A Philosophical Critique of a biblically-based Christian educational model

Abstract

The presence of the newer Christian schools within a pluralist liberal democracy such as Australia raises a number of philosophical questions: what is required for models of education to be valid for use in pluralist liberal democracies? what rights do parents have in providing a religious upbringing, including formal education? how does this relate to the rights of children in regard to their education? This thesis argues for a perspective on education necessary to a pluralist liberal democracy that values critical reflection of a student's personal world view, recognition of, respect for and tolerance of alternative world views. It also argues that the right of parents to provide a religious upbringing is valid provided it does not preclude such a perspective. The Biblically-based Christian Education (BCE) model (primarily) developed by Christian Community Schools Limited is investigated for the extent to which it is able to satisfy the criteria for educational models in a pluralist liberal democracy.