Library - Being a distinctively Christian teacher

These suggestions build on clip 2 of the DVD and focus on the idea that Christian teachers can be distinctive in their teaching and transform the ethos and the curriculum of schools and colleges.

Introductory Reading

Archbishops’ Council - The Way Ahead
Comments: The very influential report which triggered the opening of many new Anglican schools and outlined the vision for their distinctive Christian ethos.
Bibliographic information: 2001, Church House Publishing
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Bartholomew, Craig and Goheen, Michael - The Drama of Scripture: finding our place in the biblical story
Comments: An introduction to the main themes of the Bible story, giving an essential grounding for the Christian teacher who wants to be faithful to Scripture.
Bibliographic information: 2006, SPCK
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Cooling, Trevor - Concept Cracking: Exploring Christian Beliefs in School
Comments: This pamphlet outlines the method of teaching Christianity developed by the Stapleford Centre which puts the gospel message at the heart of RE.
Bibliographic information: 1993, The Stapleford Centre
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Cooling, Trevor - Transforming Hearts and Minds: the contribution of Christian values to the curriculum
Comments: Showing how a "value-added" approach to the curriculum can contribute to the nurturing of pupils, including practical suggestions for implementation.
Bibliographic information: 17 September 2005
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Farnell, Alison et al - Opening Windows in the Primary School
Comments: An introduction to how the primary curriculum can be infused with a spiritual dimension drawing on Christian faith. A Scottish edition, looking at Spritiual Development in the Primary School through Religious Observance and the Wider Curriculum, is also available.
Bibliographic information: 2000, The Stapleford Centre
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Hill, Brian - Exploring Religion in School
Comments: Although written from an Australian context, this book is a superb introduction to thinking about education from a Christian perspective. Hill is retired as a professor of education who also worked as a Scripture Union schools worker.
Bibliographic information: 2004, Openbook
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Holt, Ann - How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? - Engaging with education today
Comments: Ann's address was given at the launch of Supporting Christians in Education and the Transforming Lives Toolkit, and encourages us to 'sing the Lord's song' in the 'strange lands' of contemporary educational contexts.
Bibliographic information: 2008, LICC Resources
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Mackenzie, Pam - Entry points for Christian reflection within education
Comments: A groundbreaking book which includes many practical examples of how Christians have sought to allow their curriculum work to be shaped by Christian beliefs and values. This is a book to dip into, not for reading from cover to cover. The book also comes in CD format.
Bibliographic information: 1997, Care for Education
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Pattison, Stephen Cooling, Margaret and Cooling, Trevor - Using the Bible in Christian Ministry
Comments: A practical workbook designed to assist the reader in their understanding and use of the Bible in Christian ministry.
Bibliographic information: 2007, Darton Longman & Todd
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Shortt, John - Christian Worldview in Teaching - Faith in the Curriculum
Comments: In May 2006, the European Educators’ Christian Association held a conference on the theme of applying a Christian worldview to teaching. John Shortt gave four plenary presentations on the theme. Participants found these sessions immensely helpful. This is the first of the four sessions which are reproduced in their original format, although without the PowerPoint slides, in the expectation that a much wider audience will also find them stimulating. The other three sessions are called: Teaching for Wholeness Teaching as Storytelling Knowing as a Kind of Loving
Bibliographic information: 2006, European Educators' Christian Association plenary presentation
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Shortt, John - Christian Worldview in Teaching - Knowing as a Kind of Loving
Comments: In May 2006, the European Educators’ Christian Association held a conference on the theme of applying a Christian worldview to teaching. John Shortt gave four plenary presentations on the theme. Participants found these sessions immensely helpful. This is the third of the four sessions which are reproduced in their original format, although without the PowerPoint slides, in the expectation that a much wider audience will also find them stimulating. The other three sessions are called: Faith in the Curriculum Teaching for Wholeness Teaching as Storytelling
Bibliographic information: 2006, European Educators' Christian Association plenary presentation
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Shortt, John - Christian Worldview in Teaching - Teaching as Storytelling
Comments: In May 2006, the European Educators’ Christian Association held a conference on the theme of applying a Christian worldview to teaching. John Shortt gave four plenary presentations on the theme. Participants found these sessions immensely helpful. This is the third of the four sessions which are reproduced in their original format, although without the PowerPoint slides, in the expectation that a much wider audience will also find them stimulating. The other three sessions are called: Faith in the Curriculum Teaching for Wholeness Knowing as a Kind of Loving
Bibliographic information: 2006, European Educators' Christian Association plenary presentation
View PDF

Shortt, John - Christian Worldview in Teaching - Teaching for Wholeness
Comments: In May 2006, the European Educators’ Christian Association held a conference on the theme of applying a Christian worldview to teaching. John Shortt gave four plenary presentations on the theme. Participants found these sessions immensely helpful. This is the second of the four sessions which are reproduced in their original format, although without the PowerPoint slides, in the expectation that a much wider audience will also find them stimulating. The other three sessions are called: Faith in the Curriculum Teaching as Storytelling Knowing as a Kind of Loving
Bibliographic information: 2006, European Educators' Christian Association plenary presentation
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Smith, David - Making Sense of Spiritual Development
Comments: This groundbreaking, easy to read pamphlet shows how a seemingly neutral concept like spiritual development is related to the distinctive nature of Christian faith.
Bibliographic information: 2000, The Stapleford Centre
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Van Brummelen, Harro - Walking with God in the Classroom
Comments: A classic in this field, offering practical advice for the classroom for the aspiring Christian teacher.
Bibliographic information: 1998, (2nd edition), Alta Vista College Press
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Advanced Reading

