Return to search

A philosophical basis for the new Christian School Movement in Korea (South) / Jae-Shin Ryu

Because of the many shortcomings of public school education in Korea, an
alternative school movement has begun to surface. Analysis of the philosophical
foundations of this alternative movement reveals, however, that its programmes
have thus far also been inspired by motives that have been characteristic for some
time now of public schools, namely serious competition for places in higher
education institutions. The purpose of this project was to, on the one hand, discover
the shortcomings of current public and alternative schools in Korea, and on the other
to reflect on replacing their current philosophies with a Christian approach and
philosophy to schooling and education.
The first step in understanding present day Korean education schooling was tracing
the history and philosophy of Korean public and Christian alternative education. It
emerged from this analysis that the biggest problem for Korean education is that
education is knowledge-centred and intended for preparing students for entrance
examinations to universities. instead of educating the whole person.
The next step was to analise the history and philosophy of Australian Christian
alternative schools. Christian schooling in Australia has contributed significantly to
the development of a biblical understanding of' education. The Christian Parent
Controlled Schools (CPCS) has for instance been emphasising parents' right of educating their children in schools of their choice and which suit their life views.
Christian Community Schools (CCS), on the other hand, has put emphasis on the
importance of the school a? a learning community where relationships arc more
important than how they teach or even what they teach.
Based on this comparative study and a study of a biblical philosophy of education,
an educational philosophy for Korean Christian alternative schools could be
suggested. Christian alternative schools have to teach education based on a Christian
worldview and philosophy. Korean education. public as well as non-government
school education, has thus far been totally dualistic in that it has tended to separate
fact and \due, public realm from private. The Christian school rejects such dualisms
and educates its students as complete and total persons to know this world, to live
and survive in it, to practice their God-given calling of stewardship of reality, to
maintain their cultural mandate, to serve God in doing so. and to love and serve their
fellowmen. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/1308
Date January 2007
CreatorsRyu, Jae-Shin
PublisherNorth-West University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

Page generated in 0.0027 seconds