Events

You’re invited to Regent's 2025 Evening Public Lecture series! Join us in the chapel or tune in online to explore theology, culture, and much more with this year’s summer faculty.

To livestream this and other Evening Public Lectures, visit us at rgnt.net/live.

About the Lecture

Modern societies generally agree that schooling is a good idea, but continue to fight passionately over exactly what it is that schools should be achieving. John Amos Comenius, an important 17th century theologian, pastor, and educator, spent a lifetime reflecting on how his Christian identity related to his efforts to reform schools and promote universal education. In this lecture we will explore a few of his ideas about what learning is for, focusing on how they might continue to call us to sober reflection today.

About the Speaker

Dr. David I. Smith is Professor of Education at Calvin University; Director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning at Calvin University; Coordinator of the de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development at Calvin University; and Senior Editor of the International Journal of Christianity and Education.

David earned his BA in Modern Languages at Oxford University; a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Nottingham; an MPhil in Philosophy of Education/Philosophical Theology from the Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto; and a PhD in Education with a specialty in Curriculum Studies from the University of London.

David has written widely and worked extensively with educators at all levels of education on questions of how faith relates to the practice of teaching. His book On Christian Teaching was awarded the 2021 Lilly Fellows Program Book Award, a biennial award for work focused on teaching and scholarship in the Christian intellectual tradition.

Dr. Smith is teaching Everyday Christian Teaching: How Faith Shapes Pedagogy from July 14 to July 18 as part of Regent’s 2025 Summer Programs.