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Continuing the History of Protestant Education in Lithuania By Deimantas Karvelis, Historian
In 1539 Abraomas Kulvietis, an outstanding Lithuanian Reformer, established a Lutheran school in Vilnius. The school had about 60 pupils, children of noblemen who financed the school. The school had a good curriculum and provided high quality education. It is thought that compared to A. Kulvietis' school, other Lithuanian schools were left far behind it. The Bible study was a priority in the Lutheran school. In 1542, under the efforts of the Catholic bishop of Vilnius, a decree of religious intolerance was passed and the school was immediately closed. Had the efforts of the local Calvinists to establish the first higher school (prior to the Jesuit academy) proved successful, the Lithuanian Protestants would have completely established and developed the system of education in the 16th century. The Calvinists of Vilnius tried to establish a college in 1567, 1577 and 1588. In 1588, the Calvinistic Synod even appointed a place for the higher school building and salaries for the professors. Unfortunately, Jesuits reacted to this negatively and through the bishop of Vilnius appealed King Sigmund Vasa III with a request not to grant permission for the Protestants to establish another university in Vilnius. After the Reformation, from the 17th to the middle of the 20th century, Evangelical Lutherans and Evangelical Reformers were only religious minorities. They had their own schools that were financially supported by the local communities. It seems that countries where Protestantism is not a dominating religion Protestant schools do not have the attention and financial support of the state. This fact has been observed all through history. The Word Of Faith Elementary Christian School, which was started in 1993, has been continuing the best traditions of protestant education in Lithuania. The school seems to face problems that are very similar to the first Protestant schools back in old times. Why is that? Firstly, it is the only institution of Protestant education in our generation. Secondly, the school faces juridical and financial discrimination from the state institutions. This kind of discrimination is nothing else but the expression of hidden religious prejudice and intolerance. Thirdly, tuition fee forms the main financial source of the school and is paid by the parents of the students. The Word Of Faith Christian School has a team of young, God-fearing teachers who seek to implement the best pedagogical principles of M. Luther, J. A. Comenius and other outstanding educators of the Reformation, lining those principles up with the tendencies and needs typical for the society of the 20th - 21st century. In order to reform the spiritual life of the
country, a considerable amount of attention should be given to the
education of the new generation of Christians. The Word of Faith
Christian School, an independent, democratic educational institution
based on Biblical principles and Christian values, shall continue to
exist for every family in the city of Vilnius and see children, as M.
Luther put it, "as ones who have been given by God not just for the
sake of pleasure or earthly glory. God has appointed us to raise
children to serve Him."
Teachers, students and parents share about the last school year:
I had a new look at my students last year. I love and cherish them for we have passed through the hardships of teen years together. Teenage years were like a storm that unexpectedly broke in the corridors, classrooms and… our hearts. And then it was in the same unexpected way suddenly gone. There were tears, anger, hurt. But I feel we have managed to get through it all with love, God's Word, prayer and communication. I'd like to thank all parents who patiently ran their race together with me so as to win the hearts of their kids for Christ. I was very excited to have a new girl in our class. By the way, in the beginning she and her mother did not attend our church. I was also excited to have one student come back to us after one year of separation - i. e. one year spent in another school. The greatest desire of my heart is to see the rest of the students, who for some other reasons had to leave the school, come back, give their lives to Christ and faithfully walk with us the road of studies." - Egle Miseviciute, Lithuanian teacher, supervising teacher of the 8th grade
"I am absolutely convinced that children need choreography classes. When a child learns to combine movements and music, he develops his logical thinking, motoric memory, coordination, intellect and artistic taste. Dancing helps to develop healthy, respectful attitudes between boys and girls. There are many kids with great talents in this school. I think it is important to help kids find their gifts and callings in God." - Aida Maksvytyte, Choreography teacher "The teachers of our school are young. They are interested in innovations and acquiring more knowledge. The teachers do their best while working with children. After graduation, they want to see kids not only well-trained but honest and well-mannered." - Loreta Navaityte, teacher of the 4th grade
