All right, so I went into my classroom today to continue the "setting up" process. For those who don't know my profession, I am an educator (aka Mr. T, no relation). I teach at a Christian academy, and I love teaching. Joy comes not from the 50th time you've asked a question without a response; it comes from the first time you get an answer from a kid whose lightbulb just lit up. I love seeing that. This is my 15th year teaching high school history to a group of kids who most likely don't really enjoy the subject. Oh, I have my methods of at least trying to make history come alive in my students, but it's difficult in the world of "now." Why would you want to study about the Founding Fathers when you have twenty text messages to read from one of your Myspace friends. Forgive me if that last line doesn't make sense to some of you. It doesn't make sense to me either, so I don't really know if you can actually receive text messages through friends on that web-site. I'm just proud to know what a text message is, although I would much rather telephone someone instead of writing them such an impersonal message. Thus, one of "Mr. T's" rules; no cell phones. You wouldn't believe how many parents get angry when you tell their children they can't have cell phones in my classroom. Every year, some student tests that rule, but I don't know one that has ever won. ;)
So, another school year is just a couple weeks away. For Kate, this is the beginning of another chapter again; getting back into teaching. For Aaron, this is the sad end to his summer. But, for me, it's another opportunity to serve the Lord. I'd like to think that when I reach Heaven, and Jesus looks at me saying, "what have you done for my Kingdom?" I can look at Him and say, "I loved your precious children. I tried to teach them well. I tried my best to show You to them through my actions and words." There are some people who look at this generation of young adults with shame, and I will admit that there are several reasons to question the integrity of some of those people. However, give me a 15-year-old with pimples, cell phones, and an iPod; and I will do my best to turn that kid into a history buff by the end of May.
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2 comments:
Sounds like your wife is not the only one in your family who is called to teach! Praying for a great school year for all of you (Aaron too!). Hope you had a better day today.
God bless.
Ann from Chicagoland
I hope that the time in your classroom helped make today a good one. There is something about preparing for a new year that brings anticipation and excitement. More of those "Aha!" moments are just ahead.
You are right, there are some young adults who need to work on their integrity. However, there are so many more who are neat kids searching for truth and for ways to live out what they find to believe in. Kids will rise to our expectations, the higher the bar, the more they rise. Thank you for being the kind of teacher today's students need: one who will love & inspire them while holding them accountable.
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