Does Spirituality Belong in the Classroom? How Prayer and Worship Impact a Student's Experience

What happens when spirituality becomes a big part of what takes place at school? Does it disturb the child’s learning process or make it more dynamic? Some may send their kids to a Christian school more so to get out of the public education system than to have their child involved in the spiritual practices a Christian school offers. If that is the case, then what they don’t realize is how those spiritual practices actually shape these schools into the wonderful places of holistic education they are trying to be. Spirituality is not a hindrance to one’s mental capacities, but instead encourages the building up of the mind as a part of one’s overall development as a person. So let’s take a look at how spiritual elements such as Bible reading, prayer, and worship actually work in favor of a child's education. 

People who think that spiritual things could prevent students from learning facts often forget to consider how useless learning facts are if not applied in a way that is beneficial to a society. Without God’s word guiding us, how could we effectively apply the knowledge we gain? Learning the Bible develops wisdom, allowing students to put to good use what they learn in their classes. Even the brightest students may not know how to produce much with their lives if they are void of the ethical guidance from Scripture. This requires students to develop their critical thinking skills in order to figure out how to exercise the information they are absorbing in a way that aligns with God’s will. This turns students into future leaders because they have direction and know how to utilize the knowledge and skills they possess to get there. 

Each week, all K-12 students participate in chapel worship and bible teaching. This intentional time of focus on spiritual development is a guiding exercise for students to implement throughout other parts of their week.

Alongside learning the Bible, prayer is another essential component. It is not just the regurgitation of dead, religious words, but a connection to a living God. This is why prayer should be our first response when encountering problems, because without asking God for a heavenly perspective of how to solve the issue at hand, our solutions are going to be inadequate. By encouraging students to connect with the God who created the universe, it teaches them to step back, look at the bigger picture, and approach the issue with creativity. This gives them confidence to overcome the obstacles life will throw at them, in whatever form they may be, allowing them to be innovative thinkers as they move out of schooling and into the workforce.  

Worship through song is a method to connect with God, and focus one’s mind and energies on him. Worship and prayer can lead to better emotional stability by providing an outlet as they share their struggles with the Lord. Spiritually healthy individuals will not be overcome by the distractions life lets in, but will be able to maintain focus on their times of education, knowing it is an essential step in the journey God has planned for their life. These spiritual activities of Bible reading, prayer and worship create focused, ingenuitive students who can critically think and who have direction. These are the types of students we want to develop, and spirituality in the classroom is how to get there. 

Sources: 

Garner, Gregg. Entrepreneurial Skills. The Institute for G.O.D. International. Old Hickory, TN. March 2022.