Saturday, March 9, 2013

Thayer and Theology


Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Several nervously excited middle school students left our campus on Friday morning. A paper is held to their chest, you watch their lips move as they occasionally glance at the paper. If you listened closely, you hear a soft voice utter, “mighty Casey has struck out.” You see the hint of a smile as the paper is folded, placed in a book and carried it onto the bus.

The ACSI Speech Meet hones the verbal skills of its participants. It illustrates the application of two essential aspects of our curriculum: the Word of God and language arts. The goal is to produce students that know the Truth and make it known. Knowing the Truth involves a Biblical worldview that is comprehensively infused throughout the entire educational program. Equally important is developing the rhetorical skills necessary to articulate that Biblical worldview in a variety of disciplines. Reciting such poems as Casey at the Bat may not be the equivalent of a theological discourse, but it does cultivate confidence in the exercise of verbal skills. These skills are enhanced through class discussions, science fair defenses, and other regular rhetorical opportunities. Christian Education is purposeful in developing students that know the Truth and make it known.

Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer

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