Every August I would walk around my first grade classroom, touch each desk, and pray for my new group of students. I would pray for those individual hearts and the families that cared for them. I would pray that God would use me during the school year to show his love to my students.

A school year brings challenges for a teacher that go beyond curriculum, high stakes testing, and main office expectations. Those nine months bring emotional highs and lows to a little classroom community. We would share laughs, cries, determination, hurt feelings, excitement, and even frustration. It was an interesting experience as we grew and changed together throughout the year. Each little life would impact me and influence who I was as a person.

The public school is a local mission field. One teacher has the ability to touch the lives of numerous people. The school months are a time for a teacher to show his or her own classroom of children what it means to love. It was a personal mission of mine to love my students and teach them how to love each other. Teachers must be aware that beyond the students, there are families everywhere who are lost and hurting. They need guidance to become better parents. They need someone to provide a hug when no one else will. They need a sense of purpose and direction. Teachers are often making phone calls, sending home notes, and holding parent meetings. Through these personal and consistent contacts families can find a sense of comfort. Opportunities to share God’s love abound.

Christian educators should be keenly aware of the unique mission field that exists in their workplace. In a public school, adults are working closely together with the common goal of raising caring and responsible future adults. However, all too often teachers forget to model the behaviors they strive to instill in their students.

Teachers can easily get caught in the trap of gossip in the teacher’s lounge as they share stories about students that would better remain private. Whether or not all public school employees agree, the adults in a school setting should be moral, mature examples for young children.

Christian educators are willing to be held accountable for their actions to both coworkers and students. Christian teachers have the ability to speak through their actions, not just with words. Second Timothy 2:24, 25 states, “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” Teachers are naturally passionate people. They carry a passion for children and for learning. This can sometimes lead to tension as everyone involved in the learning process advocates for what he or she believes to be best. A Christian educator can be a mediator, bringing unity instead of division among a staff.

The need for Christian educators in the public school system is great. Unfortunately, hundreds of students across the county leave school each day and are unsure about where they will be that evening. This inconsistent routine is not very comforting for young children. A teacher may be the only positive and consistent element in a child’s life. That student quickly learns that no matter what else is happening in life, her teacher will be there smiling, waiting each morning, and holding high expectations for learning to occur. More and more children are growing up in single-parent homes, often with the mother. Boys and girls must have a positive male role model in their lives. Christian male teachers, especially of young children, are in high demand. Men and women educators model self-assured, professional, and caring attitudes that may be lacking for many children.

As Bible college and university leaders recognize the public school as a local mission field, degree programs in education are being created and offered. Many Bible college students may earn a Bible degree and a public school teaching license. Christian colleges are providing quality training and producing highly employable educators. Becoming a teacher is an emotionally draining, time consuming, and difficult job. It is also one of the most meaningful, long-lasting, and rewarding careers someone can choose. Being a servant of the Lord in the public school system will leave an educator feeling purposeful and mission driven. |L

OUTLOOK is a forum for responsible Christian writers. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Standard Publishing or The Lookout.

OTHER COLUMNS:
November 15, 2009 - Bringing Christ to French Guiana
November 1, 2009 - Walking the edge
October 18, 2009 - Watch what you say
October 4, 2009 - Proposing a new proverb
September 20, 2009 - Fear and trembling
September 6, 2009 - Elwyn
August 23, 2009 - Where did the Bible go?
July 26, 2009 - Astonishing the judges
July 12, 2009 - Letting the past go
June 28, 2009 - Line up
June 14, 2009 - The path to spiritual growth
May 31, 2009 - A tribute to one of my heroes
May 17, 2009 - Silent soldier
April 19, 2009 - Operation Resensitization
April 5, 2009 - The temptations of ministers
March 8, 2009 - Conversation over shoes
February 22, 2009 - By their plurals you shall know them
February 8, 2009 - What is missing from your retirement plans?
January 25, 2009 - Turn the page
December 28, 2008 - Abba, Father
December 14, 2008 - Elementary truths
November 30, 2008 - The illusion
October 19, 2008 - Acting like a toddler
October 5, 2008 - Don’t miss this
September 21, 2008 - Foolish schemes
September 7, 2008 - God’s hand is everywhere
August 24, 2008 - The dance
August 10, 2008 - Strange land
July 27, 2008 - God’s amazing grace
July 13, 2008 - A best seller
June 29, 2008 - My grandfather’s clock and worship
June 1, 2008 - Reclaiming the name
May 4, 2008 - God is not our fairy godmother
April 6, 2008 - Success: what is it and who can measure up?
March 9, 2008 - Need to know
February 10, 2008 - The top three myths of singleness
January 13, 2008 - By invitation only
December 5, 2007 - Yes, Abbie, there is a Jesus
November 18, 2007 - 10 Ways to be a good Christmas customer
October 21, 2007 - The dividing line
September 23, 2007 - What do you fear?
September 9, 2007 - A life well lived
August 26, 2007 - To murmur, or not to murmur
July 29, 2007 - The cross and the Christian
July 15, 2007 - Turning the other cheek: still a valuable biblical principle
July 1, 2007 - Why the tie?
June 3, 2007 - The death of a son
May 6, 2007 - A prayer for the dying
April 8, 2007 - The omnipresent God
March 11, 2007 - Do the Amish have superheroes?
February 11, 2007 - What’s your black history?
January 14, 2007 - The split branch
December 31, 2006 - The house of regret
December 10, 2006 - The redemption of the innkeeper
November 26, 2006 - Too many choices
November 12, 2006 - Break the bashing habit: Learning to love the unsaved like Christ does: November 12, 2006
October 15, 2006 - Be ‘salt and light’ this Christmas!: October 15, 2006
September 17, 2006 - Who is a legalist?: September 17, 2006 Issue 38
July 23, 2006 - God speaks through our brokenness: July 23, 2006 Issue 38
June 25, 2006 - 'What I am looking for in my church leaders'