The Reformation's Impact on Education

On October 31, 2017, many Christians celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. When Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the church door, he began a religious reformation AND a cultural reformation that included the educational system.

As a Reformed Christian, I deeply appreciate the impact of the Reformation on faith; as a professional educator, I see the impact of the Reformation on education every single day.

Many of you are asking, how does a religious movement have anything to do with the classroom? More could be written on each of these topics, but let me share briefly a few of my thoughts (remember I'm an educator not a theologian).

95 Theses on a Church Door

It all began with nailing 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. It was the tradition in that day to post issues to debate on the church door; however, few dared to challenge the beliefs (or activities) of the church in these debates. Martin Luther did not want to destroy or split the church with this debate; his goal was to engage in a healthy debate with the leaders of the church on a number of issues, especially the selling of indulgences. He did not, initially at first, want to leave the church but rather to call it back to the Bible. While Martin Luther was initially excommunicated rather than debated, the topic was eventually debated by the entire western world.

So, what does this have to do with education today?

Debating for Learning

One of the best student learning experiences is found in debate ... it is even better when the debate is about a current topic. Debating prepares students to be critical thinkers and effective communicators. Debates can be formal or informal, heavily directed by the teacher or a spur of the moment discussion among students at lunch. Whatever the format, debating is an important part of a rigorous and lively academic culture.

What if every school had a "church door" that students could post objections, questions, and issues to debate?

School Leaders ... Before installing that door and creating a healthy debate culture at your school, remember that Martin Luther challenged the highest authority of his day ... and you can't excommunicate the students for posting an issue. Just kidding ... but you better be ready to debate the best and brightest students in your school.

What would a "church door" debate culture look like in your school?

Priesthood of All Believers

One of the tenets of the Reformation was the "priesthood of all believers." Through Jesus Christ's work on the cross, all who believe in him have "priestly" access to God through prayer and reading God's word. In addition to "priestly" access to God, there is also a "priestly" responsibility to intercede for others who are hurting in this world.

Okay, so how does that relate to education?

Universal Education and Restoration

There are two logical educational conclusions to the Reformation concept of the Priesthood of All Believers: universal education with a focus on restoration.

Coming out of the Medieval Ages, schools before the Reformation were primarily for boys from wealthy families or those studying for the priesthood. Schools were taught in Latin as that was the language of the powerful in that culture.

Martin Luther (and many of the other Reformers) fought to institute universal education for all children, boys and girls from all socio-economic levels. Not only universal education but education  in the vernacular of that culture. If all believers are "priests" then all children should be educated so that they can perform "priestly" duties ... to be able to read the Bible (in the common language), to be able to understand God's word intellectually, and to intercede for others through prayer and acts of service.

While Luther believed strongly in education, he was not an academic elitist. He celebrated both academics and trades as equally honored, God-ordained vocations.

Schools that honor this Reformation principle are ones that welcome all students, focus on developing the whole child, and teach students to use their talents as a living sacrifice for God's glory and service to humanity.

How does your school reflect the "priesthood of all believers"?

Ad Fontes

Another powerful slogan of the reformation was the Latin phrase, ad fontes. This phrase is literally translated as "to the fount" or "to the source" and was interpreted by the Reformers to challenge all Christians to return to the Word of God (the source) to evaluate church practices and the culture of the day. Martin Luther sought to debate the church's practice of selling indulgences because when he went back to the source (ad fontes), he didn't find anything in the Bible to support this church practice.

This is a great reminder for all Christians ... to evaluate church practices and culture in light of God's word, but what does this have to do with education?

Primary Sources

The ad fontes concept is such an important one in education, especially in today's world rife with fake news. In our culture, we have become sloppy researchers and subsequently sloppy thinkers; after all, it is so much easier to do wiki-research rather than digging into primary sources. Students need to be challenged to do "ad fontes" research ... with primary sources, eye witness accounts, quotes in context, etc. Students (and adults alike) quickly "google" to find information and assume that all of the search results are equally true and equally valid.

One of the most important 21st Century skills is evaluating information. Students today must understand the importance of using primary sources and how to evaluate the plethora of information that is at their fingertips.

Students are not the only guilty ones ... adults (of all ages) believe anything posted on social media. Shout-out to my Facebook friends ... look up articles on Snopes.com before sharing with me!  If I comment "ad fontes" on your post, you'll now know what I mean.

Seriously ... students must be taught how to evaluate sources and use primary sources.  Ad Fontes indeed!


