God's playground

The Coming Year

psanywhere — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:46:48 +0000

After a difficult few years with my team, I made the difficult decision to change grade levels. There were a lot of staffing changes on my new grade levels with the result being that I believe I’ll be working with all Christians next year. I’ve never had this experience and I am so thankful to God for the opportunity! Can you imagine—beginning each morning with a prayer meeting with your team for your kids and the day ahead? I am so PSYCHED!

Turning the Other Cheek

psanywhere — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:16:49 +0000

I began my career in the innermost inner city of America. The neighborhood where I worked had the highest homicidal rate in the country. One of my greatest frustrations as a young teacher were the parents who told their children that if someone hit them, they had better be sure to hit back. In my second year of teaching, 2 of my students got into a fistfight one day. I promptly called their parents and we all sat down together, the 2 kids and the 2 mothers. I was brilliant that day. I modeled conflict resolution, leading the 2 youngsters in problem-solving in front of the parents. It ended with everyone happy, and everyone knowing that we would go forth triumphant and at peace.

The next day the boys went at it again. When I told their mothers at dismissal that day, the 2 mothers started fighting! Right there in the playground. One of the larger male teachers had to come break it up. The next afternoon the mothers did it again. So much for my brilliance.

I’ve thought a lot about the concept of turning the other cheek since. When it applies and when it doesn’t. My pastor used to say “Jesus said turn the other cheek. So I will. But I’ve only got two cheeks. After that, I’m coming after you.”

If I were assualted on the street, would I do the many things we tell our students to do? Would I

-Walk away

-Ignore it

-Tell an adult (ie policeman)

-Use humor to diffuse the situation

-Spend time with the attacker

No way! I would fight back and try and get away. If I were hit, I would hit back. If I were kicked I would kick back. In fact, if I were just simply grabbed, I would be going for the jugular.

Why should we expect our students to respond more maturely than ourselves? Don’t they feel every bit as violated and threatened as we do?

If it were my kid being harrassed at school, I think I would want them to hit back if they were hit. As teachers, I think we have to stop blaming victims. Agressors need to be agressively punished, including the type of kid who pushes buttons over and over again until another child snaps.

I KNOW that if my kid hit someone, I would hope that they got whalloped back.

Serving Saul

psanywhere — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:27:44 +0000

I’ve had 13 principals in my career thus far and it’s my 13th year of teaching. Not all have been gems. Just some of the things I’ve been reprimanded for:

1-Teaching compound words 2 days before the teacher’s manual said to

2-Giving a math test during our literacy block

3-Asking a boss to follow the contract

4-Arranging desks in a U-shape rather than in cooperative groups

5-Teaching place value from math text books which were available to me although recently discontinued in the district

6-Expressing disagreement with a colleague

7-Not allowing a colleague’s child to have special privileges

It’s not easy to serve the Sauls of this world. I am not saying that all of my bosses were Sauls–most of them have been fine people of integrity. But, some have had spears to throw, and been tyrants in their own right.

It’s hard to find the ability to learn from these types and to allow God to use them to shape our character. It’s so easy to let authority’s opinion of us become GOD’S opinion of us. I don’t have any answers, but I do know enough to keep asking questions. And I do know that sometimes God’s greatest tool to shape us is PAIN. Keep on, keeping on.

School Politics

psanywhere — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:38:12 +0000

I hate school politics. It’s the thing they never tell you in college–all of the games people play, and that the education world is full of them. I’m an incredibly nice person, until I’m messed with. Then, I can throw down and throw down hard. I’m trying to unlearn that skill, but it’s been tough.

I messed up this week. I have a colleague who is very negative, passive-aggressive, and only nice to people she percieves to have power. We had some words, we both apologized, and we both are still posturing. It’s feels like Round 2 is in the wings.

I am learning the hard way, that I would rather be nice than right. I’d rather be righteous than powerful. There are always going to be those who try and push buttons. I’d rather be the kind of person who can smile and walk away from a fight.

This Little Light of Mine

psanywhere — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:44:34 +0000

Navigating evangelistic opportunities as a public school teacher can be a tightrope kind of affair. I don’t agree with those who say it can’t be done. Nor do I think one should blatantly proseletyze, especially with young children. But there are ways of planting seeds, without abusing one’s influence.

During the winter holidays, I present all of the holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Diwali, Chinese New Year, 3 Kings Day, etc. Mentioning one gives me the freedom to mention them Christianity. If my students ask what I celebrate, I am honest with them. Christian kids fairly quickly understand me to be a Christian which encourages them.

Young students often have a way of bringing God into many conversations. While I do not usually join their informal chatter, neither do I ask them to refrain from talking about their beliefs.

But the most important thing I can do as a teacher is to love my students, and keep in contact with them. One of my most favorite classes will graduate this year. I am in touch with a number of them and am praying for ways to share my faith with them, now that they are “of age.”

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s Playground

psanywhere — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:18:43 +0000

When I first started my teaching career, I saw it as a way to support myself until my bigger dreams came true. I REALLY wanted to be “in the ministry.” Whatever that meant. I didn’t really have a plan for how that was to happen (although I had been to Bible College). I just thought destiny would cause things to fall into place.

Over time, I realized being in an elementary classroom was being on a mission field. One of my close friends grew up going to Catholic school. He told me of how when he was young he was really nervous about this test he was taking. One of the nuns took him aside and gave him extra time on the test and encouragement. That one event (in his words) “wafted the fragrance of God in front of me. In later years, I was always searching for that same fragrance.” In time, he found the Lord and lives for Him today.

Christian teachers in the public school make a difference. We blow on our students the fragrance of God. We display His character, show His love, and encourage His little ones. It is a mission field. We are in full-time ministry.