A Report on the 2023 National Conference
* * SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL CONFERENCE –
SEPTEMBER 28, 2024, IF THE LORD WILLS **
Christian Values in Education held its annual National Conference on September 23, 2023 in Chessington, London, guided by its new chairman, Dan Sayers.
Almost 300 people gathered – half of whom were children – for two keynote addresses amidst a number of children’s activities and in the presence of the many Conference exhibitors.
Roger Kiska of Christian Concern spoke in the morning on the topic of parents’ rights in education, reminding the Conference of the dictum, “law is downstream from culture”. He highlighted many of the areas of concern to Christian parents in education, illustrated by a number of the legal cases that Christian Concern has become involved in. The heart of the matter may have been best summarized in his observation that “age appropriateness has been lost”. Attendees were encouraged to learn that both the Education Act 1996 and Human Rights Acts 1998 contain provisions that do not make the subversion of Christian values a fait accompli. Roger closed his talk with advice to parents on how they may effectively raise their voice to challenge their school, with the emphasis being on a winsome and personal approach well-informed of their rights as parents.
The afternoon speaker, Steve Pearce, is employed in frontline app development, and uniquely qualified to present his talk on the distractive dangers of digital technology. Every mobile user knows that they can be overly ‘attached’ to their device – but did they realize that 200 phone “pickups” per day are not only time and attention-consuming, they create muscle memory. Attendees were given a stark warning by someone who knows, that producers of these technologies are “creating habits to get you hooked”. Most users of such personal devices would likely not be aware that of particular interest to the producer of the app isn’t merely much you are encouraged to spend by downloading the app, but instead, it is data – what is called UGC (user generated content). UGC is coveted by designers – “it’s all about data “. The speaker warned attendees that apps retain the information required to keep and increase the attention of the user. The effect of this is to kill focus, leading to lazy-minded people, where simple appeals and techniques designed to retain emotional engagement are deployed.
The many exhibitors – which included Christian Institute, Christian Concern, Answers in Genesis, Day One Publishing – added to the event, creating a market-like atmosphere where all the children in attendance could spend a ten pound voucher on the book of their choice. CViE is grateful yet again to all those who undertook the leadership and oversight of the children’s programme for all ages.
The day was brought to a warming close with the launch of a new CViE publication – ‘To Whom Do Our Children Belong?’ (available at the website www.cvie.org) – authored by Geoffrey Thomas. Geoff, who is well-known in the Church in the UK, was personally present and able to offer thoughts on what led to his writing, and to share in prayer to cap what was a blessed 2023 Christian Values in Education National Conference.
