Discipline involves training a child so that he can someday take moral responsibility for his choices. Punishment is sometimes required as consequences for making poor choices. Our emphasis, though, is on positive instruction and practice in proper behavior. We want the child to be guided by love of virtue, not fear of reproof. Having each student accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and surrender to that Lordship is our goal; at that point, the child can learn to “walk in the Spirit”, and the child’s relationship with God becomes his moral compass. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:24-25

Philosophy of Discipline

We are a private school and offer reasonable and effective protection from some of the negative influences prevalent in our world today, however, we are also Christian. It is our purpose to teach Biblical standards of conduct. We cannot stop by creating an environment that is simply safe; we must teach and encourage students to adopt God’s standards of righteousness. Our students will be trained to conform to age appropriate Biblical behavior. As they develop, their character is to reflect the attributes of God’s character. It is our heart’s desire that each child will know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Following salvation, the power of the Holy Spirit is available to spiritually mature the child.

• The appropriate response to authority is obedience
• The appropriate remedy for foolishness is an apology (motivated by honest confession and repentance).

• Proverbs 22:6
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• Matthew 22:37-40
• Philippians 2:3-4
• Deuteronomy 10:12-13
• Galatians 3:24-25
• John 1:5

1. Respect for authority/Ready obedience
   “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Heb. 13:17
2. Respect for others
   “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22:39 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3
3. Diligence to duty
   “In whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
4. Exercise godly character
   “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind… Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22:37-38
   “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of thy mouth.” Eph. 4:29
5. Guard God’s property
   “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Colossians 1:16 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (money, property), who will commit to your trust the true riches (spiritual things)?” Luke 16:10-11

1. Maintain respect for authority
   “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Heb. 13:17
2. Treat your peers with deference, grace and kindness
   “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil. 2:4
   “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” 1 Cor.10:33
   “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Eph. 4:29
   “And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32
3. Practice stewardship
   A steward is a person entrusted with management of the estate of another. To the Christian, stewardship means being responsible for, and the use of, everything entrusted to the believer by God — life, physical being, time, talents, possessions and resources.
   “The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Ps. 24:1
   “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Cor. 4:2
   "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the leaset is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" Luke 16:10-11
4. Exercise Godly Character
   “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom. 12:2
   “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12
   “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8
5. Diligence to duty
   “In whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

General Conduct Guidelines

Hebrews 13:17 makes it clear that it is profitable for children to “obey those that have rule over them”. Jesus says that we are His friends if we obey Him (John 15:14). Obedience is responding with the right attitude, immediately and completely. We encourage students to appeal to the Principal if they ever perceive that their authorities are acting in a manner not consistent with scriptural principles

To understand the second principle, we need to study the meaning of the word “fool” or “foolishness” and “scoffer” in Proverbs. Essentially, a fool values his own wisdom over that of an authority; he is careless, unthinking, and yields to immediate gratification. A scoffer takes foolishness to the extreme by manipulating, openly resisting authority, and involving others in his misdeeds.

At times, we all fall victim to our own foolishness. We recover from such mistakes by confessing our faults and repenting (seeking God’s direction in the matter), followed by apologizing to those that have been hurt or offended by the foolishness. The response of believers in Christ is forgiveness and restoration. We become fools by practicing foolishness and not correcting our attitudes and actions.

An individual who is habitually foolish and resists authority is a scoffer. He not only offends, he also tends to draw others into his misbehavior. He is a negative influence on the group. Scoffers will be removed from the student body for a period of time (In School Suspension – ISS, or Out of School Suspension - OSS). Persistent resistance to correction will result in the student being withdrawn.

The goal of all corrective action is the restoration of the student’s right standing with a peer, an authority and/or the Lord. We know that all children struggle with self will; that is man’s condition. Scripture says we do not have to be slaves to foolishness and sin. We expect that consistent, firm, and loving discipline and discipleship will allow the student to develop proper attitudes and behavior. We also know that this result is only possible as the school enters into an effective partnership with parents and extended families.