How Far Down Does the Elephant Go? Unfinished Conversations with My High School Students
Ebook
Coming out of eight years teaching at a high school in Auckland, New Zealand, this book explores big questions that teenagers themselves generated in Christian Education classes and in a course called Theory of Knowledge in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. In thirty letters to his students, Hugh Kemp addresses their big questions, noting that many conversations are unfinished and that "we grow in the direction of our questions." All the letters are creatively generated but do represent real questions that students actually asked, revealing the inner lives and priorities of twenty-first-century teenagers. Kemp demonstrates a warmth and love for his students but also a critical edge, always challenging them to examine their assumptions, to see "how far down the elephant goes."
“The best teachers don’t give you all the answers, but rather intrigue and engage you, helping you to think for yourself, ask questions of your own, and hopefully help you find compelling answers. In that vein, Hugh Kemp seeks to winsomely converse with his students and respond to the big questions they ask about life, the universe, and everything. It’s not the final word, but it is a good word, which is highly readable, and I trust it will be a real help as you explore how far down the elephant actually goes.”
—Ben Carson, national director, Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship
“In How Far Down Does the Elephant Go?, Hugh Kemp masterfully navigates the complexities of foundational Christianity. His letters offer a heartfelt, humorous, and thought-provoking exploration that challenges and delights. As a former student of Kemp, I found his writing demonstrates the deep care he has for his students and is a testament to the power of thoughtful education. A must-read for anyone seeking clarity amidst spiritual confusion.”
—Joshua D. P. Eaton, mechanical engineer
“In this book, Hugh Kemp reflects on his years teaching adolescents and encouraging them to think about the big questions of life. In it you will find him striving to distill complex theological and philosophical debates into sound-bites of wisdom that are digestible by young people in a post-Christian education world.”
—Jeremy Sievers, head of Christian education, Saint Kentigern College
- Title: How Far Down Does the Elephant Go? Unfinished Conversations with My High School Students
- Author: Hugh P. Kemp
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9798385209620, 9798385209613, 9798385209606
- Resource ID: LLS:9798385209620
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-05-31T19:06:28Z
Hugh P. Kemp has taught across both high school and university sectors in a variety of educational modes and countries for more than thirty-five years. He has a PhD in religious studies and a MTh in Christian mission history. He is the author of Steppe by Step: Mongolia’s Christians from Ancient Roots to Vibrant Young Church (2000) and One Step Guide to World Religions (2013). Kemp continues to engage with thinking students in a high school in Christchurch, New Zealand. He speaks and publishes across the fields of Asian history and Christian mission, education, and religious studies. He lives in a village near Christchurch with his wife, Karen Kemp,who teaches practical theology and coaches leaders. They have three adult daughters.