We do not do this very often when it comes to search engines and some news sites but this article captured our attention because it was on education. The article is called The 13 Things School Teachers *Absolutely* Wish All Parents Knew. Just click on the title to get to the story.
We would love to change that title to 12 or 20 things parents absolutely wish teachers knew. Given the recent news stories about education, the better topic would be ours. We must be careful not to paint with as broad a brush as that author did. Unfortunately, generalities will be the norm. These words do not apply to everyone.
#1. We’re On the Same Team
Well, no. It seems that there are many ‘teams’ when it comes to teachers and parents and not everyone can be on the same team because everyone holds different beliefs and viewpoints.
One thing is for sure, a Christian is never on the same team as a non-Christian teacher. The latter will not do as God said to do in Deuteronomy 4. They will not teach students God’s commandments, or instructions or to fear God.
#2. Books Are Powerful
yes, they can be if taught correctly. However, you should notice the generality of the word ‘books’. It is an all-inclusive term and sinful books are just as powerful as classical literature and books written by Christians.
Before your children read different books, they need to be taught how to read them. That is the parent’s job, not the teachers’.
#3. Engagement Can Be Free
What the author of that article wants here is for parents to spend more time talking to their children, and getting them involved in normal daily activities so that their brains develop. Parents should stop planting their children in front of the t.v. set for hours and get more involved with their children.
This is what God wants as well but in a godly manner. This does not mean hustling them off to different church activities almost every day of the week. Children need to learn how to incorporate the Christian faith into their other activities.
#4. Speak Positively
This is not a good point to make. It happens to pastors all the time and some adults can be ruthless in their criticisms of the teacher or the pastor. While one should not tear down a teacher, you cannot be 100% positive either.
Teachers are not perfect . and it is best to do what the Bible says and go to the teacher first and talk to them about what you consider to be wrong with their handling of the material and classroom. The Bible says be wary when all people speak well of you, which means there is room to be constructive in one’s criticism.
However, there is a right time and place for such talk, and in front of the children may not be the right place. use your judgment on this. Remember to be biblical in your constructive criticism and set the right example for your children and the unbelieving teachers.
#5. Two Words: Sugar and Sleep
As the doctors said so often during the 1960s+, eat right, get plenty of rest, and get plenty of exercise. A healthy lifestyle is what your child needs. That healthy lifestyle should include proper training about God and how to talk to him during the day.
Cut the video game time and the t.v. watching time, down and making sure to cut the fast and junk food time down as well. Remember children are a gift from God and as parents, your behavior should reflect the nature of that gift. be wise, just, fair, knowledgeable, and understanding.
#6. Mistakes Are OK To Call Out
Kids need to learn from their mistakkes. It is okay to tell them they made an error. The key is in how you point those errors out. Don’t cross the line between proper punishment and abuse and make sure to use God’s definitions for fair and just treatment for those mistakes.
Zero tolerance has no place in human life. It omits God’s mercy and grace as well as the myriad of chances we all get with God. Plus, it removes the teaching and learning moments children and all people need.
#7. Don’t Kill the Messenger
Don’t be blind to your children’s behavior. Yes, teachers will tell you some negative things about your children. That is because they see them sometimes more than you do. You need to know what they are doing so you can correct your children and how they act or speak.
On the other hand, do not blindly accept what the teacher or school administration says either. You need an objective investigation into certain claims before you act. teachers and school administration are not immune from corruption, bias, negative emotions, and so on.
Make sure your child is telling the truth so you are not manipulated into doing something wrong as well. The Bible says you need 2 witnesses before adjudicating an issue.
#8. Follow the Chain
This goes back to what we said earlier. before you get the teacher in trouble, give him or her a chance to explain and make corrections. If they do not listen to you, then go to the top. Teachers are afraid of losing their jobs and they may lie if you go over their heads first.
Be wise in your contact with teachers.
#9. Do the Math
If you think it is tough handling 2- 4 children at home, think about the teacher who has to handle 20+ students all at the same time and all who are growing up under different sets of beliefs and rules.
Be patient with your teacher and there is no law stopping you from teaching your children at home when they are home from school.
#10. Teachers Are Always Thinking and Learning
This is not the problem. The problem is ‘what they are learning and thinking about’. As recent events over the past few years have shown, many teachers are crossing the line and think they can interfere with parental rights, beliefs, and decisions.
That is wrong as teachers are there to educate correctly. Somewhere over the years, the educational system has erased the boundary between parents and teachers and have actively started to be the parents to the children.
This is not a new idea as a study came out about 30 years ago that stated parents were not qualified to raise children. That should be left up to the professionals. That is the wrong idea for if it were correct, God would not have placed children with parents and told them what to teach and how to teach them.
The command or observation ‘Raise up a child in the path he or she will go and they will not depart from it, is told to parents not education members. Parents and grandparents were given the charge to teach their children not governments or public schools.
God gave you your children, you are in charge of their education and its content. As well as teaching your children right from wrong, good and evil, morality and immorality. Do not let the secular world ruin your children.
#11. Respect Their Boundaries
This is a two-way street and teachers, as well as education officials, need to respect the boundaries set by the parents. Far too often schools have crossed this boundary and strayed where they are not supposed to go.
It is time to clip the wings of many teachers and officials and keep them within their boundaries.
#12. Yes, They Have Summer Vacation
The school year is not as long as any other year. In fact, it is often 3 months or more shorter than other professions’ and common jobs’ year. But teachers do need their off time as it is not easy teaching children all day, 5 days a week.
Then having to deal with parents on top of that workload. Don’t forget, teachers have to do lesson planning, go to meetings, and so on. it is not all fun and games when you teach.
#13. Small, Kind Gestures Add Up
Yes, teachers burn out and yes small little gestures do help but within reason. We do not listen to the claims that teachers are underpaid. they are not. it is just that many teachers pursue things that take them beyond their means.
They make bad spending judgments like anyone else does and they pay for it. We are tired of hearing their whines about being underpaid. Yet, showing some gratitude should be done. It is up to your judgment what gesture you should do as long as it does not cross the boundaries of unethical gifts or illegal activity.
In Korea, there was the story of the ‘white envelope’. While we never got one this was the unspoken practice where parents gave gifts of money so that the teacher would raise the grade of their children.
That is bribery and wrong. Korea took many steps to filter that tradition out . Then the Korean school system has what is called teacher’s day. This is where students would bring gifts to their homeroom teacher or favorite teacher.
Not money, but chocolates, CDs, and other gifts and one year our teacher’s day lasted for 3 days in a private school. We were very grateful for the students’ response. These gestures do help but only if the teachers and school officials are doing and teaching the right things.
You do not want to reinforce negative ideology or teaching habits. One thing in conclusion, they are your children and you get to decide how they will be raised as God gave you that authority.
We just want you to raise your children as God said throughout the Bible so you can be seen as good parents in God’s eyes. That is the only assessment or gesture that counts.
theologyarchaeology 