Changes in Education and Why A Christian Worldview Matters

Mrs. Tina Parrish is the Elementary Principal at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, and a 1990 Elementary Education graduate of Trinity College of Jacksonville.  With 30 years of experience in education, including 19 years in the classroom and 11 in administration, Mrs. Parrish has witnessed many changes in the field of education.

Education Has Changed Dramatically in the last 30 Years

From Mrs. Tina Parrish’s perspective, there are two main changes that have had a direct impact on teachers, students, and families: information delivery and technology implementation.

Education has shifted its philosophy on information delivery.

What used to be a one-size-fits-all approach has been developed into a more holistic approach that takes into account the nuances of the individual’s strengths.  Teachers are expected to be more than academic instructors.

“Teachers aren’t just concerned with being the sage on the stage.  They are also aware of students’ overall well-being, the learning differences in the classroom, the mental health issues, and relationship building”

This means that teachers are more aware of and sensitive to the individualized needs of their entire classroom.  While this does create new demands for the teachers, it also makes learning easier and more accessible for the students in the seats.

Education has integrated technology into learning. 

Mrs. Tina Parrish started her career in the days of opaque projectors and a plethora of pen-and-paperwork, books and worksheets for every subject, and the rare computer for teacher use.  Now, every classroom is equipped with technology that includes smart boards and devices for each student.  Mrs. Parrish says that in many ways, this technology supports the teachers in their mission to provide a diversified learning environment and supports clear and effective communication.

“Now we have technology at our fingertips… we have access to tools and resources that develop creativity, differentiation, communication with families, and individualized support for students.”

Changes in Education Create Challenges for Teachers

Changing methodologies takes time and patience.  Seasoned educators had to learn these new methods, adapt, and implement technology that was not available to them in their training years, all while maintaining their full classroom responsibilities.  

New educators were starting their careers in a system that was still catching up to the technological advancements and changing every day. 

All of this took a great deal of coordination and support.  The steep learning curve and heavy lift to integrate technology into the infrastructure of classrooms has resulted in some very positive outcomes.

Advancements in Education Are Worth Celebrating

Mrs. Tina Parrish is especially excited about the growing understanding that students learn differently.  She says that long-time Trinity educators Dr. Lois Schaeffer and her late husband, Dr. Jim Schaeffer (former professors and Heads of the Education programs at TCJ), were strong proponents of this ideology back in the 80s and 90s.  It is especially satisfying to Mrs. Parrish that the concept of differentiated learning has taken hold on a broad scale within Christian education.

Differentiated learning promotes collaborative environments.

In Mrs. Tina Parrish’s view, these concepts have paved the way for more understanding and flexibility in instruction.  As a result, teachers collaborate and work with each other to develop creative solutions and share real-time results. 

With differentiated learning, there is a stronger emphasis on developing critical thinking skills as opposed to enforcing rote memorization.  Mrs. Parrish observes that this has reshaped the classroom in positive ways.

Problem solving feeds understanding.

Gone are the days of elementary students sitting still and quiet to absorb a lecture – instead they are often collaborating, problem solving, and talking through concepts among themselves under the direction of their teachers.  This enables students to reinforce their understanding as they absorb skills and information.  The freedom to present material in ways that accommodate different learning styles helps build stronger and more engaged learners.

The Value of a Quality Education Is In its Foundation

There is no question that differentiated learning advancements and technology are advantageous to students.  However, Mrs. Tina Parrish believes there is another more critical component to education that is important to consider: its foundation.

The foundation of a Christian education is its worldview, not its location within a Christian environment. This foundation upon biblical principles shapes how students see themselves and others and is the guidepost for all facets of Christian education.

For Mrs. Tina Parrish, the defining difference of a Christian education is how it helps students understand what a Christian worldview is, how it affects our world, and how it can be the bedrock for their own life at any stage.

“We can openly teach that each child is created by God with purpose and value.  We can help them discover their God-given purpose that extends beyond themselves.  We encourage them to seek wisdom and serve with compassion and empathy towards others… when they have accepted Christ and they’ve become disciples of Christ, that sets their feet on a different path than someone who is just well educated.  It’s not just about how high I can get on the rung, but how can I serve people in Christ, because their identity is in Him.  These are the students who are service-minded, have compassion, and support each other.  These are the kinds of things that students take with them from a Christian education, beyond the academics.”

About Mrs. Tina Parrish

Mrs. Tina Parrish is happily married to her husband Stephen Parrish (fellow TCJ grad, class of 1991).  They have three children, (Joel, Jeremiah, and Rebecca) three grandchildren, and one more grandchild on the way. She taught sixth grade for several years before serving on the mission field in Russia.  When Tina and her family returned to the United States, they quickly re-connected with Trinity Ministries where she resumed her career in education.  She taught first grade at Trinity Christian Academy for 17 years before earning her master’s degree and moving into Administration in 2015.  She has served in her current role as Elementary Principal since 2018.