The RenewaNation Blog
Wisdom for shaping how children see the world
Practical, biblical insight for parents, pastors, and educators — 338+ articles on family discipleship, church ministry, and Christian education.
Articles
Biology 101: Dissecting Today’s Textbooks
Roger PattersonToday’s top-selling biology textbooks present evolution as the only scientific view of the history of life. Often these textbooks use faulty or deceptive evidences to support evolutionary ideas. Fortunately, students can easily equip themselves with free materials that dissect…
The RenewaNation ReviewWhat's Missing from Math
By Dr. Bryan SmithMath class is more interesting than it used to be. Traditionally, the focus has been on drill and review, with an occasional story problem thrown in. Now, however, real-world problems dominate the instruction. Drill and review still get their due, but it is striking how many story…
The RenewaNation ReviewHistorical Revisionism: A Biblical Perspective
By Dr. Dan OlingerBack in 1987, two bestselling books changed the way Americans thought about history. Allan Bloom’s The Closing of the American Mind1 and E. D. Hirsch Jr.’s Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know2 called the country’s attention to the frightening lack of historical…
The RenewaNation ReviewA Nation at Risk
Changing Textbooks Reveal the Secularization of American EducationBy Stephen McDowellAccording to the National Commission on Excellence in Education, America is “a nation at risk.” This 1980s report stated, “If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational…
The RenewaNation ReviewUnspoken Assumptions in Public School Curriculum
By Steve SkaggsIn Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1958 film, Vertigo,1 Scottie Ferguson (played by James Stewart) finds himself at a coroner’s inquest after a woman’s death. The coroner (Henry Jones) implies, none too subtly, that the woman’s death was Scottie’s fault. Why? Because “he did nothing.” He…
The RenewaNation ReviewUnderstanding the Missionary Zeal of Sex-Saturated Schools
By Dr. Josh MulvihillI want to introduce you to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). More than likely, you have never heard of this organization, but if you have a child in the public school system, you are being impacted by its curriculum. For over a…
The RenewaNation ReviewDoes It Matter What Children Learn from Textbooks?
By Edward Gamble“Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” Jesus, Luke 6:39-40How careful should parents and pastors be in selecting teachers and leaders for their children?…
The RenewaNation ReviewWhich Kingdom Are You Building?
Three years ago, a pastor, passionate about providing a biblical worldview to the children in his community, wrestled with this dilemma: “We can’t stop our Christian school at eighth grade, but we’re also not providing a solid education to the dozen high schoolers we are currently shepherding.”When…
The RenewaNation ReviewHabit Training in the Christian Classroom
Charlotte Mason, a British educator at the turn of the twentieth century, said, “The habits of the child produce the character of the man.” She believed habit training is the foundation for developing and producing godly characteristics. Three of her habits have become an integral part of my…
The RenewaNation ReviewStrengthening Christian Schools - Accountability Coaching
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Proverbs 15:1.When you hear the word accountability, what do you think of? Does the mental image of a harassing drill sergeant quickly form in your mind? When conducted with gentle yet honest guidance, accountability can be highly…
The RenewaNation ReviewConnecting Vision, Mission and Practice
When taking a road trip, the driver must first know a destination before he can embark on the journey. Without a clear route, he is sure to run into many detours that could have been avoidable had his sights been set on the destination from the beginning. These detours could result in additional…
The RenewaNation ReviewPaying for Christian School (K-12) with 529 Plans
The recent passage of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act allows for 529 Savings Plans, which previously could only be used for qualified college expenses, to now be used for private school tuition. This is good news for parents whose state offers an income tax deduction for 529 contributions or who anticipate…