The Earth Is The Lord’s: How Then Shall We Teach? That is the theme of this year’s Education Sunday, which falls on February 8th.
What is education for? Is it simply about wealth creation? Or is it also about well-being? Does it train pupils only to compete effectively as individuals, or can education prepare us to live in more sustainable relationships with our fellow human beings and with the ecosystems on which we depend so completely?
The Bible proclaims that our environment – the earth and all that is in it – isnot simply there for us to explore and exploit, but that it belongs to God. We as human beings are part of creation, ‘made from the dust of the earth’, and intimately related to our fellow creatures. Yet we are also called apart within creation to reflect God’s image in looking after it on his behalf.
This should affect how we educate young people in profound ways. Perhaps we can reflect on how education can prepare pupils for responsible stewardship of God’s world? Or how education can recover a vision of connecting people with a sense of place and belonging – experiencing the joy of planting, growing and eating food, and reflecting on our dependence. Perhaps education needs to see the world as a gift on trust, a family heirloom to treasure, enjoy and pass on intact.
For further info re Education Sunday and for suggested readings, prayers, hymns and ideas for talks, see www.educationsunday.org and www.arocha.org.