Position Papers
Position Paper #4: ACCS Statement on History and Protestant EducationApproved: 6/25/02
As an association of classical and Christian educators, we are dedicated to the supremacy and sufficiency of the Scriptures for all of life. In the nature of the case, this is not something that can be limited to the classroom, but must also pervade everything that we do; whether as individuals, administrators, teachers, or as national board members of ACCS. And this means, in its turn, that as an association we have to "come down"on certain issues. The Scriptures teach us that neutrality is an impossibility (2 Cor. 2:1-5).
Therefore, genuine Christian education has specific and defined boundaries. ACCS maintains this unpopular truth in an era dominated by cultural relativism, and so this means we must reject the pressure put on us to adopt a relativistic or postmodern "big tent" approach. As classical educators, we do participate in the "great conversation" noted by Mortimer Adler, but as Christian educators we do so with a definite point of view. In that conversation we have something to maintain; which is the lordship of Jesus Christ over every aspect of life. This means that we are willing to be specific.
And so in this vein, as Christians, we reject the follies of ancient paganism, while seeking to appreciate what God gave them through common grace. As classical Protestants we affirm that the Protestant Reformation was a glorious recovery of the truth of the gospel, and was not an unfortunate mistake. As medievalists, we affirm that the soul-destroying Enlightenment was an unfortunate mistake. As private educators, we affirm that the growth of government education in America cannot be understood apart from the war and its aftermath that established a centralized state in our nation. And, as classical educators, we welcome the input of classical educators from other traditions who differ with us on all these points, and cordially invite them to join with us in civilized debate.
Position Paper #1: ACCS Statement on Vouchers
Position Paper #2: What Constitutes "classical & Christian" for ACCS?
Position Paper #3: Computers and Classroom Instruction