Marks of a Classical and Lutheran Educator
The educator demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to classical and Lutheran education.
1. The educator is a committed servant of the Word who lives, confesses, and teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ in accord with the inspired sacred Scriptures and the confessional writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He exhibits an understanding of Christian Vocation, Baptism, Catechesis, Christology, Law and Gospel, Christian Liberty, and the Two Kingdoms allowing them to shape his thinking and practice.
a. The educator possesses knowledge of the history and literature of the books of the Old and New Testaments of the sacred Scriptures and can interpret and teach them in accord with sound Lutheran principles of biblical interpretation.
i. The educator can outline and articulate the history of redemption given in the Bible.
ii. The educator can interpret the Scriptures Christocentricly.
iii. The educator can explain Law and Gospel, their uses, and can rightly distinguish them when expounding the Scriptures.
b. The educator understands and demonstrates skill in teaching the Gospel and how to defend it as it is confessed in the ancient ecumenical creeds and the confessional writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
i. The educator can recite the chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism.
ii. The educator can rightly relate articles of the faith one to another – e.g., sin and grace, creation and redemption, faith and works of vocation, the Church and her ministry, earthly and heavenly governments of Christ, etc.
iii. The educator can make a defense of the faith, indicating sound reasons and evidences in accord with the biblical witness.
c. The educator understands a Christian worldview over against contemporary non-Christian worldviews and can integrate it in his instructional endeavors.
i. The educator can articulate the basic assumptions that comprise a Christian worldview with a Lutheran perspective.
ii. The educator can compare and contrast a Christian worldview with contemporary non-Christian worldviews.
iii. The educator can integrate the Christian worldview with the academic content that he teaches.
d. The educator confesses and reflects his faith in the Gospel in his life, worship, and vocation.
i. The educator possesses a Lutheran understanding of catechesis and corporate worship.
ii. The educator uses and teaches the historic forms of liturgy and hymnody as they express and convey the gifts of the pure Gospel in Word and Sacrament.
iii. The educator loves and serves his neighbor in his vocation.
2. The educator demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to a classical approach to curriculum and instruction within a confessional, Lutheran framework.
a. The educator understands and utilizes pedagogy in the classroom that nurtures the basic language skills - grammar, logic, rhetoric - to equip learners to carry out successfully their own inquiries into what is significantly true, good, and beautiful.
i. The educator skillfully uses direct instruction, lecture, and questioning to impart information, advance understanding, and discern comprehension in his students.
ii. The educator teaches reading and requires memorization and repetition to equip his students with foundational knowledge and skills.
iii. The educator engages his students in dialog that encourages analysis and organization of information as appropriate for the levels of instruction.
iv. The educator equips and enables his students to research, reflect, and recommend a position in their speaking and writing as appropriate for the levels of instruction.
v. The educator equips his students to identify assumptions and articulate competing viewpoints with integrity.
b. The educator exhibits growth in his understanding, skills, and appreciation of a classical and Lutheran pedagogy.
i. The educator gives evidence of his continued learning of the seven liberal arts, the three sciences, and a Lutheran understanding of the Gospel.
ii. The educator can contrast a classical pedagogy with other educational philosophies and their underlying worldview assumptions.
iii. The educator gives evidence of continual growth as a classical and Lutheran educator through reading, peer review, and attendance at conferences and in-service events.
iv. The educator annually updates his classroom expectations, resources, and instructional materials to reflect growth in his teaching areas.
v. The educator demonstrates competence in the content areas of his teaching responsibilities.
3. The educator demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the effective administration of his responsibilities.
a. The educator fosters good order by effectively managing his educational environment.
i. The educator effectively explains to his students the standards of conduct.
ii. The educator respectfully disciplines his students with appropriate rewards and penalties.
iii. The educator successfully engages his students with the academic content.
b. The educator supports structured learning by effectively managing his educational resources.
i. The educator designs and maintains orderly lesson plans.
ii. The educator organizes his work space in an orderly manner and assists students in personal organization as needed.
iii. The educator employs methods of accurate academic assessment and keeps clear records of students' individual academic performance.
c. The educator follows all policies established by those in authority in his educational setting.
i. The educator complies with applicable staff requirements related to personal and professional conduct.
ii. The educator cooperates with administrative supervision as it would apply to the execution of his duties.
iii. The educator supports co-curricular and extra-curricular activities as they apply to his teaching responsibilities.
d. The educator communicates effectively with those in his educational setting.
i. The educator communicates clearly with his students.
ii. The educator communicates professionally with parents.
iii. The educator communicates respectfully with other staff members and administrators.
Adopted by the CCLE Board on 03 February 2012 at Concordia, MO