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Pedagogy and Education for Life: A Christian Reframing of Teaching, Learning, and Formation
There are many books on Christian education, but few consider pedagogy with a biblical focus on formation, and a grounding in varied related disciplines. This book seeks to recapture the term pedagogy and place it at the center of the teacher's role--not as a pseudonym for other things, but as the critical foundation for the orchestration of classroom life. This is a view of pedagogy that accepts that children come to classrooms as inhabitants of multiple and varied communities. Some are known and shared with teachers, but many are not.
Children cannot be left to find their way in the world, for as they encounter competing and contradictory worlds, their hopes, dreams, and intentions are shaped. Teachers play a key role in students' formation by "shaping" classroom life, for all of life is used by God to reveal himself. The things taught, the priorities set and activities planned, the experiences structured and books shared--indeed, everything in and outside school acts upon and shapes our students. Pedagogy is the vehicle for shaping the life of the school. Learning requires more than subject content and good teaching. The central task of teachers is the development of a pedagogy that shapes "life." This book offers challenge and guidance as teachers engage in this noble task.
"What is authentic Christian pedagogy? Trevor Cairney calls us to a broader view of education that covers all of life, not simply cognition about facts. He explains the important of learning in community, and the formation of the whole person. Our ultimate purpose in Christian education means a more radical transformation than just believing in a different worldview--rather, we are called together--heart, mind and strength--to grow as disciples of Christ."
--James Dalziel, Dean of Education, Morling College, Australia
"Amid a wider renewal of interest in the formational dimensions of faith-informed education, Cairney brings long experience and a welcome focus on pedagogy as the whole way of life of a classroom."
--David I. Smith, Director, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College
"Trevor Cairney has made an important and innovative contribution to Christian education in writing this book. Most importantly, he has focused on offering a practical, theologically rigorous understanding of pedagogy, which surely must be the prime, but oft-ignored, responsibility of Christian schools. In a culture that is increasingly focused on compliance and knowledge transmission, Cairney offers an inspiring, alternative vision of Christian formation."
--Trevor Cooling, National Institute for Christian Education Research, Canterbury Christ Church University
"A study of Trevor Cairney's book will engage you in a profound discussion with a practitioner and thinker about education. In particular you will be challenged to embrace a pedagogy which involves the shaping power of a community having as its end goal the kingdom of God. It should be read by all who want to advance the cause of education that is Christian."
--Peter F. Jensen, Former Archbishop of Sydney
Trevor Cairney is Professor of Education at the University of Sydney. He has written more than two hundred publications on pedagogy, education, and public theology. His ten books include Pathways to Literacy (1995), Other Worlds: The Endless Possibilities of Literature (1991) and, with David Starling, Theology and the Future (2014).
Children cannot be left to find their way in the world, for as they encounter competing and contradictory worlds, their hopes, dreams, and intentions are shaped. Teachers play a key role in students' formation by "shaping" classroom life, for all of life is used by God to reveal himself. The things taught, the priorities set and activities planned, the experiences structured and books shared--indeed, everything in and outside school acts upon and shapes our students. Pedagogy is the vehicle for shaping the life of the school. Learning requires more than subject content and good teaching. The central task of teachers is the development of a pedagogy that shapes "life." This book offers challenge and guidance as teachers engage in this noble task.
"What is authentic Christian pedagogy? Trevor Cairney calls us to a broader view of education that covers all of life, not simply cognition about facts. He explains the important of learning in community, and the formation of the whole person. Our ultimate purpose in Christian education means a more radical transformation than just believing in a different worldview--rather, we are called together--heart, mind and strength--to grow as disciples of Christ."
--James Dalziel, Dean of Education, Morling College, Australia
"Amid a wider renewal of interest in the formational dimensions of faith-informed education, Cairney brings long experience and a welcome focus on pedagogy as the whole way of life of a classroom."
--David I. Smith, Director, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College
"Trevor Cairney has made an important and innovative contribution to Christian education in writing this book. Most importantly, he has focused on offering a practical, theologically rigorous understanding of pedagogy, which surely must be the prime, but oft-ignored, responsibility of Christian schools. In a culture that is increasingly focused on compliance and knowledge transmission, Cairney offers an inspiring, alternative vision of Christian formation."
--Trevor Cooling, National Institute for Christian Education Research, Canterbury Christ Church University
"A study of Trevor Cairney's book will engage you in a profound discussion with a practitioner and thinker about education. In particular you will be challenged to embrace a pedagogy which involves the shaping power of a community having as its end goal the kingdom of God. It should be read by all who want to advance the cause of education that is Christian."
--Peter F. Jensen, Former Archbishop of Sydney
Trevor Cairney is Professor of Education at the University of Sydney. He has written more than two hundred publications on pedagogy, education, and public theology. His ten books include Pathways to Literacy (1995), Other Worlds: The Endless Possibilities of Literature (1991) and, with David Starling, Theology and the Future (2014).
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 15, 2022
The vision the book casts is admirable. Cairney emphasizes the need for a Christian education to be grounded in the Bible and he seeks to explain what this may look like. In doing so he critiques the way many Christian schools operate with an inferred philosophy, leading to an inferred Christianity. I agree with critiquing this approach.
A strength of the book is the acknowledgment that all forms of pedagogy play a meaningful role in shaping our students' habits, beliefs, knowledge, dispositions, and actions because our pedagogy points towards our view on educations' telos, towards education's ultimate purpose. In doing this, he helpfully builds off of James KA Smith's concept of secular liturgies.
However, this philosophy of education book shares a weakness with many philosophy of education books. It struggles to get out of the ivory tower, to make things more concrete. The last chapter attempts to make things more concrete and it goes a bit awry by suggesting that "sound teaching requires management of classroom life in such a way that punishment is rarely needed. If our students are motivated and encouraged to contribute positively to community life, and are engaged in the activities of the classroom and school, discipline usually becomes less necessary."
He adds a very slight amount of nuance, but not enough because while good pedagogy will generally reduce the need for discipline and punishment, the way it is written it takes too much agency away from students.
A strength of the book is the acknowledgment that all forms of pedagogy play a meaningful role in shaping our students' habits, beliefs, knowledge, dispositions, and actions because our pedagogy points towards our view on educations' telos, towards education's ultimate purpose. In doing this, he helpfully builds off of James KA Smith's concept of secular liturgies.
However, this philosophy of education book shares a weakness with many philosophy of education books. It struggles to get out of the ivory tower, to make things more concrete. The last chapter attempts to make things more concrete and it goes a bit awry by suggesting that "sound teaching requires management of classroom life in such a way that punishment is rarely needed. If our students are motivated and encouraged to contribute positively to community life, and are engaged in the activities of the classroom and school, discipline usually becomes less necessary."
He adds a very slight amount of nuance, but not enough because while good pedagogy will generally reduce the need for discipline and punishment, the way it is written it takes too much agency away from students.
January 17, 2026
An important book for those interested in a philosophy of Christian education. Cairney focuses on formation of students as the goal of education and formation for the kingdom of God. He draws on work in the fields of sociology and psychology as well as theology. Should be read by every Christian school leader.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews