The Reformation's Impact on Education (Part 2)

What does the Protestant Reformation have to do with education today?

In a previous post, I proposed that three concepts from the Protestant Reformation (the act of posting the 95 theses, the "priesthood of all believers," and "ad fontes") still have (or should still have) an impact on education.

What other lessons can educators learn from the Protestant Reformation?

Deep Reading - Teaching Students to Question

The Reformation was sparked because Martin Luther read deeply, critically, and questioningly. Before the Reformation, parishioners (who couldn't read the Bible) listened to the church leaders without question, and priests (who could read the Bible) didn't read deeply. Unfortunately, I see similar patterns in education and culture today.

How often do adults read something on social media or hear something on the news and believe it without questioning (or fact checking)?  How often are students given something to read without the encouragement to read critically? This is actually a product of the industrialization of education. In the 20th century, primary sources were replaced by textbooks for efficiency. Students read excerpts of just the "good parts" of an article or speech, rather than studying the whole. Not only does the textbook take on the bias of the editor/publisher, but also, it deprives the students of deep reading and critical thinking, which is more damaging to our "educated" society.

This can also be seen in the propagandization of our society and schools. Every news program is more editorial (telling us what to think) than reporting (telling us what happened). Students are also fed information from textbook publishers and teachers, and they dutifully write it down without question.

Teachers need to slow down, take the time to read deeply and think critically. Yes, giving students primary sources or original research studies takes a lot more time, but the depth of learning and the critical thinking skills will serve them so much better in the future. Additionally, students need to be taught "hermeneutics" or how to read a text and what questions to ask. Students have the information (most of them at their fingertips in their phones), but they need analytical skills to know what to do with this information.  Take the time to give them this gift.

Using Technology in Education -- Embrace it

The Atlantic Monthly (and others) have crowned the printing press as the most influential technological invention of all time. Technological innovations often precede cultural and political movements, creating a fertile soil in which cultural change can grow. This was the case for Gutenberg's printing press and the Protestant Reformation. The printing press was invented approximately 80 years before the start of the Reformation, and it allowed the Bible to be more widely distributed and accessible to all people, and it facilitated the spread of Luther's 95 theses and other writings. Printing of both the Bible and Luther's writings fueled the Reformation.

Living and educating in a technological age where it seems a new device, app, or platform is being introduced into education every day, one can become tired of technology. A reminder from the Reformation: like the printing press, today's technological changes can be the soil from which our future society grows.

So many times, I grow weary of technology; I want to set it aside and teach the way I was taught. However, that ignores the power of technology to shape the future. Some schools embrace technology, other schools reject technology, and most schools try to manage technology as a "potential evil" force. If your technological paradigm includes the fact that the technology of today becomes the foundation of tomorrow's culture, then you can't ignore it in education.

How can we, as educators, teach and use technology so that it becomes the fertile soil that produces a healthy and positive future culture? Like the printing press, today's technology allows us to distribute information and ideas to nearly everyone globally, making culture-changing ideas accessible to all.

As educators, utilizing technology to promote and spread ideas for dialogue and debate is a great start; invite others around the world into your classroom. One example is to use "Skype in the Classroom" challenges and resources (https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/overview) to share ideas and to learn from others around the globe. Embrace the power of technology to distribute ideas and to learn from others.

Act Against Injustice -- Don't be Silent

Martin Luther read deeply, questioned what was going on in his society, AND took action. It is so easy for educators and students to remain at the intellectual level. However, applying knowledge is a key component to meaningful learning. How do you "apply" knowledge about injustice? You take action to make a difference.

Actions can be public debates, like the Reformation, that bring awareness to an issue, but actions can also provide a tangible resource to fill a real need in society, like a service project to rake leaves for the elderly.

Obviously, taking action needs to be age-appropriate and, often, should be guided by an adult. Encouraging students to consider the impact that certain actions will have on the community and the problem is essential, e.g., a school-wide walk-out about dress code may not foster a healthy conversation about this topic with the principal, and collecting money to give to a homeless man living on the street adjacent to the school may not be the solution that specifically addresses the problem. However, educators can help students think through these issues and develop effective solutions.

Action that is built into a curricular unit is a powerful way to help students address injustice and apply what they've learned (I've written previously about Restoration Projects). These projects can be throughout the unit or at the end of a unit, but connecting learning content to a current problem in society is key. Many Service-Learning, EL, and PBL projects are developed to take action against injustice and/or to restore a "broken" aspect of society.

Martin Luther once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that really matter." This quote is a powerful reminder to encourage students to stand up against injustice and to take appropriate action to help restore brokenness in our world.

I hope that this reflection helps all educators see the impact the Protestant Reformation can have on education.

Happy Reformation Day! 

If you want to read some of my other blogs about the Reformation and it's impact on education, click on the links below.

The Reformation's Impact of Education
Pounding on Church Doors