Many opt foreducation major at LBC

\/i ore Liberty Baptist Collegestu*•* dents are preparing for careers in elementary orsecondary education than forany other profession

The education division listed 750 majors last spring.

Dr. Garth Runion,chairman of the division of education, attributes the popularity of theeducation major to the factthat many students arefamiliar with theeducation process They themselves have studied under many teachers fora number ofyears

"Many of the elementary education majors in particular decide that they would like to teach simply to work with thechildren," Dr. Runion said.

Dr.Runion said thathefeels confident that this large number of education majors will face no problems in finding teaching jobs after graduation. The demand for teachers is great in both private Christian schools and public schools.

"There is a growing shortage in teachers, especially in mathematics, science and English," Dr. Runion said. "The declineinteachersseems to come from the fact that a few years ago there was an over-abundance of teachers, but that is not true anymore."

According toDr Runion, theeducation department received 500requests last year for teachers from schools throughout the world—most of them Christian schools.

"LBC only had 80-85 education graduates," Dr Runion said "There was noway the education department could meet allthose requests.The demand exceeds thesupply."

About 93 percent of LBC's education graduates teach in Christian schools

"The education department trains students with a primary emphasis on Christian schools," Dr Runion said "In aChristian school, the teacher can teach thestudents toseek God'struth In a public school,theteacher could not approach creationism or absolutes because itwould be considered religious pressure."

Dr. Runion said that although LBC's accreditation has significant impact forstudents,it brought about Dr.Garth Runion prepares lecture notes for his next class. Dr.Runion isthechairman of the division of education.

Littlechange In Theeducation Department Asawhole

"The LBCstudent'steaching certificate will be more readily accepted though,"hesaid "A teachingposition will be more easily secured, also."

Dr.Runion alsosaidthatwhen LBC isaccredited alittlelonger, the education department will then begin working on a master's program—but that is"several years down the road."

The goals of theeducation department right now, though, areto turn outstudentswhohave agenuine commitment toJesus Christ as Lord and Savior,and who have a realinternalizationfrom Godtoteach, Dr Runion said "We want students to be wellrounded both spiritually and academically,"he said."We want topreparethem tobe thebestinstrumentof God, asall Christians shouldbe."

-Cheryl Weigle •

Divisionof Music

Pianist has noteworthy talent

Hi s fingers race back and forth as he attacks the keyboard.His facialmuscles areintenseasheconcentratesonthe music.David Ehrmanis doing what he loves bestand doing it with style.

"Music is a language of the emotions," Ehrman said "Mygoal as a performer is that a person doesn't leaveone ofmyconcertsthesame way he came in I want him tohavehadan experience ofemotional communication."

Ehrman, who performed 15concertslastyear, startedhiscareerat the age of10.

"Iloved music,"hesaid. "Wedidn't have apianoplayerinourchurch, soI began taking lessons so Icould play inchurch.Inninemonths, I wasplaying regularly."

For Ehrman, playing the pianois more than talent: "It's discipline."

"Discipline is a part of meI can't separate from myself," Ehrman said During concertmonths I practice seven hours aday It'shard work andI don't always enjoyit."