Lengthen Thy Cords
”Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;” Isa. 54:2
Of all the things that could have demonstrated the excellent qualities of the School of Tomorrow® system of education no one would have thought of a virus! Yet it was the Covid-19 lockdown that caused the focus of the educators at School of Tomorrow® Philippines to explore how to implement education in such a situation!
What they found was that our system was excellently suited to the Remote Delivery Process (RDP), whereby education continues with the same excellent quality while the students are at home for this period of quarantine. The school staff monitors the learning quality and still serves as spiritual and educational guides, but government required distancing is followed.
In this manner we discovered that the SOT® system was implementable almost immediately, while other models struggle to operate or have remained shut down till this very time. How we thank God for His provision! Going to virtual graduations, promotions and even special awards ceremonies was a sight to behold! God truly has given His children wisdom!
This has brought many to focus their attention on our system and seek to begin using our curriculum. Let it be known that we are not a curriculum provider in the Philippines. We are a SYSTEM of education that uses a self-instructional curriculum and character building procedures that provide the best of education! For this reason we have declined to admit into our ranks those schools who just want to buy the curriculum and use our RDP until they can resume conventional classes. We have an educational philosophy behind the educational practices which must be understood and diligently followed.
Just as the cords of the tent structure are vital to the strength of the tent remaining in place and standing up, so are the procedures in our system of education. There is the proper balancing of tension on each side of the tent poles and structure that brings stability. This is true of every home, business and nation. It is also true of God and all of His creation. There is strength in the tension from being held from both sides. There is a “REINFORCEMENT” that takes place.
It is also true in education. There must be balance; there must be harmony. Order must be maintained, yet there can be freedom for expression at appropriate times and individuality should be recognized. God created us all with much similarity, yet we are all different. The strength of a building is in its reinforcement, but it also must be able to take the shocks of earthquakes without cracking and collapsing. So a compensation method is devised.
God says with the cords lengthened there is greater strength when the wind blows against the tent. The cords must be pulled tight. They must hold when the winds’ pressures come and events seem to go against what we stand for. But remember, when we stand for the truth we are standing for what is right. It is worth the effort to lengthen the chords.
SOTP® has been standing for Biblically based, quality character building education for over 40 years. The present situation has only revealed the truth that God’s Word is the foundation of education.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Prov. 9:10
Yours in His Grace,
