Preparing the Next Generation in a Rapidly Changing World
The latest episode of the Clearly Christian podcast is live, and this episode might change the way you think about education in America and society’s impact on the educational process.
In this episode, Dr. Cy Smith sat down with Dan Beckering, the Head of School at Southwest Christian High School in Chaska, Minnesota. Together, they explored the concept of education as formation—how schools are not just places for academic learning but are integral to shaping the character and worldview of students.
Chalkboard Points
In class, the important things usually get put up on the chalkboard, right? It’s no different here in the Know More blog. Here are this episode’s “Chalkboard Points” for you and the listener to consider:
Chalkboard Point #1: Nothing our kids experience today is neutral, not even school
School is never value-neutral. Students are constantly being shaped—either by a biblical worldview or by the world’s values. What they are learning matters because it is forming who they are and how they think about the world.
Chalkboard Point #2: Behavior is always the result of how we think
Technology can be both a tool and a distraction. Christian education must guide students to use it responsibly while guarding against its harmful effects.
Education is More Than Academics: Its Formation
It is an often-overlooked idea that education is a transformative experience. Children are shaped by what, how, and who they learn from. “Parents who think that school’s just about content... are vastly underestimating what’s actually taking place,” Dr. Smith explains. The goal of education should not just be about academic success but the formation of the whole person—mind, heart, and spirit.
Dan Beckering echoed this, sharing his own experience in Christian education. “Ultimately, formation is the process... of helping an individual become more like Jesus,” he explains. He emphasized that Christian schools aim to shape students into people who reflect Christ in every aspect of their lives.
Challenges in Christian Education: Technology and Culture
A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the challenges all schools, even Christian schools, face today, particularly regarding technology and the rapidly changing culture.
Beckering highlighted how smartphones have created an environment where students are constantly distracted and anxious. He shared how Southwest Christian implemented a no-cell-phone policy, resulting in students being more relaxed and focused: “I have so much less anxiety during the school day,” one student admitted after the change.
In addition to technology, Beckering mentioned the increasing challenge of students questioning biblical teachings, particularly on topics like gender and marriage. He believes this questioning, while difficult, presents an opportunity for Christian schools to ground students in biblical truth. “They’re asking questions that students never used to ask... but it gives us the ability to help kids really ground themselves,” Beckering says.
Spiritual Disciplines: Are Teens Capable?
Dr. Smith posed the question many parents ask: “Are teenagers capable of developing spiritual disciplines, especially in a world filled with distractions?” Beckering’s response was clear: “The answer is yes. We see discipline in these high school students all the time.” He emphasized that students are capable of extraordinary discipline in areas like sports or academics, and the same is true for education and in their spiritual lives.
However, Beckering pointed out that students need models of discipline from parents and mentors. “If they (the kids) are not watching your life and seeing something different than the world around them, they’re not going to be very compelled by what you have to say,” he explains. The role of parents and educators is crucial in modeling what it looks like to abide in Christ and pursue spiritual growth.
Schools are more than places for academic achievement; they are environments where students’ minds and hearts are formed. As Beckering wisely puts it, “The process of formation is slow... but we just need to walk alongside these kids, plant the seeds, and watch what God will do.”
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