According to George Barna’s research only 7 percent of Americans have a biblical worldview. Biblical literacy is at an all-time low and discipleship is almost nonexistent. Gen Z is the most marketed to generation in our history. The allure of all the entrapments the world has to offer have become a snare for young people and as a result of all these things, young people are leaving the church at an alarming rate. Barna reports that 59 percent leave the church after age 15. At the same time Christianity is becoming increasingly more marginalized and many faith leaders have succumbed to the pressure to be more “relevant”, leaving us with a watered-down version of Christianity. It has been predicted that at this rate, Christianity as we know it today will no longer exist by the year 2040.

Critical thinking skills are highly valuable and applicable across all areas of life but many schools aren’t doing a great job of preparing students. Many reports suggest that students in America are falling behind their peers around the world. Whether it’s the college readiness index, Verbal, Math, or Writing SAT performance, or ACT scores, students at all other types of schools— public, religious, and even independent are not performing as well as students in Classical Christian Schools and homeschool students.

“Recent data collected by the Department of Education reveals homeschooling has grown by 61.8% over the last 10 years to the point where two million kids — 4% of the total youth population — now learn from the comfort of their own home.

Contrary to the belief that homeschooling produces anti-social outcasts, the truth is that some of the most high-achieving, well-adjusted students are poring over math problems at their kitchen table, not a desk in a classroom. According to leading pedagogical research, at-home instruction may just be the most relevant, responsible, and effective way to educate children in the 21st century (Chris Weller, Business Insider, 2016).”

Some homeschool parents often find certain aspects of homeschooling to be challenging and don’t feel confident that they can overcome these challenges without additional resources and assistance. Traditional 5-day schools drastically reduces their family time together, while it dramatically increases the students’ exposure to negative competing influences. These influences stand in direct conflict with the very values the parents so passionately want to impart. The requirements of one passion inherently works against the practical outworking of the other. To train their children spiritually, the parents needed consistent and meaningful time with them. To provide for their children academically, they needed resources and assistance to compliment their homeschooling.

The result of their prayers and efforts is what we know today as the University-Model® (UM), a new paradigm in Christian K-12 education and discipleship. The University-Model® is a five-day academic program with students spending 2-3 days in the central classroom and 2-3 days in their “satellite classroom” at home. Both classrooms are under the supervision of the professional educator.

The University-Model school is built on three interconnected concepts: academics, character development, and activities. At the Lawrence C. Griffin, Sr. Christian Academy (LCG), they will be worked out within the following framework of partnership between the school and the home:

 

• The school takes the lead on academics, with professional teaching staff evaluating and selecting curriculum, providing direct instruction to students three days a week, developing lesson plans and objectives, and determining daily assignments to be completed in school and at home. Parents partner with the school in that process, providing additional instruction or repetition, oversight, and guidance that varies as the student gets older.

• Parents continue to take the lead in the biblically mandated requirement to instill into their children the values and character qualities of a Christ-follower. One of the foundational concepts of the University-Model school is to provide parents with additional time to “… train a child up in the way he should go….” Often this time is not as available in a traditional, five-day school model. LCG comes alongside parents who have agreed with the statement of faith and are operating with a similar mindset.

• The provision of extracurricular activities is truly a joint effort at LCG. Students will have the opportunity to be highly active in numerous drama, music, and athletic organizations in the community.

 

It is the goal of the Lawrence C. Griffin, Sr. Christian Academy, Inc., to provide Christian K-12 education to all children in need of services. We are dedicated to meeting the spiritual, academic, social, and emotional needs of the children and families of Kansas City, MO, and the surrounding communities. We focus on the health, growth, happiness, and overall well-being of each child entrusted to our care! We are honored and blessed to be a part of each precious life that we serve!