Week 8 - Teach
This week in summary| Day 1 : Good Teacher | 2 Timothy 1-2 |
| Day 2 : Why I Teach | 2 Timothy 3-4 |
| Day 3 : Teaching Standards | Titus 1-3 |
| Day 4 : Prepare | Proverbs 1-4 |
| Day 5 : Team Building: | Proverbs 5-8 |
| Day 1 : Good Teacher | 2 Timothy 1-2 |
| Day 2 : Why I Teach | 2 Timothy 3-4 |
| Day 3 : Teaching Standards | Titus 1-3 |
| Day 4 : Prepare | Proverbs 1-4 |
| Day 5 : Team Building: | Proverbs 5-8 |
There is a popular story in educational circles about a teacher who is asked why so many of his students failed. His response is that he taught them as best he could, but they did not learn anything. This story illustrates the point that no matter how hard I work as a teacher, if students are not learning, then I am not teaching. Jesus would seem to concur with this sentiment. When He was referred to as "Good Teacher". His response was, "Why do you call me good?" (Luke 18:18-19). He understood that there are those who teach and those who learn. One cannot exist without the other. Can a teacher be good if his instructions are not understood? What is the purpose of teaching if we run this risk of not being understood? There are many biblical passages regarding teaching. As we explore the principles that they point us towards, keep in mind they are embodied in the model of the good teacher.
Jesus primarily taught through parables. God is a loving father? Where is this idea better illustrated than the story of the "Prodigal Son"? (Luke 15: 11-32) Since we are brothers and sisters in God's family, we should not be jealous of our various gifts and positions. To illustrate his point, Jesus told the parable of the "Workers in the Vineyard" (Matthew 20: 1-16). We should treat all people with mercy and as potential members of God's family regardless of their background or circumstances? Jesus told the story of the "Good Samaritan" (Luke 10:25-37). These are just a few of the principles that Jesus deemed important enough to build the family of God. He told them in such a way that not only illustrated the point for his listeners, but could be used over and over through the generations. These are among the first stories that was learn when we come to Christ. It is not by accident. These stories illustrated the core principles of the Christ-centered community.
The principles of the loving, faith community were taught by Christ himself to everyone he met, but the Good Teacher gave special care to his hand-picked disciples. This group and others were charged with the Great Commission to continue to teach the principles to new generations of learners. Paul, who also received the directive to teach, passed along Christ's principles to learners such as Timothy and Titus. He gave them the very specific instructions to "entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2). The entire community of believers is entrusted with the job of spreading the message of the gospel, but there exists within that group, those who are especially trusted with the care of the teachings of Christ. This group of teachers articulates the ancient, yet living principles that Christ expects us to live out today (Deuteronomy 11:18-1). If the community of believers is the body of Christ in the world, then teachers are the ones who train the parts of the body (I Timothy 4: 6-9). We get the body in shape to be Christ's representatives in the world.
What happens to a body that ceases to be trained? It becomes fat and lazy. It fails to operate the way that it was created to function. It is the same with the body of Christ. Without responsible teachers, the faith community may "turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4: 3-4) or find that they have forsaken the love" (Revelation 2:4). This is why James warns that teachers will be "judged more strictly" (James 3: 1). We are the guardians of Christ's principles. If we fail, the community of faith begins to lose its identity. And if we lose sight of Christ, where will we wander? If we do not belong to Christ, then to whom do we belong?
Teaching within the community of faith is a calling and a responsibility. We keep the body of Christ in good working order so it is also an honor. As a preserver of Christ's principles, a teacher will face difficulties, even opposition. So he or she must be sure of the call. A teacher is doubly responsible for his or her instructions (James 3:1). This is a heavy responsibility. A teacher is carrying the traditions of the body of Christ. Teachers stand in the line with Timothy, Titus, Paul, the Apostles, and Christ himself. It is an honor to be called upon to bear this responsibility.
