Inspire, Fall 1994

The 1994 Summer Studies Program saw eight students whose parents are alumni of Cedarville College attend three weeks of intensive study on the campus. Students may take up to six credit hours to get a jump on their college education and enjoy the extracurricular activities offered. This program, offered to students in between their junior and senior years of high school, promotes attendance of second-generation Cedarville students by providing free tuition for the program. Next year's dates are June 12 through July 1. For more information and an application, contact the Admissions Office at 1-800- CEDARVILLE. • During February 22-March 7, 1994, Robert Rohm '68, director for planned giving at Cedarville College, visited our alumni who are teaching English as a second language to Chinese university students at People's University and Beijing Institute of Light Industry in Beijing, China. While in China, he negotiated 1994-95 contracts for our alumni, conducted daily Bible studies with the Cedarville team,and spoke at the Beijing International Christian Fellowship. He reported that our graduates are doing a wonderful job as "tentmakers." om 1982 through 1995, the Whittaker family has been represented at Cedarville College--Kristina Snavely '85,Judy Cornfield '86,Jenny Madden '89,and the youngest, Keila,is a senior education major. How does a family support college students for 13 years? Having grown up on the mission field of Brazil, praying came naturally to the Whittaker girls. Parents Earl and Marilyn Whittaker taught them early to have faith that"God would supply." Judy recalls hearing fellow students claim they would not return the following quarter because oflack offunds. By the grace ofGod,Judy would reply,"I don't have the money to pay for THIS quarter, but I'll be back! I know God will somehow provide." Through financial aid, academic scholarships,student employment,and anonymous gifts, all four girls have received their educations at Cedarville College. While they did not all escape without loans,Judy reflects, "Looking back on my college experience, I knew that I was paying for my classes(through loans). It was great motivation to go to class even on days I didn't quite feel like it!" God continues to supply for each member ofthe Whittaker family. Kristina'85 is at home in Bath,New York,expecting her second child. Her husband,Glenn Snavely, is a youth evangelist and radio announcer with Family Life Ministries, the largest Christian network in New York.Judy'89 and her husband,Mark Cornfield, have settled in LaGrange,Georgia, where Mark is a financial counselor. Jenny'89 and Brian Madden were married September 3, 1994 and are living in Rochester, New York, where Brian is an admissions counselor and financial aid officer for Roberts Wesleyan College. And anticipating graduation in spring'95 with a degree in elementary education is the final Whittaker—Keila. Dad and Mom Whittaker heave a big sigh of relief and praise God for His faithful provision! tion Department s Variety Of ention the Cedarville College Department of Education, and one thinks of a quality program, stability, and attractive options. Dr. Merlin Ager'60,the mainstay ofthe department who has superintended its development for most ofthe last 30 years,states, "Some recent additions offer attractive options to the teacher candidate who sees education as a long-term career and wants to do more than conventional classroom preparation. "For several years, special education has been a significant program in the department and,as of 1994, we are authorized by the State ofOhio to grant certificates in special education," he continues."This emphasis takes about a year beyond the regular curriculum,and there is a lot of interest." Previously, education students had to co-op with Wright State University to complete work for special education, but now they can get all their classes at Cedarville. Cedarville's special education program offers training in the areas of specific learning disabilities(SLD), developmentally handicapped(DH),and severe behavior handicapped(SBH). In 1993,the department gained state approval to provide instruction for Teaching English as a Second an'77 and Martha Sprano Riedel'79 home-educate their four children. Beginning their own graphic design business,Revere Design,based in their Bucks County,Pennsylvania home was not simply a dream,but a dream with a purpose. Martha states there are great advantages to their at-home business combined with home-schooling."In our design studio, the children constantly observe the importance, value,and dignity of work.We teach them that they live and work in the presence ofGod.They hear us pray for the prosperity ofour business,and see how God gives us our sustenance."She adds,"The children like being in the studio with Dan—drawing,observing how business is run,and working on the computers." Martha and Dan have home-schooled their children(Aaron(9), Andrew (7), Kathleen(4),and Elizabeth(1))for five years with a long and short range goal in mind.The far-reaching goal is to give their children strong moral character,to teach them to be mindful ofthe Creator,sensible, wise, discerning,respectful,considerate ofothers, diligent, industrious,informed,and forward thinking.The short term goal is to learn and master specific material. Martha finds that her teaching focuses on all academic subjects: mathematics,phonics,English,literature, science, history and geography. Dan teaches computer and theology."When the children finish their book work, they have the time and opportunity to work on projects which interest them: music, art, athletics, reading,or writing letters and stories," Martha states."The world is our classroom! Right now there is ajump rope in the library, plaster sculptures on the kitchen counter, someone's rock collection on top ofthe wood-burning stove,a worm farm on the porch,and a bug collection jammed on the encyclopedia shelf. Our children help build the gardens, bake,sew,and make creative presents for people. The way I look at it, we are always learning." Home is also the social hub of the Riedel world. By inviting people into the home—whether it be friends, family, missionaries,or people from other cultures and walks oflife—the children learn to appreciate others and to share their home. In a Cedarville College Chapel on October 12, 1992, Martha spoke concerning education and the value of raising a family and teaching her children in today's godless society. The remainder ofthis article is that challenge–one which received a standing ovation