Christian School Movement, 1985
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleChristian School Movement, 1985
Project No.
ohrc027
Interviews
11 interviews.
Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
In this project, educators from Indiana state Christian schools
reveal their beliefs about how modern public schools fail to impart the moral
education and values that they feel are a requisite part of education. Many
interviewees comment on the morally inadequate, corrupt, and even threatening
environment that public schools represent to Christian (and other) students.
The Christian teachers also elaborate on the teaching methods and programs used
to teach students in their schools, as well as the state regulations the
Christian schools must adhere to in order to remain open.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains eleven interviews over the course of two months, ranging from 60 to 115 minutes.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Bowles, Reverend Donald G
June 26,
1985
Call Number
85-020
Physical Description
32 pages; 2 cassettes, 1 7/8 ips, 105 minutes;
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Reverend Donald G. Bowles, pastor of Grace Baptist Temple, tells
about his missionary work and how it impacted his children's education and how
this effected his attitude toward Christian Education. He describes how his
school is run and the values Christian education based upon.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- DePaul School
- Grace Baptist Temple
- National Education Association
- Seoul Foreign School
-
-
Occupation Names
- missionary
-
-
Personal Names
- Dewey, John
- Ebling, Dave
- Guiler, Mary
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Republic, Missouri
- Seoul, Korea
- Springfield, Missouri
- Taejon, Korea
- Zaire
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- Christian education
- Christian schools
- culture shock
- DePaul Learning Society Materials
- prayer in school
- public schools
- state educational role
Interviewee
Douglas, Michael W.
May 28,
1985
Call Number
85-033
Physical Description
65 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 115 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Michael W. Douglas, a reverend of the Pentecostal Faith
Assembly, discusses his views of the importance of Christian spiritual
education for American youth. He speaks of Christian schooling, the Christian
perspective on education as opposed to that embraced by public education, and
his views on the idea and governmental application of the separation of church
and state. In addition, Douglas comments on corporal punishment and, in his
view, the spiritual necessity of learning from the Bible.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Pentecostal Faith Assembly
-
-
Occupation Names
- reverend
-
-
Personal Names
- Rogers, Carl
-
-
Place Names
- Monroe County, Indiana
- United States
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- Christian schools
- corporal punishment
- curriculum
- educational philosophy
- humanism
- public schools
- separation of church and state
Interviewee
Douglas, Shirley E.
June 26,
1985
Call Number
85-023
Physical Description
25 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Shirley E. Douglas, member of the Pentecostal Faith Assembly and
teacher at and supporter of Christian schools, speaks of the Christian faith
and responsibility to educate America's youth with traditional Christian
values, as opposed to the humanism that characterizes public education. Douglas
discusses the reasons behind her opposition to sex and drug education and
comments on discipline and the gender roles she believes to be prescribed by
the Scriptures.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Pentecostal Faith Assembly
-
-
Subjects
- child discipline
- Christian schools
- drug education
- educational philosophy
- gender roles
- humanism
- moral education
- sex education
Interviewee
Kelley, Richard D.
June 5, 1985;
June 17, 1985
Call Number
85-028
Physical Description
9 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Richard D. Kelley shares his beliefs and perspective regarding
Christian schools and moral education in this interview. He discusses the
humanism embraced by public schools and comments on his preferences for a dress
code, parent-supported discipline, and the teaching of Christian morality, as
embodied by the Christian school he created.
-
Keywords
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- child discipline
- Christian schools
- dress code
- humanism
- moral education
Interviewee
Kelley, Stanley O.
June 5,
1985
Call Number
85-027
Physical Description
30 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips; no index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Stanley O. Kelley discusses the Christian school located in the
Church of Jesus Christ in Bloomington, Indiana, of which he is a pastor. He
describes the differences between Christian schools and public schools and
talks about the success of Christian schools.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- reverend
-
-
Place Names
- Bloomington, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- Church of Jesus Christ
- citizenship
- creationism
- educational philosophy
- evolution
- moral education
- parental responsibility
- public schools
- religious beliefs
Interviewee
Kuhn, Raymond B.; Sankey, Leonard L.
