It's the Teachers that Make the Difference

In an odd move for such a far left-wing democrat, Political activist Al Sharpton recently wrote an editorial in the Wall Street Journal supporting the improvement of the education system through increased accountability. According to Mr. Sharpton teachers that perform well should receive pay raises, and against the grain, teachers that perform poorly should be called to task. He also supports increased funding for charter schools.

The education system in America is not working as well as it should be. Although the focus of the article is the disparity between the performance of white students and minority students, and it is quite the gap, the fact remains that most educational programs are failing to educate. In Arizona, one out of every three students doesn’t graduate from high school, this is both according to the US Department of Education and an independent study. For some areas, like Detroit, slightly more than one out of three black students graduate from high school.

Education fails for a number of reasons in the US. But the key to reforming such a broken system, in the eyes of Mr. Sharpton, is hiring and training good teachers. I couldn’t agree more. That’s why, at Bios, we are committed to hiring only excellent teachers, because the teachers make the difference. As our next president has said, “It’s not who their parents are or how much money the have – it’s who their teacher is.”

Lessons on the Basketball Court

The basketball player had just hit the wall behind the basket after a missed layup. Head first into the cement wall, he fell to the floor. The game was stopped, the paramedics arrived quickly, and he was rolled out to the waiting ambulance.

Before the game resumed, both teams met for prayer, then continued to play until the last buzzer sounded the end of the game.

The incident happened recently at one of our boy’s basketball games. The injured player came out okay. But I didn’t. In a good way.

We had been losing badly again, which we should, playing high school teams with our 7th, 8th, and 9th grade boys with little to no basketball experience.

The moment we walked back on the court, the moment the boys of Bios hustled to their defensive positions awaiting the second half onslaught which was heading their way, that moment was as much of a slow motion moment as I have ever experienced. The kind they show in movies to allow you to observe the amazing special effects. But there were no special effects - just life.

The memories of the accident, praying, a few conversations between the opposing teams after the prayer – all rushed at me.

This group of eight boys, young and desirous of winning any game, not once hesitated to do their best or the right thing that night.

I am messing this up already. How do I describe their concern for the fallen foe? Their lack of hesitancy in being outmuscled outplayed and outscored by over forty points. Heads bowed, shoulders rounded under the bright orbs of the lights. Instead of complaints, hope beyond hope, their faces intense as prayer was offered. These thoughts and more flashed in my mind as I watched the second half begin.

Blessed am I to be associated with such a fine and promising team.

Math & Science Emphais at Bios

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article describing the best and worst jobs in the United States as compiled by a study by Les Krantz. In his study, Mr. Krantz used five criteria to establish his results: environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands, and stress. Of the top ten jobs, seven involved heavy math and/or science. In fact, the top three, mathematician, actuary, and statistician, were solely math based. Among the bottom 10 are lumberjack and taxi driver and other professions that do not require too much in the way of advanced knowledge.

To some, it would appear that Bios places an excessive emphasis on both Math and Science. While it is true these subjects are emphasized heavily at Bios, this is done purposefully. These two subjects will help provide our students with solid foundations to allow them to get good jobs.
The math our students do on a daily basis is amazing. According to Geoff Colvin, Senior Editor of Fortune, the math students do in today’s world is unbelievably advanced. In the 13th century, basic algebra was considered to need 30 to 40 years of study to master. We have students who are as young as eleven starting to learn the concepts thought to be impossible for adults 800 years ago. Have our brains changed or have we become more intelligent? No, it is simply a matter of expectations. We expect more out of our students, and they, not knowing that they shouldn’t be able to do it, learn the information. And they excel at it.

In science, we teach our students at a level surpassed by few entry level college courses. Our anatomy curriculum is better than many taught by colleges to prepare nurses. We teach science with the belief that a greater understanding of God’s complex creation will lead students to better worship the powerful and creative God we serve.

We have amazing students here at Bios and we have excellent teachers who will push them ever farther to learn the skills that will allow them to choose to go into whatever profession they desire. One day they may choose to become a mathematician and they will have a solid foundation to pursue it. And if they want to drive a taxi for a living, then they will be able to impress their passengers with the wealth of knowledge they have accumulated.


Benjamin Ihms

Bible Instruction for High School

As part of our Bible instruction for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, our students read from various Christian authors so that, as the author of Hebrews says, they “ought to be teachers” instead of “needing [to be taught] the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.”

The books are written by mature, Christian teachers including Piper, MacArthur, Sproul, McDowell, and Friesen. The student reads through a section of each book, answers written questions independently, meets in a small group with fellow students to discuss their answers - settling any disagreements through the Bible, and then the group meets with their instructor for accountability.