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THE Kelowna-based Heritage Christian Online School
(HCOS) began just four years ago. Now, according to its superintendent,
Greg Bitgood, the school’s international influence is growing.
This summer, Bitgood spent several weeks
overseas. In Pretoria, South Africa, he visited Hatfield Christian
School, to train personnel in how to develop and grow an online school.
In Moscow, with a team of teachers and web-enhancers,
he worked with the International School of Tomorrow, training teachers and
administrators in how to develop online curriculum in the Russian language.
 | Greg Bitgood |
Bitgood told BCCN the Moscow contact leading to that arrangement came
through “a considerable contingent of Russian-background people
living in Vernon,” who work with New Manna Ministries.
HCOS, he says, is also developing “a Christian
ESL program to various parts of the world – Korea,
Spanish-speaking countries and Russia – [utilizing] Tell Me More, a
language curriculum that uses an online tool.” The end result will
enable Canadian students to teach English to overseas counterparts.
HCOS is now British Columbia’s largest online
school. It was begun by the campus-based Heritage Christian School, after
they examined the work of Northstar Academy in Alberta. Today, there are
1,270 full-time students from throughout British Columbia, and more than
1,000 part-time. The campus school enrolls 320 in grades K – 12.
Many of the enrollees are young people being
home-educated. The HCOS curriculum is fully approved by the ministry of
education and taught by B.C. certified teachers. And large numbers of the
part time students are public and independent school students who take
courses online that are not offered in their own schools.
Bitgood attributes some of the success of the school to
the fact that its people have “mastered the technology,” a
factor most important to being able to offer students good service.
Capital costs are low, compared with campus schools.
Many Christian schools operate in costly former public
schools, he explains, adding: “We run the school out of five offices.
All the teachers work at home. There are few facilities to manage and that
has freed up a lot of money.”
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The superintendent also credits the parameters of the
publicly-supported independent school setup in British Columbia with
creating an environment for HCOS’ acceptance with public school
students.
On subjects involving faith or moral issues which often
draw flack, the school knows both its limitations and opportunities.
“Being an independent school, we are not only
permitted, but expected, to teach with our perspectives imbedded in the
curriculum,” says Bitgood.
He notes that the province requires teaching to achieve
particular learning outcomes.
“So we include a secular or Canadian social
perspective and a Christian perspective. We are not running from the
issue.”
As to the future, the superintendent notes: “The
Lord has been impressing on us to trust him for our involvement with a
million children worldwide.
“It is not the destination that counts but how we
walk out the journey. We must stay true to his vision and integrity. We
must eschew any semblance of pride for our success and accomplishment
– because the gifts and abilities come from him, the success comes
from him and is defined by what he calls true success.
“Thus we are on a journey to be faithful to the
master and follow his hand through these uncharted waters.”
– Lloyd Mackey
October 2008
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