The Power of Perspectives
By Brett King, RMCA Principal

I am RMCA's biggest fan and its most demanding critic. There are aspects about our school that frustrate me… and even more that delight me. I lament over our weaknesses… and rejoice in our many strengths. There are times of deep satisfaction… and times of intense stress. Like raising a family, leading a school is marked by jubilant highs and disappointing lows.

However, it’s never as bad as it seems. Every challenge is an opportunity for God to work. And it’s never as good as it may appear. Every success has a door for Satan to enter. This simple yet profound perspective shared by one of my mentors has often helped preserve my sanity and keep me optimistic during the normal ups and downs of life.

Maintaining perspective in today’s complex world is vitally important. We are all barraged by mountains of information, which can often be confusing and contradictory. One prospective parent recently commented on how overwhelmed she was by the differing approaches to education in the various schools she was considering. “How do I know which one to choose?” she groaned. I can relate to the frustration behind her question. It’s impossible to be an expert on everything, but it is possible to stay informed about the things that matter most. And few issues are more important than a child’s education.

The aim of this new monthly letter is to help give you a unique perspective about the key issues that impact your child’s education. Going beyond the weekly announcements in the preschool newsletters, Monday Memos, or class updates, “Perspectives” will explore topics that promote success in kids, aid in the understanding of critical issues at RMCA, and bring practical help in raising godly children. I don’t know about you, but I can use all the help I can get!

Although the topics that could be explored are seemingly endless, each will be chosen with the aim of developing a broader and better perspective. Next month, we will feature an article by Mark Eckel, Associate Professor of Education at Moody Bible Institute. He will introduce one of the most important curricular strategies and distinctives in Christian education: biblical integration. In the months ahead, topics may include the role nutrition plays in boosting student achievement and behavior, or understanding RMCA’s standardized test scores, or vouchers and tuition issues, or today’s choices in education, or RMCA’s approach to curriculum development, or the role of the school board, or helping students with their homework.

One dictionary defines perspective as “The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance.” As we grow together to better perceive things as they really are, we can all become RMCA’s greatest fans and its tender critics.