Christian Foundation of Education

In Australia, secularism is gaining prominence still the concept of religion plays an important role in shaping the education system of the country. Australia holds a record of having the highest number of schools that have religion as the primary focus. The subjects taught consist of religion and the aspects related to it. The religious schools in Australia mainly comprise of Anglican and Christian ideologies. On an average 30% of the schools are religious in nature and formulate religious teachings. They also practice different ways in which religion is understood. Christianity is the dominant religion in Australia and the parents continue to prefer the schools that follow religious ideology for the educating their children. Historical perspectives show that individuals belonging to the socially deprived sections went to the schools that followed religion. Religion dominated the educational system in the past but with the passage of time, secularism became predominant in the educational system. The schools strictly became the centers for secular learning. Religion that was dominant in the educational system was now replaced by the secular values. Australia being a secular country has adopted the policy of coexistence. It was forbidden for the schools to promote any specific religion as it leads to conflict in the society. It shows that there was reformation in the educational sector. The reforms drew a clear distinction between religion and education. This shows that the practices in the schools of Australia has shifted from religious to secular values.

Running head: CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION
Christian Foundation of Eduaction
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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In Australia, secularism is gaining prominence still the concept of religion plays an
important role in shaping the education system of the country. Australia holds a record of
having the highest number of schools that have religion as the primary focus. The subjects
taught consist of religion and the aspects related to it. The religious schools in Australia
mainly comprise of Anglican and Christian ideologies. On an average 30% of the schools are
religious in nature and formulate religious teachings. They also practice different ways in
which religion is understood. Christianity is the dominant religion in Australia and the
parents continue to prefer the schools that follow religious ideology for the educating their
children (BOURNE, CROSSFIELD & NICHOLAS, 2017). Historical perspectives show that
individuals belonging to the socially deprived sections went to the schools that followed
religion. Religion dominated the educational system in the past but with the passage of time,
secularism became predominant in the educational system. The schools strictly became the
centers for secular learning. Religion that was dominant in the educational system was now
replaced by the secular values. Australia being a secular country has adopted the policy of
coexistence. It was forbidden for the schools to promote any specific religion as it leads to
conflict in the society. It shows that there was reformation in the educational sector. The
reforms drew a clear distinction between religion and education. This shows that the practices
in the schools of Australia has shifted from religious to secular values.
Teaching is the profession that is helpful in the flourishing of all other professions
possible. The teachings prescribed in bible are the main concern of the religious missionary
schools. Religion is not the only aspect that should be focused by the schools. Beside
religious values, the new approaches should be included in the educational framework. The
inclusion of new aspects into learning such as science, literature and logical reasoning will
help the children to achieve better prospects (Betsworth, 2015). The Christian Missionaries
promoted the fact that an individual is the creation of the Lord. The missionaries show that

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the didactic approach of learning is necessary to strengthen the relationship between the
educator and the student. They should be respectful towards the educators. This method was
concerned with the concept of imparting moral values. Teaching is an art according to this
method and the basic function is to impart education according to the need of the students.
The teacher is regarded as an authoritative figure who should act as a guide to the students.
The teacher is placed at an important position in Christian Missionary.
The theories of early childhood learning that help in development of education are:
Theories of God: The Christian Foundations of education use the theory of God for the
propagation of education. God is the center of the teachings that in the Christian education.
The religious beliefs are kept into consideration when the procedure of teaching. Children
have minds that are easily affected by the events that happen during the early childhood (Van
Nieuwerburgh, 2018). Thus, this method is used by the Christian organizations to impart
education amongst the children. God is projected as an absolute entity who has supreme
control over the mortals. The activities of the mortals are the cause of the sufferings that
happen throughout their lives. The idea of religion differs from individual to individual, thus
making it the responsibility of the teachers. The responsibility of the teachers is to formulate
their teachings in such a way that children develop in the faith in God. All the cultures in the
world have their separate belief and the teachers should make the children familiar to them.
The children develop belief in the supernatural events that led them to believe in the authority
of god. It is a social aspect prevalent in the society that needs to be clearly formulated by the
educators. The different interpretations of god should be defined by teachers. Knowledge
about the supernatural entity imparted during the early childhood helps in inculcating
knowledge amongst the children. God is represented in the literary and artistic approaches of
teaching that are appreciated by children and easily remembered. Praying is important in the
sphere of religious learning that connects the individual to God. It bridges the gap between

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the individual and god making the sufferings. To develop belief in god is the responsibility of
the teachers to make the concepts familiar. To promote religion the Christian community
teachers should include the biblical teachings in the curriculum. The magical incidents
described in bible should be narrated to the children. During the early childhood, children
tend to remember the events narrated to them from magical perspectives. The supernatural
events make the children believe that god exists and the supremacy of his authority. The
dominance of god over the mortals is the center of the teachings of the theory that project god
as an abstract and supreme authority. It helps in creating cognition about the existence of
God.
Developmental theory of religious learning
Cognitive development and concept of religion: Early researchers formulated that the
development in individuals occur during early childhood years. It is therefore necessary to
inculcate the religious values since early childhood. The early childhood years are when a
child learns in a progressive manner. This theory projects that the simple concepts should be
exposed to individuals during early childhood followed by complex concepts (Follari, 2015).
This concept was supported by the theories projected by Piaget, Freud and Erikson. Goldman
showed that religious development occurs during early childhood. Religion will help in the
developing a constant set of belief in the individuals from early childhood. The substance will
be supported by the scientific learnings that will be reflected in the process of learning. It
helps the child to adopt accordingly to the events that are in the religious context. It will help
the child to develop a sense of maturity and procure throughout the course of life. Religious
teachings help the individual to develop a sense of belonging to the society and shape his
views about the society. Religion should be promoted in early childhood when the child is
able to understand the religious teachings. The importance of religion depends on how an
individual applies it to the sphere of life. Children are easily influenced by the practices that