When historians list events that changed the world, the Reformation is usually listed in the top 10. While the theological points of the Reformation were essential to a change in the church, the Reformation's impact changed the world ... including the world of education.

Happy 500th Birthday!

Learning (not Learner) Centered Education

Other than a few letters, what is the difference between a LEARNER-centered approach to education and a LEARNING-centered approach? The educational fad is to be a "Learner-Centered" educator, but I am encouraging a change (back) to "Learning-Centered" education. Yes, it may be just semantics and I may be the only one who thinks this makes a difference, but at least consider the following points.


Teacher-Centered Education
Education has always been teacher-centered. From the time of the Greek philosophers, the teacher has been highly regarded as the possessor of knowledge. The activity of education was done by the teacher through lecturing; students were passive recipients of the "correct" knowledge.

The Hebrew rabbis also operated within a teacher-directed system. While they emphasized "walking and talking" teaching practices, questioning of their "disciples," and correct living (ortho-praxy or piety), they still held to a teacher-directed model of education.

The Scholastics of the Middle Ages was a return to the Greek philosophies on education and heavily teacher-directed. We continue to see this model in many of our modern universities with the professor as the "sage on the stage."

A Learning-Centered Shift
During the late 19th century and early 20th century, educational psychologists (like Dewey, Vygotsky, and Piaget) studied learning and cognitive growth. Educational leaders in this time period were competent scientists and pragmatists. They were passionate about which educational strategies truly worked to enhance learning. Concepts arose during this time that are still essential parts of effective teaching and learning today: preparatory activities, repetition and cyclical learning, scaffolding, schema, experiential learning, problem-based learning, dissonance, collaboration, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the zone of proximal development.

Each of these concepts were truly learning centered. They were strategies that fostered and facilitated student learning, and they were supported by data on student learning.

A Move to Learner-Centered Education
In the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of learning styles re-oriented education to be LEARNER-centered. Essentially, the learning styles theory assumes that each student learns best if taught from his/her specific learning style. It began with three learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) and has grown to nine multiple intelligences as presented by Howard Gardner (1983). Educators, since the end of the 20th century, have fully embraced learning styles and a learner-centered focus. Ironically, some aspects of the learning styles movement are contrary to some of the "learning-centered" research, like cognitive dissonance and growth mindset. The presupposition behind learning styles, that students learn best when taught in their preferred learning style, is being questioned. This is now called the "learning styles myth."

• Reiner, C and D. Willingham (2010). "The Myth of Learning Styles." Change.  Available: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cedar_Riener/publication/249039450_The_Myth_of_Learning_Styles/links/0046353c694205e957000000.pdf

Unfortunately, embracing an educational movement without contemplating the data on student learning can plague schools, districts, school boards, and even educational thought leaders.

One of the trends that is currently being reconsidered is the impact of technology on learning. While arguments can be made about the positive use of technology in schools to motivate, to differentiate, to manage learning, and to prepare students to enter a 21st century technological world, the research on technology in schools benefiting student learning is quite thin.

• Kardaras, N. (2016). "Screens in Schools are a $60 Billion Hoax." Time.  Available: http://time.com/4474496/screens-schools-hoax/

A Return to Learning-Centered Education
This article is not intended to discourage innovation and creativity, but it is a call to return to educational pragmatism. Let's make sure what we are doing in schools truly enhances student learning.

Let's be learning focused.

Private Schools in a Market-Driven World

In-N-Out Burger and McDonald's both sell hamburgers, but they have distinctly different perspectives on the market.

In-N-Out Burger relies on customer loyalty and has not changed their menu since 1975 (when they added milk shakes). In comparison to many fast food chains, In-N-Out Burger does very little advertising; they do one thing well and count on their raving fans to tell their friends and to return as customers.

McDonald's (and most other fast food chains) also work to build customer loyalty and raving fans, but they have a realistic view of living in a market-driven world. McDonald's differs from In-N-Out because they spend considerable amount on marketing/advertising and regularly introduce new menu items to attract new and returning customers.

If we define a "market-driven" business by the level that it focuses/alters products based on what the market or customers want, we would conclude that McDonald's is more of a market-driven business than In-N-Out Burger.

In-N-Out Burger is an anomaly, and its customer loyalty is unmatched in the fast food industry. When In-N-Out fans see the In-N-Out sign (or even two crossed palm trees), Pavlovian drooling begins. Every fast food restaurant would love to have these raving fans.