I thought that my first few years as a teacher were relatively smooth. I was in a public school, but in a small town. The principal heavily emphasized discipline and respect. I did not really appreciate just how much work I did not have to do. I moved back to my home, a much larger city with more notorious schools and students. The first couple years there were like starting all over or worse. Somehow, I struggled through that new first year (and usually when I refer to my first year as a teacher, this is the year I am talking about). The next year was exponentially better, but still horrible. I spent most of my time on classroom management and that was rarely effective. Or the rare occasion that I did seem to have a degree of control, I struggled to motivate students to do their work, keep them awake, get their attention, etc. One day (which was a relatively calm one. I suppose the calm gave me the opportunity to reflect) I watched students not working, sleeping, and the usual. I decided that I had enough. I asked someone to watch my class and I headed towards the back door. On the way out, I made a last minute decision to stop in the staff restroom (one of the few places in the building for solitary reflection.) After washing my face in the sink, I stared into my own eyes in the mirror. When I came to this place, I seemed so sure that God had sent me here. I began to question if I was called to that school and even to be a teacher. What good was I doing there? Why had I not stayed at the other school where things were fairly easy and I had found somewhat of a niche? Then I glanced just to the side of the mirror. From its appearance, the sticker had been there for years. Yet, in its faded type offered a simple message, "Yes, I can with Jesus." Suddenly, I remembered the circumstances in which God had made it so apparent that this was the place for me. I remembered the vast improvement between the first and second year. I washed my face again and headed back to the classroom to plunge myself back into the fray.
This simple reminder that Jesus was with me, was not just some cliché. It was not just some random thought that whoever put the sticker on the wall thought was cute. It's simple message in grounded in scripture. In fact, it may be the most important message that we can receive or offer. The Great Commission (which is for all believers, not just teachers) challenges us to "teach them to obey all that I have commanded you" and yet reassures us with the promise of "I am with you always (Matthew 28: 20). While still traveling with the disciples, Jesus' select core of leaders, Jesus assures them that after he leaves, the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:26). In the midst of our teaching, while we are preparing to teach, Jesus is there with us. He is reminding us himself of his very words as we read them and speak them. We bear the message of Christ himself. It is not a light responsibility.
Bearing this responsibility in mind is what keeps us focused on Christ as we prepare and teach. I may know a good deal about the Bible (or any subject that I am called upon to teach), but what message does Christ want me to deliver? I must continually ask myself this question. I must continually strive to find Jesus' message within my own good ideas and sometimes even his word. (2 Timothy 1:14, 2:15). I'm a history teacher, I must ask myself, what can history show me about God's will and the work of his hand, sometimes even within a period or event that seems to have nothing to do with Him or his goodness. There are debates about modern issues and doctrines that arise within the church setting. How do I properly discern the will of God in these situations? Even when the Bible itself may seem confusing or contradictory, I can rely on the assurance that Jesus is guiding me through the Holy Spirit. He wants me to know his will. He wants those that I teach to know what he has to say. If I'm having trouble understanding or discerning, maybe I'm not focusing on what he wants me to know? (Titus 2:7-8).
Proverbs 3:5 says to, "Trust the LORD with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding." When I look back on that day in my "first" year that is what I take with me. Whether my job is easy or difficult, I must keep in mind that it is not about me. My job is about my students and their understanding of our Lord and his will. As a teacher, I am expected to be an expert in my particular field. By definition, this may make me something of an authority. However, no matter how much of an authority I am, my authority as a teacher in the community of faith has been entrusted to me by Christ himself. He calls me to instruct other believers (and unbelievers too) in his ways, but he does not leave me to my own devices to carry out this task. What I must not forget is that he has put me in this position. He wants me to successfully pass along knowledge of him. Teachers are guardians of the lessons of Christ (Titus 1:9), but ultimately the lessons are his. I must be careful to articulate the proper lesson, but it is Christ puts it in its proper place.
