Called To Teach

Chapter I: What Have I Got  Myself  Into ?!

   “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.”  II Corinthians 3:5

The young woman shifted nervously from one foot to the other as she stood in the door of my office in the education division of a small Christian university. “I’ve always loved children,” she said hesitantly. “I guess I should have majored in education to begin with.  But I just didn’t have all my goals in place when  I first came to the university, and now I find myself with a degree that I really don’t want to follow for my life’s work.  I think God is calling me to be a teacher, and I have an offer from a Christian school to teach. What can you do to help me? Is there a book I could read to help me to be prepared ?”

I fidgeted uneasily in my chair.  She was not the first student to come to me with such a request.  Certainly I did not think that one book could take the place of a complete course of study in teacher education, but there were many students who, because of having a university degree, were being invited to teach in Christian schools where pastors or educational directors had confidence in their character and dedication. Several had take one of my courses in educational methods and thus trusted me to help them. I had searched in vain for an effective book of this nature, since I feel that biblical precepts should be wedded with methods validated by educational research. Surely I have an obligation before God, I mused, to see that these dedicated young people are equipped to serve in this important  role, for many would pursue the opportunity with or without further preparation. In addition, the Lord prompted me to realize that many  parents are currently engaged in home schooling their own children. Perhaps they are not geographically close enough to attend a Christian school, or there are budget constraints, or perhaps they simply desire a closer bond and influence on their children’s lives.  Whatever the reason, few of these parents have ever had formal educational courses. They, too, needed the tools to do the very best job of teaching their children.

Christian education should be the very best that can be provided, whether at the preschool, grammar school, high school, or university level. This has always been a major precept of mine; and as a professor of education over the past twenty-eight years, I had felt obligated to defend this precept many times. When students had come to me complaining that my courses were “too hard; because, after all, isn’t this a Christian school ?” I had felt it my responsibility to explain  why my courses are consistently challenging. To me, Christian education should have even higher standards than the best of secular education. Scripture guides us in this by saying “Study to show thyself approved unto God; a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15. It is not kind, either to the university students or to their future charges, to allow them to “slide by” with little challenge. True Christian love is demonstrated in helping others to be the best that they can be, taking full advantage of the talents that God has given to each one.

Nevertheless, I know that in many instances it is customary for Christian schools to hire any person of good moral character and intention who has a university degree of any sort. Christian character and morals are indeed important, but these fine young people need to be given the tools to teach, so that they will not be overcome with the demands natural  to being an effective teacher. Similarly, many parents are extremely bright and able, in addition to being highly motivated to teach their children. Should  such willing but untrained  parents be abandoned to randomly experiment and succeed or fail as they struggle to provide the best  education for their children?  If so, this isn’t far from the historical perspective when it was believed that any intelligent, literate person could teach.  However, there has been so much research into how to facilitate the process, it seems a shame for dedicated Christian teachers not to have at least the rudiments of such information available to them. This is not to say that God cannot lead an untrained person to become a good teacher. I know this can happen. Yet, He has allowed me to learn much through study and personal experience in teaching over the past thirty-five years.  Could it be that He was now calling me to share some of these truths with beginning or prospective teachers who have not had the opportunities for study that I have had?

It was a disturbing thought. As  Professor of  Education in this small, Christian university, I had a “number of bases to cover.” I taught a full load of courses each semester,  supervised student teachers, served as Certification Officer, and was Faculty Sponsor for the pre-professional Student Educators’ Association. Additionally, of course, I had committee responsibilities, advisory responsibilities, and a number of students seeking me for counseling in their individual lives. When could I ever find time for such a major project?  But, I know God never calls us to do what He does not provide the strength and wisdom to accomplish. For over five years I  wrestled with this calling, constantly becoming more aware that it is, indeed, a calling.  And so this book was born, and a new chapter in my life begins.  Perhaps you are part of the reason that He called me to write this book.  I pray that it can be of assistance to you.