I am eager to tell you about a wonderful experience I had recently. I went to the recitation (performance for parents) of our students in the Rafiki Classical Academy (RCA). The RCA is Rafiki’s demonstration school for the training of missionary teachers for Africa as well as for teachers who want to learn how to teach classically in schools in the USA. Our little RCA is located on the Rafiki property and is in its second year. We have pre-school through fifth grade now and next year we will have kindergarten through sixth grade.
What I heard at the recitation of these children astounded me! Besides a number of poems and hymns (all verses!) they had memorized, they recited something I wish someone had taught me as a child. They had memorized the Old Testament books (all 39 of them!) with a sentence or two describing what the book was about. For example: “Genesis—God created the world and made male and female in his image.” “Exodus—Moses led Israel out of Egypt and received the ten commandments.” These children went through the whole Old Testament in this way and didn’t skip a beat. Totally amazing!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all schools, at least all Christian schools, would teach children to learn what’s in the Bible, to remember for the rest of their lives?
The reason I am telling you all this is because I want to encourage you to get your church to use its facilities during the week for a Christian classical primary school or build a school next to the church (using the parking lot for both school and church). I’m sure you are aware of the need for better schools than the public schools in the USA. Our schools need to be Christian and classical to really give children the best education possible. And Rafiki can help you. We can provide the Christian classical curricula that you can use, and we can train your teachers in how to teach classically. Your school will support itself if you use “Step-up” funds that most states provide. Please pray about this and talk to your church. If you want more information on how to start a school call Rafiki at 352-483-9131and ask for Geri.
If you have been paying attention, you know that schools in the USA are almost at the bottom of the list in educating its children. Even with the closure of the federal Department of Education and providing the funds and management of schools to the states, states will not provide only classical schools and certainly not Christian schools for its children. It’s up to us Christians to educate our children well.
Please, please pray about this.
That sounds wonderful, Rosemary! Thank you for telling us about it. As I read this, I thought how wonderful it would be if the books of the OT recitation could be made available to use to demonstrate to others how excellent the RCA program is. It would stir up interest in viewing the entire curriculum. Would Rafiki be willing to do this?
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