Why Start a School
Life should be all living, and not merely a tedious passing of time; not all doing or all feeling or all thinking—the strain would be too great—but, all living; that is to say, we should be in touch wherever we go, whatever we hear, whatever we see, with some manner of vital interest. The question is not,—how much does the youth know? when he has finished his education—but how much does he care?
Ambleside Southern Africa have been supporting member school start-ups since 2006, offering the comprehensive help needed to establish and sustain a new school with a Christ-honouring curriculum and pedagogy.
Why Start an Ambleside School?
To start an Ambleside school is to choose a very definite philosophy and practice of education. As reflected in Ambleside’s mission and faith commitment, Ambleside schools seek to provide children with a living education based upon the scriptural principles of Jesus Christ and the pedagogical insights of British educator, Charlotte Mason. Ambleside Southern Africa does not initiate school startups but rather serves communities interested in establishing an Ambleside Member School, offering training, consultation, operations resources, curriculum, and accountability.
Successful founders of Ambleside schools have first and foremost discerned God’s calling to start an Ambleside School and sought His wisdom and provision through prayer. These founders pursued clarity in two key areas. First, they gained enough understanding of Ambleside’s philosophy and methods to build an informed conviction that Ambleside offers an optimal approach to education. Second, they determined that their community would benefit from, and had need for, an Ambleside School. Following the discernment process, they amassed the skills and resources necessary to lead and operate an Ambleside School. While there are many ways to launch a school, regardless of the approach, these essentials must occur.