"I believe God has brought me to this school so I could change, get to know God more, freely pray, worship Him, talk about Him, read the Bible and not be scared about the reaction of other kids." - Dalia Zaidytė, 8-grader "I started this school with the fourth grade. What I saw here was that the teachers really love and care about their students and try to help them in whatever possible way. In the beginning I found it hard to speak Lithuanian. But thanks to the teachers, I am better at Lithuanian now. Kids helped me a lot, too. They would not let me cheat in my tests but always corrected me if I made mistakes. The school took care not only of me but of other new students who had come from the Russian speaking schools." - Julija Nikitina, 7-grader "Today, after a period of several years, I can boldly say that this school is a great and precious miracle of God. It is His will for Christians to bring their kids to this school. My son has finished his second grade studies. He spent one year in a secular school and one year in a Christian school. Comparing the two, I can see a great difference. I am glad to say that this Christian school provides really good training. There are not many students in one class and teachers can better satisfy the needs of individual students. It is especially important to those students who are a bit behind the rest. The relationship among students is well developed, too. It is so nice when you can openly talk about your problems with other parents. When I used to face difficulties in a secular school, I could only pray about it. It is much better to deal with difficulties together." - Rita Ankstutiene, librarian, mother of Vytautas Ankstutis, 2-grader "We live in Skaidiskes [a
place where the Christian school is presently located]. My daughter
Anna was studying far away from home, and I thought of getting her to
some school in Vilnius. That's when I heard of the nearby Word of
Faith Christian School. I heard about good teachers and small
classes there. I found out that folks who teach and study in this
school are well educated and nice. I decided to let my daughter attend
this Christian school. My friends warned me "those Christians will talk
you into joining their beliefs". But I wanted my daughter to study
better. I hoped the teachers and students in that school would not
smoke or drink. What Anna told me about the school was true. I was
convinced about it myself while talking to the teachers. The school
surpassed my expectations. My daughter started learning better, caught
up with the rest of the class. She also became more independent. The
girl wants to learn subjects she did not have in the previous school.
Anna told me that the teachers explain their subjects well and she
understands everything. The teachers require to learn their subjects,
assign homework tasks. Anna finds her lessons interesting. The
relationship between the teachers and students is fine, too. The
teachers treat their students with respect, trust them, teach them of
how to be responsible in the classroom, let them be independent. Anna
loves the fact that there is no competition among the kids as
concerning clothes and cosmetics. The girls do not put make-up as
grown-up women. Her classmates are not in a hurry to become grown-ups.
The students are simple, open, interested to find out new things, eager
to learn. Anna loves her new school." - Svetlana Petrovskaja,
mother of Ania Petrovskaja, 5-grader.
Please, pray for us, so that the
Lord might give us grace to endure and continue this work. Getting in
contact with another Christian school would be interesting for the
staff and the pupils. Many of them are interested in correspondence and
exchanging information or experience. |
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Christian School
Compared to secular education, the system of
Christian education has a great number of advantages as well as deep
roots in history. The historic background of solid, developed Christian
education goes back to the times of the Reformation. It must be
mentioned that even before the great Reformation movement, elementary
parish schools had been established as early as the 14th
century, after the formal establishment of Catholicism. The
pre-reformational system of education, however, was not complete and
well developed.
"It's been my second year of work
in this school. I understand that it is important for the Lord to have
this school working. I'd like everybody - the teachers, students and
their parents - to be one team that understands the necessity of this
school." - Edita Juchneviciene, Crafts and Arts teacher
"It's been a very meaningful
school-year for me. I have acquired more skills in teaching various
topics and learnt how to relate to students better. To work with kids,
a teacher must be patient, wise, creative and flexible. I tried to make
my best." - Algirdas Samsinas, Ethics and Crafts teacher,
supervising teacher of the 6th grade
"While working in the Christian
school, I realized I need more than just to well know my subject. I
need the grace of God that enables to accomplish things that God wants
us to do. I believe this school has a future. When we see the fruit
mature, we'll see what it was worth sacrificing." - Audrone
Juodziukynaite, Music teacher
"I was excited to see the results
of the test we had in spring. Not many schools could be proud about the
fact that their students learn and freely use 2 or 3 foreign
languages." - Nadezda Markeviciene, German teacher
"I like my school. There are not
many kids here. When a class is not big, a teacher can come up to
everyone separately and explain things individually. And you can't just
get through without doing your homework. And that is good." - Liutauras
Bilevicius, 8-grader
"A Christian school differs
greatly from other schools. There is good relationship between teachers
and students. Students can trust their teachers and share things just
like with their parents. In other schools kids drink, cuss, smoke. It
is not so here. Kids get along fine here. I do not regret my decision
to come back to this school." - Jorunė Jalnionyte, 6-grader
"I've been learning in this
Christian school from the 2nd grade. When I came here from
another school, I was pretty scared that kids would reject me. But they
accepted me into their company and we are good friends now. Of course
there are arguments and hurts. But we can learn a very important lesson
here - how to forgive." - Ieva Puidokaite, 6-grader