If I had to identify the most pervasive alternative world-view in education, it would be Naturalism because it creates the rationale behind educational systems in place, as well as the framework to approach tackling educational issues.

Education is currently in the "age of accountability." Schools- their leaders, teachers and students- have always been evaluated in some way, shape or form; however, these days schools are being evaluated on various “bottom-line” metrics, such as graduation rates, standardized test passing rates and credit accumulation.  These numbers will determine if a school remains open or is shut down, if teachers are granted or denied tenure and if students graduate or must extend schooling.  The alternative world-view of Naturalism emphasizes the important of empirical (“hard”) data; therefore, it reaffirms these metrics as valid and reliable measures of “success.”  Essentially, whatever is quantifiable is the primary means of evaluation, and thus, the primary determinants of what changes need to be made.  Naturalism also seeks to neatly categorize issues and root causes and then address these issues in a very systematic way.

As a school leader, I recognize the importance of accountability and its ability to evaluate effectiveness and to drive real change.  However, the limits of primarily approaching education through a Naturalist perspective and methodology is that unlike in business, when “bottom-lines” consist of profit margins and capital, our “bottom-lines” consist of life outcomes and human capital, and these are a bit more difficult to fully measure.  Therefore, if educators could supplement the Naturalist worldview with a Gospel one that concerned itself with “Kingdom” purposes, we could better comprehensively support our students and ensure that they are equipped to personally succeed and collectively contribute to greater social welfare.

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On an individual level, I would argue that I seek to live through a Gospel worldview, but I often vacillate between the alternate worldviews of Traditionalism and Naturalism, and the one selected depends on what I deem my “ultimate reality” at that moment.  For example, sometimes I make my “ultimate reality” underscore my professional success; other times it is my appearance; still other times, it might be my “morality” (or the appearance of it).  Each "ultimate reality" has an alternative worldview that is more "suitable" to its demands.  Even though I know Christ is my salvation, I often undermine this biblical truth by either engaging in “cheap grace” or “works salvation” mentalities.  In addition, sometimes I am “logical” or “rational” to a ridiculous extreme, subjecting everything to a “cost-benefit analysis.”  I am hoping as I progress in the Gotham Fellowship, I will be grow in faithfulness and spiritual discipline so that I can consistently operate from a Gospel worldview.