For the Love of God Now and Forever

This is my 33rd year in teaching! To look back on it all,

I can't believe this many years have already passed.

I'm seeing the end of the trail. Sadly to say,

the trail is ending for the education system as well in

coming under such scrutiny, that all of the country's

woes are placed upon the educators' to correct. In to-

day's society, the classroom teachers are being made to be

psychiatrists, exercise gurus, neurologists, nurses (to

administer meds when on field trips), truancy officers, and

even juvenile delinquent officers. The same can be applied

as for the principals. This is not our job description!

*

I thought maybe it was me, but after speaking

to new teachers (as well as teachers who have had 5,

10, 15, and even 20 years of service), I find it to be true

among them all. The education system is breaking

down due to the population of students, as well as

their parents, no longer being held accountable for

their actions (or the lack thereof.) Besides being held

accountable for our teaching (which we should be),

we are now also being held liable for the irresponsibility

of students and their parents. Then on top of

that, we have the lowliest school board member all the

way up to the President himself, bashing the teachers

for a "failing education system" in comparing it to

China, Russia, etc! Well, let's make that comparison.

*

In the first place, those countries do not have

neurologically impaired children in their school systems.

Those children have been abandoned by many of their parents

and are in mental institutions. In the second place, there

are no juvenile delinquents in their schools. Those students

plus their parents are in lock up with the keys thrown

away. In the third place, those students that can only

learn so much and no more, are put into vocational

training and are placed into the society as a productive

worker by the time they are 15 or 16. So, all they

have in their school systems are their "A, B" students.

This is their Socialist approach to things, and that's

just education. To make it worse, look at their approach

on the medical, people's livelihood, religious preference

and all else! Our government has messed up education

enough by tying the teachers' hands behind their backs

as well as all but duck taping their mouths as to what

they can do or say. The bar has been raised as to the needs a

child must have to get placed into special services. So, as

with the juveniles that refuse to cooperate along with the

neurologically impaired's failing scores, the government has

mandated by law for these failing scores to be averaged into

the general education state scores which makes it look as

though our system is failing because of "lower" scores. It

doesn't take a mathematician to come up with that outcome

which is totally undeserving. How can the government

mandate a child's failing score when in that child's adult

life he will only have the mindset of an 8 year.

*

Teaching is constantly being interrupted by children

who have autistic outbursts. It is illegal to remove

the child, so our entire class has to stop and be

removed to another class in the process of disrupting

their learning. These children's rage may not even be

in your room; but three rooms down and you can still hear

the screaming of their outcries as if they were next to you.

*

Administrators and guidance counsellors are so involved

with delinquent students that by the time they come to

your class, education has again been so disrupted, that not

much learning has taken place. These are not simple

disruptions as they were in the past that teachers could

deal with on their on. "I like how Johnny is...." doesn't

work anymore. These delinquent children of today could

care less what you are saying about another child. If

anything, this statement sets them off because you

aren't recognizing their misbehavior. To see the

increased delinquency, all you need do is visit any

public school and see these students housed up

and down the hallways of the principals' offices!

*

Criminals that continue to be turned back out into society

with rap sheets a mile long is becoming the same mistake

in the school system by "ignoring" the behavior "rap" sheets

that are a mile long by the time these students are in

high school. Again, teachers are blamed for the cause.

The system doesn't realize that we teachers can only

do so much. When these kids leave us and go right

back home into the situations that created them in

the first place, it's like 2 steps forward and 3 back.

*

All you need do to see the ideal

education system, is observe a Christian private

school's. The discipline in these structures

demand students to have respect for themselves as

well as respect for their parents, teachers, and admini-

strators. Nothing will be accomplished without having

discipline and respect for God, one's self, and others.

Private schools (especially those not accepting state

vouchers to come under the state's rule) have the

right to expel students who refuse to follow the

school's rules. Parents have signed off on this

and know it will be enforced. Maybe the public

school system should follow the same example.

They already do this with state funded colleges and

especially the universities. If you misbehave or

don't keep up your grades, you're out! This should

apply in grade-high school as well. Just because

public education is free, it shouldn't engulf those

who refuse to take advantage of its services by

becoming a "burdensome stone."

*

And to think the government wants to increase

the day from six hours to eight and not pay the

teachers for it. Not only does that become

"babysitting," but the pressure these kids are under

now to perform, I can only imagine what 2 more

hours of academics would do. These kids are

burning out now by the time they reach high school.

That's another problem the government wants

to penalize the teachers for, student drop out!

They want to pay according to how many students

pass or fail. Can you imagine the President being

paid on that aspect? Or, anybody for that matter!

We're not car dealers! (At least one wouldn't want

to be in this day and age!)

*

Now, let's have a bit of Good News!

For those who know the LORD, these things

should not be of any surprise. The latter day

prophecies has said the children will turn against

their parents and authority; as well as the

government taking full control over everyone and

all they have gained; as well as the society turning

against its Creator. Praise the LORD for those He

has called for His services. I am so thankful for

students from Christian homes that I

have had the privilege of teaching! Their

testimonies (YES! 5 year olds have testimonies

for our Christ!) have place the seed of God's Word

in the hearts of their classmates! I've always allowed

them to bring their books to share with their

classmates. When they bring their Bibles, Bible

stories, I allow them to share with their classmates.

The LORD has truly blessed. When I look back on the

years I have taught, the LORD has always protected

me when I have had students and parents that

are in denial of present life situations. There

were situations of "darkness" that the LORD's Light

guided my every step. There have also been students and

parents that I have had long friendships with for many years,

even some of which, I have taught some of my student's

children! No matter what society or mankind

does, the LORD is good all the time, all the time the

LORD is good to those that belong to him. One day

the perils of this fallen world will be no more. At that

time we will begin our joyous Eternity that will make

these earthly years deem and pass away as if they

never were. The only thing that will last is what was

done for Christ.