from the College family. T he true test of learning is being able to apply what we know to all of the situations of life: home,church, business, community life ...and in doing so, in every situation, to be able to stand independent of current thoughts and ideas of our culture and to be able to apply and articulate a consistent presentation of the Christian world view (1 Peter 3:15). Language(TESL)endorsement on the teaching certificate. "This option requires about20 additional credit hours and prepares the teacher to deal with children who come from homes where English is not spoken,"says Dr. Ager. "Sometimes the children themselves don't know any English.TESL is a real resource to teachers in U.S.school systems in cities with large Spanish-speaking populations or where international business firms have brought to this country workers whose families speak no English." He states that the endorsement is appropriate for elementary education,English education,and Spanish education majors.TESL can be a concentration for elementary education majors or a minor for others. Another option for education majors is to add a few courses to secure a reading endorsement which allows the teaching of remedial reading under Chapter 1 entitlements. "This endorsement," states Dr. Ager,"also is appealing to teachers who already are involved in their careers and want to expand their area ofservice." Dr. Ager sees some significant changes in teacher training and accreditation in the future. State standards in advanced planning include new certification levels. The first certification, rather than grades 1-8, would include early childhood through age 8. The second certification would be for ages 8-14,and the adolescent certification would serve ages 12-21, with more integration and less specialization of subjects. Public education would include the very young and, with the special education inclusion, Our book, And God Said..., is to be a tool that Christian parents can use to teach their children the historical realities of creation. Also, we wanted to depict, in words and pictures, the beauty of God's original world. I wrote the book, Dan illustrated it, and after 10 years, we found a publisher. It took time, but it taught us two things: First, anything that is worthwhile takes a long time. And secondly, the Lord opened our hearts about how to raise our children. My imperative was to raise my children to be complete Christians, to begin instructing them in the truths of the Bible and in the realities of our culture, teaching them that Christianity is a system of thought that applies to all of life; and educating them to be a part of a generation that is able to vigorously resist humanistic values. I began to see that I needed to teach them to understand 20th century problems so that they would be able to attack the desperate moral crisis that we face. And above all, I saw my role as teaching them to love the Lord their God with all their heart, and all their soul, and all their mind, and all their strength. So even though I never saw myself primarily in a role as teaching children, teaching them is primarily what I do. Do we,as women,despise the teaching of children because it is not an opportunity that is large enough for us? It's not a big enough opportunity for all of our academic accomplishments,and all our social achievements,and all our high goals and ideals? That's the way most of the world looks at raising families. Our society is so oriented towards tangible rewards, that if we don't have them,the task can't possibly be worth it. I began to consider Jesus, our Creator and Redeemer,who didn't consider it robbery to take on the form of a man,to walk among sinners, and to die the death of a cross, and I had to ask myself the question that Zechariah asked the people when they were rebuilding the temple,"Do you despise the day of small things?" If we don't instill in our children the fear and love of God—when they are young—as their Creator and their Redeemer, we can't expect to send them to a i• Christian school, like Cedarville College, 18 years later and suddenly expect that their minds are fixed on biblical things. Their learning processes are formed when they are very young and the world my children will live in is going to be a lot more godless than the one that I grew up in; and the one that your children will live in will be more godless than the one that you knew as a child. I would challenge Christians to learn to think Biblically, know your Bible, and most of all, know God. Discipline yourself. Develop the skills that God has given you. Be organized. Do your best. Work hard. When there comes a time in your life that God gives you children, don't set aside the task of raising them to stay on your career path or to maintain your house; don't be caught in the snare that says you've wasted your education if you stay home and raise a family. Your mind is a gift from God, your education is a gift from God,and so will your children be. As a woman, staying home and teaching children about the truth of God is not a waste of your education, it's a good use of one. In an age of complete moral confusion, disintegrating families, and a disregard for God and His laws, getting a diploma and a good salary and a good job won't save the next generation. Instilling the love of the Lord and the fear of the Lord in every aspect of our children's lives will guide them and direct their paths. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. more integration of the handicapped into regular classes. Currently,certification standards are determined by each state, but a group called the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education(NCATE)is pushing toward federal standards for certification. Cedarville College has been a provider of teachers for Greene County and beyond since the late 1800's, although in the 1950's,the state withdrew accreditation for the education program. During that time, however, neighboring Central State University cooperated with the College so that Cedarville students could receive certification. As education students became interested in the growing Christian school movement,Dr. Ager realized that the department needed more experience in the workings of Christian schools. During the 1970's he spent three years with Dayton Christian Schools as an administrato and then returned to the College. Dr. Merlin Ager and his wife,Ruth Himsel Ager'61N,live in Cedarville and have two married daughters–Mindy Moreland'85N of Orlando,Florida,and Debbie Hanssen'89 of North Royalton, Ohio. 4FALL'94