#038 - Josh Korver

 All, 

After graduating, it is a common thing for alumni to be asked about their schooling experience. Most people are stunned to hear about the school size. Some couldn’t believe we were required to wear uniforms. And more times than not, all remarked how different our education was; that our schooling “was not normal.” No, it was not. 

All the families who send their kids to the Oaks know that the school is not “normal.” Actually, this is what attracts a lot of families to the school. Eager parents come to the Oaks looking for innovative education, a place where their child will get more out of an education. It is no doubt impressive to see a six year old kid recite a long poem at a speech meet. It is striking to see a thirteen year old kid confidently debate complex topics. Strangers who attended the school plays would be in disbelief when someone told them that the actors and actresses were also full time students. The Oaks was different. 

And I am sincerely grateful for the education I was given while I attended. My parents worked relentlessly to get me to graduation. I am able to collect and write my thoughts to this blog post largely because of the rhetorical training I received. Many alumni agree that the school prepares one to write and speak well in college; which is not a surprise given the crucible events known as a junior and senior year thesis. But despite the rigorous academic curriculum and accomplished students, the school misses the mark in sincerity. 

Lack of sincerity? Do you not recall the several times our English teacher would cry reading some of his favorite poems aloud? Do you not recall how passionate our science teacher would get about Mt. St. Helens, describing the mitochondria, or how amped he would get with bottled rockets? Did you forget how our choir teacher would smile at us all during the Christmas program as we sang? No, I do not mean to say that any teacher at the school was not passionate about what they taught. I would also argue every teacher is deeply passionate about each of their students. And every teacher is unquestionably zealous for Christ. However, the school misses the mark in being genuine in the Christian faith. 

With all the in-depth Biblical teachings, every one of us went through school knowing what to say and how to argue for the faith. We could talk hermeneutics and Bible context and apologetics all in the same day. We had the head knowledge. But when it came to the moments where when one would mess up, when a shirt came untucked or an attitude was displayed, it was used as public embarrassment for the entire school to later find out about. Sin was not tolerated. But it often did not have to be an actual sin. One example of this was a time when and there were probably 3 hours left in the school day. We were waiting to get our finals back and I remember some classmates were holding hands with one another and giggling while doing so. The expectation was to remain poised and silent in your chair unless called upon. The teacher called upon them and asked, “Are you building the kingdom of God or the kingdom of man?” He put all their names on the board and then we all went to summer break. Where was the disobedience? Where was the sin? This one story is an example of the types of “sin” that have students constantly in a state of fear of committing and has them fixated on appearance. Should this be the goal of the school? Should this be the goal of a genuine Christian?

On top of the demanding workload, the expectation to always perform, and staying competitive with your peers every student carries around the perpetual fear they might stray from perfection, the fear they might sin. Looking back on my time there, a good amount of effort was spent hiding my sin from my peers and from my family. Sin equaled shame and no sane person enjoys feeling internal and external shame. 

Public appearance, public performance, and public perception ought not to a part of an administration that wants to create genuine Christians to change the world. Some of the most sincere Christians that we had to read about were also the most open about their sins and shortcomings. There was a clear double standard in place for every student. Somehow, we had to balance apparently being made broken and sinful as humans with perfectly fitting a certain mold that the school wanted. And this from the same administration who have most certainly read Matthew 9:9-12: “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  I saw this very thing happen to peers, who were counseled not to hang out with public school kids because of the poor influence. What about the influence a Christian is to impart on the world? What was there to fear? Should this be the goal of a genuine Christian?

Where were the school outreach programs that students could run and participate in to show this genuine faith to the world? No, no, go back to reading Hamlet. What about all the homeless people that every student sees walking around downtown, could the school do anything to help them? Wait, have you translated all of your Latin homework and memorized the new vocab? Surely the school could organize an overseas trip to bring the word of God to people in some third world country, oh wait; we all know what other trips were funded and documented on countless social media posts. It is written, “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'LORD, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Truthfully, this insincere life approach and heavy emphasis on appearance has definitely led to several students walking away from the faith themselves since graduating. 

I felt the constant shame of sin while I attended. I chose to hide it. I learned about all the arguments for the faith and I could defend them. But when I questioned what I was taught, it was met with disdain or I clearly did not comprehend the proper Christian response; so I chose to remain quiet. It all eventually led to becoming a two faced suck up who wanted to make others happy and appear satisfied in life. I was not. And it all continued until my final years of college where enough was enough. I was tired of ensuring others’ happiness over my own, hiding how I truly felt, and acting within the standards created by others.  

The fact is: we are all broken, hurting, imperfect people who will make mistakes /sin. This very fact is what shocks me when looking at the community I came from: IT IS FILLED WITH THE SAME! But when it came to the expectations and standards that were in place all my life, it was never tolerated to show brokenness. Hide your sin, hide your flaws and carry on. Imagine everyone was born with a constant cold but every time you sneezed, you were chastised for doing so. “How dare you show symptoms of the disease we all have!” 

I think I have hinted at some of the changes I hope those currently attending will choose to make. Act like your faith is worth a damn, stop paying lip service. There are Christians actually dying for their faith in other countries as you all sing hymns at Cantabile, before a game, or at a concert. In summary, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.” 

- A Concerned Alumni