Balance in Educational Activities

Administrators, teachers, and students will work to effectively balance the time demands of strong academic and co-curricular programs.

The wholistic philosophy of Adventist education promotes an ideal educational program that balances student growth and development in all areas–academic, physical, social, and spiritual. Excellence in Adventist education demands a quality program of spiritual growth activities both in the religion courses and in co-curricular activities. It encourages excellence in traditional academic areas such as Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Modern Languages. But it insists on balancing these intellectual pursuits with worthy learning experiences that support all aspects of Adventist education–academic, physical, social, and spiritual.

A strong co-curricular program is essential for balanced student growth. Recognizing that life-long skills are learned from all purposeful school activities, each school should seek to identify, achieve, and maintain balance for students in the curricular and co-curricular program. Adventist schools must seek to provide students with the well-rounded education identified in our unique philosophy of education.

Keys to Success:

• Schedule time to reassess all co-curricular activities with the goal of ensuring that they are aligned with the school’s goals and mission along with Adventist philosophy.
• Develop a consensus in defining the appropriate balance between academic and co-curricular programs in the local school.
• Address and try to relieve the variety of stresses on staff members which result from the demands on time, expertise, and the equitable involvement of all staff.
• Develop community partnerships to support the co-curricular program.
• Address funding issues, including fees for participation, stress on family finances and limited community resources.