Teach Your Children Well

As I walked to work I saw parents shepherding little ones toward the public school which is near St. Paul's.

This morning desks like these will fill up with students of all ages. In every classroom there will be a teacher whose role will be navigate through the curriculum for this year.

On Sunday we had a small holiday weekend congregation but there were ten teachers present-- more than a dozen if the retirees were included. Are teachers more devout or are they simply aware of the need for divine guidance as they head back into the classroom?

I don't envy the challenge that teachers in the twenty first century face. All professions, including ministry, face much more of an anti-authoritarian mood in our culture. Gaining respect in the classroom is not easy. My own feeling is that in a more secular society there is less of a moral framework for many children. Yet we all have high expectations of what teachers will achieve, including values education.

As the school year begins we can pray for the students as they learn and grow. I would encourage you to keep teachers in your prayers as well. They deserve our respect and our support.