions where believers come to fellowship and minister together in order to equip young believers for the work of the ministry. We believe that including unbelievers in our prayer times and Bible study times is inappropriate. We believe that evangelism is best done in the world outside the Christian school.

Q. Are Prayer, Bible, and Chapel a core part of your program?
Every day in a Koinonia School begins with staff prayer and fellowship. This time helps focus everyone on the purpose for our existence. Each classroom then has their own time of prayer and devotions. Koinonia Schools believe that a thorough course in Bible is vital to a Christian education. It is not an extra, and it is not a complementary course. It is part of our core program, and as such we allocate the same minutes of instruction as we do for other core subjects. We believe that students who leave our schools should be thoroughly equipped with a knowledge of the Bible, theology, ethics, church history, and the Christian perspective on contemporary issues. To assist the Bible class, Koinonia schools hold weekly Chapels where students learn to worship together and receive encouragement from others. Most of our students see this as a highlight of the week.

Q. How do you ensure that you have and keep a quality staff?
Koinonia Schools believe that hiring and keeping the best staff possible is the single most important thing we can do to provide a quality education for our students. All hiring is done by the local Koinonia school board which is composed almost entirely of parents with children in the school. They have a big stake in finding the right people. Koinonia Schools also believe that Bible college training is vitally important, for the teacher is expected to bring a Biblical perspective to every course. While public schools and even many Christian schools do not recognize these years of training for pay purposes, Koinonia schools treat them the same as additional years of university education. Furthermore, we reward loyalty and ensure stability by giving additional advancement to teachers for every five years that they remain with Koinonia.

Q. Do you recognize and reward ACSI certification?
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is the largest professional association of Christian schools in the world. In order to receive ACSI certification, a teacher must have a Bachelor's degree, the equivalent of one year of Bible school, and must complete a course in the Christian philosophy of education. In order to maintain their certification, they must continue to pursue professional development in both education and Bible knowledge. Koinonia Schools provide funds to help pay for the courses teachers need to obtain their ACSI certification and then pay an additional bonus as long as it is maintained.

Q. Is the school independent or run by an outside organization?
Koinonia Schools blend the best of both of these approaches. Schools run by large, multi-school boards often lack the freedom, flexibility, and commitment which comes from local control and ownership. Those which are independent often lack the accountability and support which comes from a close association with other Christian schools. Koinonia Schools have solved these problems by being locally run schools which subscribe to the beliefs and standards of a larger organization: the Koinonia Christian Education Society (KCES). The KCES Superintendent and the other experienced Koinonia Principals bring wisdom, encouragement, and accountability to each school while allowing each one the freedom to pursue its own individual vision.

Q. Are the textbooks used primarily Christian or secular?
Koinonia Schools use texts from Christian publishers wherever possible. Secular texts contain humanistic values and subtle biases which may be overlooked by a teacher but which are opposed to Scripture and undermine Christian education. Christian texts bring a vital Biblical perspective to every subject which helps students develop a Christian world view. We also believe that the academic standards of our schools should be the highest possible. Often, secular texts have been "dumbed down" to accommodate poor readers. In other cases, they encourage the use of unproven or discredited teaching methodologies. By contrast, most Christian texts cover more material in greater depth, and are written at a higher level and so students are challenged to achieve at an equally higher level.

Q. How does your academic program differ?
Koinonia Schools ignore academic fads such as whole language, activity based math, student-centered learning, and the internet as teacher. Instead, we continue to provide superior education using the proven technique of direct instruction. Koinonia Schools teach reading using phonics and controlled-vocabulary basal readers. We teach mathematics with an emphasis on the mastery of basic skills and memorization of basic facts prior to the development of complex problem solving skills. In the lower grades calculators and computers are tools used primarily by teachers, not students. Hands-on learning and group projects supplement but do not replace direct instruction from the teacher. New ideas are implemented only after they have been clearly proven through long term research.

Q. How do your students perform on standardised tests?
Standardised tests do not tell the whole story of a school's performance. Obviously, they can reveal nothing about the kind of character development that is taking place. They tell nothing about the relationships between students and teachers. They do not indicate the quality of the art or music or Bible programs. However, they are a useful indicator of a school's ability to teach students the core academics. Koinonia Schools have always used standardised tests to verify the quality of their instructional program. Long before the province of Alberta began to require achievement tests and diploma exams, the Koinonia Schools were using the Canadian Tests of Basic Skills to ensure that the essentials were being well taught. After all, if a school can't teach the basics, what guarantee is there that they can do the more complex task of character development?

Q. How do you handle your finances?
Koinonia Schools operate debt free on a year to year basis. While borrowing up to 50% for capital projects is allowed, most schools own their buildings outright and have no mortgage. Therefore, every penny of tuition or donations goes directly to the people, programs, and facilities of the school rather than to the banks. While waiting on God to provide the funds often means moving more slowly, we have found that He always provides what we need when we need it. Koinonia Schools also believe that a school's finances should be handled with the utmost care and integrity. We operate with balanced budgets, bonded directors, and an outside auditor who reviews the books at the end of each year.

Conclusion
Koinonia Schools have a long tradition of providing an education which is uncompromising in its focus on academic excellence with spiritual integrity. We do not believe that it is necessary to sacrifice one for the other, and we encourage parents to investigate every school carefully to ensure that both are being provided. If the values presented here reflect your priorities also, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss enrolling your children with us.

 

Last modified: 1999/09/24