Is Excellence the Goal of Christian Schooling

Surely whatever the Devil does he does with excellence. Even the evil Oakland Raiders (the Devil's football team) have a "Commitment to Excellence."

It is interesting to observe the many Christian schools pushing for excellence. Excellence, sometimes touted under the label of "leadership," has become the unifying purpose of Christian schools struggling to find any form of Christian message that can be communicated easily or sold broadly.

The funny thing is that many will read what I'm saying here to advocate mediocrity in the name of Christ. That is the farthest thing from my mind. But I also don't advocate excellence, or leadership, as an end in itself. Jesus is not a servant of excellence. It is quite the other way round.

I spent many years in Silicon Valley, the Parthenon dedicated to the gods of excellence. There the people scurry about in their expensive clothes and expensive cars, breathlessly pursuing all things excellent. The people of the Valley embody excellence. They have spent their disciplined lives in pursuit of physical, emotional and intellectual excellence (the spiritual part is merely optional). These people arise early, workout, work hard, compete in triathlons or cross fit competitions, represent the best of their prestigious schools, earn seven figures and vote liberal because they are big-hearted. Their one or two kids are in private schools, in music, dance and sports, perhaps simultaneously, and of course they eat organic, grass-fed, free range, antibiotic free and sugar free food. Why? Because of excellence of course!

These worshippers of excellence demand excellence in private schooling. And what exactly is excellence in private schooling? Don't over think this. It is test scores, college admittance rates, prestige of college admittance, competitive programs (that develop the talents of students and draw the attention of colleges), great facilities, great resources (including technology) and the best qualified teachers, coaches and administrators. Excellence is measured wholly along aristocratic lines. Since these people have money and are seeking a product, it was inevitable that suppliers sprung to address the need. These people want excellence and that is exactly what they get.

And in Silicon Valley there are schools that can supply impressive statistics that convince parents that they are indeed schools of excellence. According to every metrics of success, these schools are laudable. Look at their college admittance rates! Look at the schools to which they are sending their graduates! Look at the yards per carry! Look at the home runs! Look at the SAT scores! Look at the AP pass rates! Look at the state championships! Look at the debate team, the rugby team, the chess club, the band!

But these Christian schools are sending them away to become "clever devils," in words of Lewis. Is it a successful Christian school if it out competes all public schools or even other private schools, in the categories mentioned above, and yet the majority of its graduates are merely secular in their thinking? Is it a great Christian school if it houses fine teachers with fine degrees from fine institutions, but these teachers don't tangibly advance a Christian world and life view and impart it to their students?

Here is a simple test. Interview every graduate of your Christian school. Ask them why they pursued excellence in academics, the arts or sports. If the majority answer along the lines of mere excellence, if the name of Jesus and the glory of God's truth are nowhere on their lips, then has the Christian school really succeeded? Will these students go out and advocate for Christ and His truth in the world? Will they be theologian-scientists or theologian-businessmen or theologian-statesmen or theologian-artists?

When Christianity and Christian truth are rightly understood, they will compel an individual to pursue excellence, just as when one truly understands Christian grace one will be compelled to pursue works. But is the reverse true? If a person decides to seek excellence, will it lead necessarily to fidelity to Christian truth? If a person is legalistically driven to seek perfection, will it lead them to grace?

The goal of Christian education is not excellence. The goal of Christian education is to herald divine truth in the various disciplines excellently! Excellence is not the defining objective or activity; it is the adverb.

As to measurability, of course Christian schools should test students. But let us never forget that if the test scores go up, it says something about how well we prepare them for tests. It says nothing about whether or not we have a Christian school of excellence.