What does hamburger sales have to do with education? More than you may initially think. Schools, for years, have held to an In-N-Out perspective on the market ... never changing the educational "menu" and spending little on advertising.  However, we live in a very competitive, market-driven world, even in education. My focus in this article will be on private (tuition-reliant) schools, but today public, charter, and private schools are competing aggressively for students.

What Must Change

Many private (tuition-reliant) schools have operated for years from solely an In-N-Out Burger mentality, relying on a loyal parent/alumni base to be raving fans who tell their friends and enroll their children/grandchildren. However, they are discovering that their base is not as loyal as they had thought and expect to be "courted." Schools need to be more market aware. They need to "change the menu" to attract new parents, promote the amazing things happening in the school, and encourage their alumni to enroll their own children.

With excellent public, charter, and private schools, the educational climate is extremely competitive. Private schools that are tuition reliant are especially susceptible to the market, i.e., it is difficult to compete with free. While I may wish that we still lived in an In-N-Out educational world, private (and now increasingly public) schools need to think more like McDonald's.

What Cannot Change

When fast food chains introduce a new menu item or run an advertising promotion, they do not change the staple of their company. McDonald's may offer a new McCafe drink to attract new and returning customers, but they still primarily serve hamburgers and french fries; that is what they do well. Likewise, when schools offer a new program, they must continue to provide the education that is their staple. Mission statements cannot change, excellent teaching and learning cannot change. Schools cannot compromise their mission and excellent education to appeal to the market.

A Market Awareness in Education

Like most businesses (and McDonald's), schools rely on both word of mouth and market sensitive strategies to turn heads and to encourage parents and students to "come and see" the good things happening at the school. Not only do these strategies reach new families, they also build excitement in their current families ... making satisfied "customers" into raving fans.

Here are a few ways to build raving fans and to encourage others to "come and see."

Social Media -- A free way to promote the school is through an active (even overly active) social media presence. If your school is not posting pictures daily of the great things that are happening at your school, you are missing this free marketing. Unfortunately, social media can also be where your brand takes a hit; schools must control the social media messages by over-communicating all the good things happening.

• Hire a tech-savvy, raving fan to manage your social media accounts. Find someone who is tech-knowledgeable and communication-wise ... a recent alumni may be a great choice.
• Encourage parents, students, staff, alumni, and board members to like, share, re-post everything that the school posts. The effectiveness of social media is in the activity metrics, i.e., the more something is "liked," the more people will see the post.

Word of Mouth -- A school must provide talking points to staff, students, and parents to share with the community. A school-wide awareness of the school's mission statement, core competencies, and motto is a good start. However, encouraging positive talking points is more about over-communicating to your stakeholders about all the great things happening at your school so that they, in turn, have something to share with their friends and neighbors.

• Communicate with the staff (and families) the importance of positive messaging about the school to the broader community.
• Use the "Magic Ratio" of 5 positives to 1 negative. If something positive is messaged to the school (and greater) community each day, the impact of an occasional negative message will be diminished.
• Handle complaints and grumbling quickly and internally. When complaints/grumbling simmer and fester, they often end up on social media and taint the positive word of mouth messages.

Innovation -- Encourage and promote innovation within the staff. Most teachers went into education to make learning fun and interesting; they should be given the funds and freedom to be creative and innovative. Often innovative ideas turn into great pictures for social media, and sending kids home with answers to the "what is something interesting that you did today?" questions really helps parents spread the word about your school. 

• Ask teachers ... what new things are you doing? when can I visit your classroom to see something new? (and take pictures to post on social media)
• Provide "opportunities to grow" through staff discussions, articles, and stretching professional development.
• Establish an innovation fund for teachers to use when they want to try something new.

Building / Renovation -- Colleges and universities have figured this out: construction on campus brings energy and excitement about the future. Nothing inspires people to "come and see" and ask questions like an active construction site. Old buildings with no construction/renovation happening is boring for everyone, including current families.

• Have a construction/renovation project (no matter how small) going on at all times, especially during the admissions season.
• Consider updating classroom furniture into flexible seating; this may provide an inexpensive way to recreate a room.

Both In-N-Out And McDonald's

Today, parents and students are looking every year at the greener grass on the other side of the school fence; they are being wooed by other schools at an alarming level. Schools (especially those that are tuition-reliant) must have both an In-N-Out and a McDonald's perspective on marketing. We must build those raving fans (that will salivate when they see your school name) like In-N-Out has done; however, schools must also utilize guerrilla marketing strategies to message positively about the school. Finally and most importantly, schools must continue to deliver excellent education that is both innovative and effective.