June 28,
1985
Call Number
85-022
Physical Description
30 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 103 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Leonard L. Sankey and Raymond B. Kuhn of the
Faith Mission Church and the Stone City Christian Academy, discuss the founding
of this school, the centrality of their message and mission from God to the
creation of the school, and what Christian schools provide (as opposed to
public schools). Sankey speaks of the ABEKA program and the Accelerated
Christian Education, or ACE program, and the positive results of these programs
in the academy. In addition, discipline, parental responsibility, moral
education, funding, and computer education are discussed.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- ABEKA
- Faith Mission Church
- Stone City Christian Academy
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- child discipline
- Christian school funding
- Christian schools
- class size
- computer education
- humanism
- moral education
- parental responsibility
- public schools
- television
- tuition
Interviewee
Myers, Mark J.
June 12,
1985
Call Number
85-026
Physical Description
27 pages; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes; index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Mark J. Myers speaks of the Christian school he began in
response to his concern about the decaying or nonexistent moral education
students were receiving at public schools. He discusses the necessity of
parental involvement in their children's education, the importance of
consistent and firm discipline, and the class equalizing effects of introducing
and enforcing a dress code or the wearing of uniforms at schools. In addition,
Myers comments on the means and obstacles involved in obtaining funding for his
Christian school.
-
Keywords
-
-
Occupation Names
- reverend
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- child discipline
- Christian school funding
- Christian schools
- dress code
- moral education
- parental involvement
- public schools
- sin
Interviewee
Potter, David A.
June 20,
1985
Call Number
85-032
Physical Description
58 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
David A. Potter discusses his perspective on the superiority of
Christian schools to public education, especially in the areas of moral
education, discipline, individual attention, the indoctrinization of Christian
values and patriotism, and parental involvement. In addition, he speaks of the
merits and drawbacks of instituting Accelerated Christian Education, or ACE,
and phonics programs in the classroom. Potter speaks of the teacher
requirements in place at his school, how the school is funded, and the decline
of public education.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Craft, Marsella School
-
-
Subjects
- Accelerated Christian Education
- child discipline
- Christian school funding
- Christian schools
- drugs
- humanism
- moral education
- parental involvement
- patriotism
- phonics
- public schools
- religious tolerance
- teacher requirements
Interviewee
Shields, David J.
June 13,
1985
Call Number
85-029
Physical Description
40 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 80 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
David J. Shields speaks of his beliefs about and participation
in Christian schools. A member of the Pentecostal faith, Shields lists some of
his problems with public education. In addition, he speaks of the morality and
values embraced by Christian schools, the teachers and congregation of his
school, Indiana education regulations, and the importance of the Bible. Shields
also comments on the way that the combination of racism and integration led to
an increase in the creation of private, Christian, and parochial schools for
white children in the South.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United Pentecostal Church
-
-
Subjects
- Christian schools
- church membership
- dress code
- Indiana education regulations
- morals
- public schools
- racism
- school buildings
- segregation
- values
Interviewee
Stashevsky, Richard J.
June 27,
1985
Call Number
85-025
Physical Description
38 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 90 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Richard J. Stashevsky, the administrator of Colonial Christian
School, discusses Christian morality and values, and how these are best served
in Christian schools. He speaks of the separation of church and state in the
context of public education and the running of his school. In addition,
Stashevsky comments on gender roles and the sexual permissiveness of modern
secular society, tuition, and the modern disintegration of ethics.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Colonial Christian School
-
-
Subjects
- alcoholism
- Christian schools
- ethics
- gender roles
- morals
- public schools
- separation of church and state
- tuition
- values
Interviewee
Wagner, David W.
June 27,
1985
Call Number
85-021
Physical Description
49 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 72 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Norkunas, Martha
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, David W. Wagner speaks of his career as a
teacher and, later, an administrator, at a Christian school in Indianapolis.
Wagner discusses the importance of discipline and parental involvement, and
offers some criticisms of the Accelerated Christian Education, or ACE, and
ABEKA programs. In addition, he speaks of diversity in his school, the issue of
busing, and the centrality of the Bible in the education provided by Christian
schools.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Subjects
- busing
- child discipline
- Christian schools
- diversity
- films
- humanism
- Indiana education regulations
- parental involvement
- Pentecostal faith
- public schools
- television
- tuition
