Common Core Vs. Vocation (Curt Bumcrot)

A lot of students, especially high schoolers, ask the question, "What does God want me to do with my life?" In other words, many are asking, "What has God made me to do?" Unfortunately, this question for some is being crowded out by a more pressing issue: figuring out how to survive Algebra 2 which is likely to be required of all students learning at home who are enrolled in one of the various government programs. I'll be discussing this and other related issues soon in a series of FAQ's dealing with the Common Core Standards beginning tomorrow. But that's not my focus here.

I believe it's time to rediscover the nature of vocation. And, by discovering and embracing it, we'll be set free from the crazy, one track, "change the world for Jesus and this is the way to do it" pressure many of us have been laboring under. Not that I don't want you to make an impact on the world; I do. It's just that changing the world isn't a "one size fits all" endeavor.

The word vocation comes from the latin term, vocatio, which means a call or summons. Most people today think of vocation in terms of a job or career. Because school is so closely linked to getting a job, this kind of thinking shows up in school to work thinking. It's reflected in the Common Core Standards. Not that this thinking is completely wrong, it's just that it's too limited an understanding.

Earlier this summer I had breakfast with a former public school administrator. Actually, he was an administrator at a high school I attended in California--our paths crossed coincidentally. Weird. After some reminiscing, we started talking about the current state of American education. Then, the question about implementing the Common Core Standards nationwide came up. I asked him what he thought about it, thinking he would hold to the party line of unquestioning support. Surprisingly, he said he was adamantly opposed to it. His position came from his understanding of vocation. More on this in my next article.

Thanks for Reading!

Curt Bumcrot, MRE

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Curt Bumcrot is the founder and director of Basic Skills Assessment and Educational Services. He has earned degrees in Biblical Studies from Grace Institute in Long Beach, California, a B.A. in English from California State University at Dominguiz Hills, and a M.R.E. (Master in Religious Education) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He has been active both as a teacher and administrator in Christian Schools. He and his wife, Jenny, who home schooled their three children, currently reside in Oregon City.