KNOWN. LOVED. EQUIPPED.
HCA bases its philosophy of education on the following basic components:
IMMERSION IN GOD’S WORD
Believing that the Bible is the final authority on all matters of life and learning, HCA is committed to a daily curriculum of Bible instruction. The focus of Christian education is to immerse students in a developmental appropriate study of God’s Word as the basis for approaching all other academic disciplines. The goal of Bible instruction is the accurate interpretation and faithful application of scriptures to the life of each student.
INFUSION OF GOD’S WISDOM
A second key element in HCA’s philosophy of education deals with the starting point of God’s wisdom in the overall approach to learning. The basis of this model is found in the book of Proverbs’ reference to three keywords in the learning process: wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (Proverbs 24:3-4 – By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches). (Also see Proverbs 3:19.) The secularization of these terms has reversed the Biblical intent of their order and priority. From a human viewpoint, wisdom is viewed as a result of gaining more of man’s knowledge and his process of understanding. This is a system based on theory. HCA approaches wisdom from God’s Word, not as the result of a learning theory, but as the starting point of all truth. God’s wisdom must be the arbiter and organizer of all knowledge and learning. The goal is to understand whatever principle or counsel God’s Word offers on any particular subject. It is a system built on truth. This approach in no way undermines or decreases the school’s commitment to scholarship or intellectual pursuit. In fact, it enriches and enhances the importance of a program of academic excellence. God’s wisdom provides a platform for the pursuit of knowledge and brings it to a higher and more complete level of understanding. If anything, approaching knowledge from God’s viewpoint demands the very best in scholarly pursuits.
INTEGRATION OF FAITH AND LEARNING
Secular education places “religion” and the Bible into a compartment and treats it as irrelevant to all other academic disciplines and thought. In contrast, Christian education involves the commitment to both the person of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible as having a profound effect on all knowledge and academic disciplines. Within Christian schools, this view of scripture and knowledge is known as Biblical integration. Simply defined, integration is the blending of faith and knowledge with the goal of producing a Biblical worldview.
HCA views integration as a natural outcome of the school’s commitment to the authority of the Word of God and the wisdom of Biblical principles. Under the careful eye of the Christian teacher, God’s Word is integrated into every subject matter, much as a weaver creates a tapestry. The threads of scripture are vital to the true representation of any given subject. Strands are naturally woven into each lesson as appropriate, providing it with a distinct look, feel, and Biblical signature. HCA commits itself to the philosophy of Biblical integration as a major component of its educational theory.