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are done by their family members. Thus, it shows that family also has an influence on
shaping the religious views of a child. The factors show that the children recognize religion
by the techniques of artificialism, animism and magical activities. They are projected in the
teaching methods that present God as an entity who knows about the needs of the individuals.
The ability to differentiate oneself from the outside world depends on the knowledge
acquired by the child. Children should be taught religious tolerance that is necessary for the
coexistence in the society. The existence of the individual is not separate from the society
and religion. Thus, it should be taught from the early childhood that in order to exist in the
society, children should value the beliefs of others. During the stage of adolescence, children
possess the ability to create their own sphere. They develop the ability to test the concepts
that are learnt by them during that age. The religious beliefs are practiced by children become
a part of the daily lives of the individuals. Adolescence is the period when transition occurs in
the individual. In this period, educators need to focus on the beliefs and practices of the
children. Children passing through this age tend to analyze the practicality of the concept
learnt earlier (Bell, 2013). Logical reasoning did not substantiate concepts learnt during
childhood. The lack of logical reasoning can lead to doubts in the mind of the growing
individuals. The teacher has to be aware about the minds of the children with whom he is
involved in the educational process. The knowledge of the minds of the individual will help
the teachers to design their policies accordingly. The teaching methods will help to inculcate
religious values in the children from early childhood.
Behaviorism: It is the theory of learning that can be applied during early childhood. The
theorists believing in this approach promoted that the learners adopt the activities that are
performed in their surroundings. Children adopt the religious practices followed by the
members of the family. This shows that behavior is an adopted trait by children during the
early age (Pugh & Duffy, 2013). Thus, teachers should practice the religious beliefs of

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Christianity in front the children that will promote religious values in them. Behavior is an
acquired trait therefore, it should be kept in mind that children are influenced by the activities
in their immediate surroundings. The surroundings of the children help to shape the mentality
of the children. The teacher try to motivate the children by using behaviorism. The process of
repetition is the attribute of behaviorism that shows the necessity to repeat the teachings. The
verbal technique of educating used by the teachers is effective that helps in religious learning.
The teachers should be efficient orators who are able to project the religious values that will
help children to learn. It becomes easy for the children to understand the religious concepts
when they are projected to them with the use of verbal instruction (Petts, 2014). They possess
the ability to analyze the concepts that are professed in front of them. The ability to memorize
religious values comes from the technique of repetition. It is an internal process involving the
mind of the individuals thus, making it a priority to understand the process of education. The
experiences shape the life of an individual as well as the teachers and they should nurture the
life of the child. Childhood is the period of construction of the personality of the child and
this promotes that the values and culture he inculcated during that time. The experiences of
the teachers should be included in the learning process that will help the child to understand
religion. The religious experiences should be reflected in the teachings of the educators.
Reward is an important technique that can be used in the teaching process. It will help in
leaning the techniques and the learning process of the child. The responsibility lies on part of
the teachers to understand the need of the child and behave in manner. These theories help to
understand the process of learning in the individuals. The learnings of the individuals should
be incorporated in the educational process that will help in attaining a sustainable process of
learning. New ideas should be encouraged that help in the propagation of learning. Learning
is a complex process that needs the coordination of both the individuals who are involved in

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the process. The generation of new ideas should be encouraged in the learning process. The
ideas will help in bridging the gap between the teachers and the individuals being taught.
Thus, it can be that the process of education will help in the development of the child.
The educators are the main force that work for the propagation of education in the society.
This increases their value in the social system. The children are shaped by the teachings that
are taught to the in the process of education. The religious education should focus on god
since the beginning and that should reflect in the teachings. The information provided to the
individuals involved in the process of teaching should focus on the propagation of religion in
education. Children are vulnerable to the concepts that are presented in front of them. This
shows the credibility of the theories of learning that are used to promote learning in the
individuals. The theories hold an important place in the learning process. They help us to
identify the abilities of the child that need to be focused while educating them. It shows the
credibility of the behavioral and cognitive approaches that help in the betterment of the
learning process. The approaches are necessary for the early educators to promote the process
of learning in the individuals. The children should be the center of the process that will help
them to grow and prosper.

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References
Bell, R. (2013). The Oxford handbook of childhood and education in the classical world.
Oxford University Press.
Betsworth, S. (2015). Children in early Christian narratives(Vol. 521). Bloomsbury
Publishing.
BOURNE, P. A., CROSSFIELD, D., & NICHOLAS, V. (2017). A Christian approach to
philosophy. International Journal of Humanities & Social Science: Insights &
Transformations [ISSN: 2581-3587 (online)], 2(1).
Follari, L. (2015). Foundations and best practices in early childhood education: History,
theories, and approaches to learning. Pearson Higher Education AU.
Petts, R. J. (2014). Family, religious attendance, and trajectories of psychological well-being
among youth. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(6), 759.
Pugh, G., & Duffy, B. (Eds.). (2013). Contemporary issues in the early years. Sage.
Van Nieuwerburgh, C. (2018). Coaching in education: Getting better results for students,
educators, and parents. Routledge.