Education in the U.S. is often viewed as a joke. Every time an election rolls around, the candidate for president, or governor, congress, or whatever is asked about schools. Phrases are thrown around. New programs and catchy phrases like "No Child Left Behind", "Common Core", "Differentiation", etc. catch on for a little while, then the next idea becomes popular. So for those of us who attempt to model ourselves after the teaching style of Jesus, how are we different? How different should we be? What if anything can we learn from how the world's educational systems?
"The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out." (Proverbs 20:5.) I would like to think that in general, people want to do good. Yes, we are sinners and cannot do God's kind of good, but I would like to think that most of us intend or set out to be good. Therefore, every system that humans invent, no matter how well intentioned, will be flawed in some way. Today's educational system is no exception. Part of this is that systems are soulless. Systems are made up of people, but in the midst of creating a system, we often lose individual people. This is particularly tragic in an educational system. We have discussed how teaching is a calling. If we are called to teach, we have an innate desire to better the lives of those who come after us. We want to leave the world better than when we entered it. We do that by enhancing the lives of our students. This task is often made difficult by endless amounts of paper work, proper lesson plan forms, lessons crafted to just the right standard (until that standard changes. Thank God that his standards never change.) In the midst of all this, God and his love for his people remain unchanging. We must keep in mind that he cares for our students more than we ever could. He wants them to learn his principles in a much deeper way than it is even possible for us to teach them.
Most schools today are focused on achievement. That is why we have programs, "standards", and testing. There is nothing innately wrong with standards or pushing for achievement, but in a system that also recognizes that various students have various ways of learning, we have one "standardized" test that they are all expected to pass at the end of the year. There is nothing wrong with testing. Abraham was tested. Job was tested, but with very different tests. Most important, both of these men kept their humility throughout their time of testing. In today's school system, "successful" schools are flaunted for all to see while "failing" schools are brushed to the side or threatened to show improvement. The Bible consistently warns against pride. "Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first" (Matthew 19:30). Even as teachers we should have the attitude of a servant of Christ. However, this desire to demonstrate achievement bleeds down from those shaping the policies of the educational system to the average teacher. I have sat in many meetings with many teachers who throw the spotlight on what they are doing in their classroom or post decorative assignments in the hallway with little or no substance behind them. I have been put in the awkward position of a principal telling me (in front of his superiors) to explain how he helped me design a lesson (that I actually did not even use.) I could ramble on and on with sickening examples of teachers bragging about their accomplishments, back-stabbing other teachers, arguing amongst themselves because of the pressure put upon them. And I am not guiltless. I have given in at times and lost sight of my calling. Fortunately, I have always find my way back on track (so far.) I pray that I always will. And ultimately that is what sets us apart from the world's system of education. We are called by Christ. We must forever remind ourselves of that calling.
As teachers within the faith community, we must always remember that Christ and his teachings are our standards. This is not some vague notion. This is a concrete example for us to follow. As teachers, we are forever students. We must always look to the word of God and search the scriptures for answers to our questions and behavioral examples. All that being said, there are still a few good ideas that we can learn from our more worldly-minded fellow educators. The faith community is to be full of grace, compassion, and mercy. However, in our overwhelming desire to show these attributes we often forget to push ourselves and each other to sharpen our skills. There is nothing wrong with practicing professionalism, learning new methods of teaching, or improving old ones. The same is true with having accountability and specific standards. What we must never forget as we improve professionally, is that Christ is our ultimate standard. I may someday become the most recognized and appreciated teacher to ever enter the doors of a school (not likely), but if I lose sight of Christ, then I lose sight of why I entered the profession in the first place and all my work and preparation is in vain.
The world's educational system is flawed and broken, but at one point I was as well. Christ entered my life and fixed me (and continues to fix and upgrade me.) When we enter a secular school, we bring Christ with us. Whether we teach within the context of the faith community or within the realm of the world, we represent Christ. We are the caretakers of his principles. The responsibility of passing his teachings along are ours. Regardless of our surroundings, we must be careful to not forget our calling and responsibility. That is the honor of our chosen profession.