Response

I got a really long response from my uncle (a former teacher himself) following my plea for answers to my question a few weeks ago. Here's his take on it, which I think was definitely worth reading a few times and posting here. Enjoy!

1. KNOW THE CALL OF GOD. If He has called you to be a teacher, He will supply what you need so you can glorify Him.

a. Do you like what you do? Not all the time perhaps, but most of the time. Even Jesus got exasperated with the disciples. In Matt. 17:17 He was addressing THEM, not the dad!

b. Have you experienced satisfaction/’success’? (Recognize that that is God speaking.)

c. Has your ‘ministry’ been recognized by others? (Yes, that school district offered YOU the position- AND rehired you!! AND your student(s) send you “flowers.”)

d. Do you sense God’s pleasure when you ‘run’? (Echoes of Eric Liddle.)

2. RECOGNIZE THE “IMAGE OF GOD” IN EACH STUDENT AND TREAT THEM AS YOU WOULD TREAT HIM.

a. Respect- as a suitable ‘substitute’ for reverence.

b. Love - “Doing what is best for another no matter what the cost.”

c. Look for ways to motivate- as God does to us. But . . .

d. Be gracious. Invite, do not force. We love under ‘grace’, not ‘law.’ The law IS (sic) a schoolmaster- and grades have a way of laying before us the serious consequences of our actions, but recognize that The Law never ‘saved’ anyone- never turned them into a ‘good student.’ All it can do is lead them to see the consequences, and show them the way to “Christ”- maturity. Grace/God allows those made in His image the freedom to choose- even if that means choosing failure (hell).

3. RECOGNIZE EACH INDIVIDUAL AS A PERSON.

a. As God recognizes us as individuals. Yes, you teach a ‘class’- a collection of people, and they must respond to you. You are not a private tutor.

b. Yet there are some who require ‘tutoring.’ Look for ways to motivate those individual individuals. Some may need such treatment all the time; some may need it only now and then. Some “get with the program” and others need more help to do so. But recognize that each person has the right to choose success or failure, and as much as you are able, ‘help’ them choose success.

4. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

If the class generally is doing well, you’re doing well. Don’t blow the ‘failure’ of a minority out of proportion. Yes, God “is not willing for any to perish...”, but I’m reminded of something attributed to C. S. Lewis: “There are those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done;’ and there are those to whom God says, ‘Alright, have it your way’.” Even God’s ‘children’ (Adam and Eve) turned away from Him despite a sinless, perfect environment, and the depth of relationship He had with them. But He didn’t give up on them.

5. PRAY FOR THE CLASS, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

God knows them better than you ever will. Let Him guide your relationship (key word in response to BOTH blog entries!!), and provide wisdom. Prov. 3:5-6 works for the classroom as well as life. After all, if God has called you to teaching (Point #1) it is HIS responsibility- we are His FELLOWworkers. “GOD” IS (sic) a relationship- a Trinity.

6. Specifically to this blog posting: “God” IS (sic) a reality. DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF HIM. Acknowledge Him as a matter of course. Obviously, you can’t start your class in prayer. PUBLICALLY. But you can privately- even with a “Help me!” (Think of Peter walking on the water!). You can also refer to Him or His works as part of normal conversation. Prov. 3:5-6 again. DO NOT FEAR MAN. No one can make “School” a God-Free zone. Be respectful to those in authority (Rom. 13!), and sensitive to The Situation (Matt. 7:6).

7. In both spiritual and vocational senses: DON’T GROW WEARY IN WELL-DOING (Gal. 6:9, I Cor. 15:57). You’re experiencing “sophomore slump.” Some call it “Death of the Vision.” It is normal.

Respond please? Pretty please?

In making an effort both to find lessons for myself in order to better my teaching (and character) and to make contact with the ten people that actually read this....

To my teacher (and non-teacher) friends:

How do you find you best show Christ to your students? (Especially in a public school setting).

or

Have you seen another teacher really demonstrate this well; how so?

Go!

Lundi Lecon

It's no secret that almost all new teachers come in to teaching full of enthusiasm and idealistic.Many burn out within the first year and a certain-significant-percentage-I-cannot-recall don't make it past their 5th year.

Being in the midst of my 2nd year of teaching, I am in no way claiming to be an expert, just slightly more worse for wear. I had an interesting discussion today about a certain student (teachers, you know these students; the ones who you cheer for when they are absent...); now, I have had similar discussions with other teachers about other *lovely* teenagers, but for some reason, today's stuck in my mind and made me really sit down in my car on the way home (ha) and think.

The discussion went from the usual frustration and venting to the words, "She won't pass anyway, so I'm not going to bust my butt trying to get her to do the work," passing my lips. Ouch.

Am I so disillusioned from my ideals after only a year that I would completely give up on a kid? Yes, this student is a gift of frustrations galore, but how is it that I got to this state?!? Was it through some kind of weird ritual baptism students give teachers during their first year on the job? Is it simply me venting? Or is it exhaustion from a job I'm not meant to do? Hopefully, not the latter, I'd like to stick somewhere in the middle. And while I may be venting (and mathematically, this student is in no way going to pass my class), how could I let those words come out of my mouth? For words to pass my lips, I must have thought them at least once; words are telling of that upon which a person's mind dwells.

Ironic that I just finished studying James, no? I think I have to change my thought process a bit and then will not linger on the bad qualities of those students, but rather look for an opportunity to encourage them and hopefully make part of their day brighter, even if they don't consciously acknowledge it.

Taming the Tongue

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, [1] and set on fire by hell. [2] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, [3] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

- James 3:1-12

P.S. I had my day made a little brighter by a student sending me a carnation through the student-council run flower exchange! Aw, gosh!