Scotch College

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Year 7

Rationale

Christian Education is taught at all levels and aims at what has been termed 'education towards faith'. It provides an opportunity to examine the foundations of historic Christian faith in the Bible, and the claims of Jesus to be the “the way, the truth and the life”. The course also seeks to apply this perspective to the personal development of the individual, to ethical problems and moral dilemmas posed by modern society, especially for the young, with a re-evaluation of Christian beliefs, attitudes and values in issues relevant to students.

Course content

The Year 7 Christian Education course aims to:

• assist the smooth induction of Year 7 students to the Senior School by explaining the Christian foundation of the school and relating that to the Bible and newly encountered traditions in Chapel and Assembly

• deepen the student’s knowledge of and respect for the Old Testament by presenting a sequence of stories from the Patriarchal narrative covering the period from Abraham to the Exodus and the Mosaic covenant, a monarchy and the exile

• encourage reflection on the theological propositions and basic values presented in this patriarchal narrative, especially in relation to the Ten Commandments in their context and the concept of covenant

• heighten students’ perception of the underlying cohesion of the Old and New Testaments by introducing them to Jesus’ remarks on the Ten Commandments and his summation of them in the obligation to love both God and neighbour

• introduce students to a range of personal issues faced by characters in the narrative with a view to establishing a perspective in human issues.

• provide a strong emphasis linking God’s story with the individual student’s story

Coursework is developed around the narrative sequence of the text which is introduced in pictorial format through the Good News Bible and on the web. Christian Education is taught at two periods per six-day cycle for one Semester so that each lesson, while related in the narrative to what precedes and follows, may stand alone.

Assessment

Assigned work.