Arthur, James - Faith and Secularisation in Religious Colleges and Universities
Comments: This extensive survey studies religiously affiliated institutions and concludes that many of them have succumbed to secularisation and are therefore losing their distinctive character.
Bibliographic information: 2006, Routledge
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Blomberg, Doug and Stronks, Gloria - A Vision with a Task
Comments: A collection of important essays produced from Calvin College. Chapters include ones on knowledge and curriculum. The text can be read online and chapters downloaded in PDF format
Bibliographic information: 1993, Baker Books
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Cooling, Trevor - Curiosity: Vice or Virtue for the Christian Teacher? Promoting faithfulness to Scripture in teacher formation
Comments: The author examines two models of how a Christian teacher can be faithful to Scripture in his her teaching.
Bibliographic information: 2005, in Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 9:2
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Copley, Terence - Indoctrination, Education and God
Comments: By the Professor of Religious Education at Oxford University this robust assertion argues that indoctrination into secularity is a defining feature of modern education.
Bibliographic information: 2004, SPCK
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Deakin Crick, Ruth - Transforming Visions: Managing Values in Schools
Comments: This is a very important book. It is the report of a unique project which sought to introduce focussed values teaching into a church secondary school in Bristol.
Bibliographic information: 2002, Middlesex University Press
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Green, Elizabeth - Mapping the Field
Comments: This report offers a comprehensive review of the published research from the last ten years on the impact on pupils of schools with a Christian ethos. The report concludes that the currently available research does not allow any definitive conclusions to be drawn. The report gives a clear recommendation as to the type of research that is now needed if we are to properly understand the impact that Christian schools have on pupils. Hard copy available from The Stapleford Centre for £10
Bibliographic information: 2009, Theos
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Heythrop Institute - On the Way to Life
Comments: A highly influential report that maps the distinctive contribution of Catholic education in a contemporary culture that seems fundamentally divorced from Christianity. A DVD is also available.
Bibliographic information: 2005, Catholic Education Service
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Hookway, Susanna - Citizenship Education and Religious Literacy
Comments: An example of Christian reflection on subject teaching focussing on the relationship between citizenship and religious education as taught in British schools.
Bibliographic information: 2000, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 4:1
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Marsden, George - The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship
Comments: Now a classic of its kind, this book challenges the idea that scholarship is neutral and offers a way forward for scholarship founded in Christian faith.
Bibliographic information: 1997,Oxford University Press
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Schultze, Quentin - Faith, Education and Communication Technology
Comments: This article suggests that biblical insights and historic Christian theology can help educators to act wisely within the high-tech context of modern schools.
Bibliographic information: 2004, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 8:1
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Shortt, John and Cooling, Trevor (eds) - Agenda for Educational Change
Comments: A unique collection of essays put together to explore important questions facing Christians in British schools.
Bibliographic information: 1997, Apollos
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Shortt, John, Smith, David and Cooling, Trevor - Metaphor, Scripture and Education
Comments: A reflection on the way in which metaphors from the Bible can shape educational practice.
Bibliographic information: 2000, Journal of Christian Education, Vol. 43:1
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Smith, David - Christian Thinking in Education Reconsidered
Comments: An early article from David Smith where he examines different approaches to being distinctively Christian when it comes to teaching the curriculum.
Bibliographic information: 1995, in Spectrum, Vol. 27:1
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Smith, David - Cross-curricular spiritual and moral development
Comments: An important background article explaining the rationale for the Charis Project. This project was based at the Stapleford Centre and produced a range of resource materials demonstrating how Christian values can influence the teaching of different subjects.
Bibliographic information: 1999, in Journal of Christian Education, Vol, 42:2, pp 27-34
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Smith, David and Shortt, John - The Bible and the Task of Teaching
Comments: This is book examines different ways in which the Bible can shape our educational thinking. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to engage seriously with what it means to seek to be a biblically shaped teacher.
Bibliographic information: 2002, The Stapleford Centre
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Smith, David I - Does God Dwell in the Detail
Comments: An excellent article painting the vision for distinctive Christian approaches to the curriculum.
Bibliographic information: 2001, Lecture delivered on April 19th at Calvin College
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Walsh, Brian - Transformation: Dynamic worldview or repressive ideology
Comments: Christian worldview and its impact on education has been a highly influential idea. This article examines the value of the ideas and offers suggestions for how it can offer a transformational agenda.
Bibliographic information: 2000, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Vol. 4:2
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Wolterstorff, Nicholas - Educating for Life: Reflections on Christian Teaching and Learning
Comments: This collection of essays from one of the foremost modern Christian philosophers gives a flavour of his ideas on the relationship between faith and the teaching and learning process.
Bibliographic information: 2002, Eerdmans
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