Without Walls

     A new school year is upon us and I am super excited to be leading my Alma Mater!  I have served as the Asst. Principal of Harrison High School for the past six years and now have been blessed with the opportunity to lead from the Principal position.  This year will be the initial year of change at HHS. For the first time in several decades we welcome freshmen to the high school campus.  Over the past eighteen months construction has taken place to accommodate the new grade level consisting of 200+ students.  
     As I speak of construction, adults are excellent wall builders.  We are able to mask and/or hide our emotions preventing any outsider from knowing our true feelings.  However, students for the most part, do not have this ability.  They often wear their emotions on their sleeves.  Students show up to school every morning wearing their emotions on their faces.  They simply have not developed the skill set or ability to hide behind walls.  Most will tell what is bothering them if only asked.  True, it might take some prying but generally they will open up if someone (educator) will take the time to listen. 
     As educators we must take time to ask and listen to these students.  Yes, our job is to educate but how do you educate a child who is worried about an issue at home, confrontation with another student, or perhaps hunger.  As adults we tend to hide behind our walls instead of tearing them down.  Perhaps if we were more childlike we would provide ourselves to those in which we serve in a greater capacity. I saw Manuel Scott speak this past week and he spoke about "seeing things through a different lens", "being accepting to others regardless of issues", and most importantly "even on your worst day you can be someones best help."  We as educators must be the exception, we must be the salt!
     In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus tells us that child likeness is a prerequisite for drawing near to God. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
     As educators we must see the students fear, confusion, curiosity, and genuineness and attempt to become more like them.  We must see the student through their eyes and not through ours standing behind our walls.  As we begin to tear down our walls we will be left vulnerable but approachable for students.  This in turn will hopefully build up the rapport between the student and teacher leading to better understanding and learning. 

Learners are Plentiful, Teachers Few

I recently heard Dr. Sonny Tucker, the Executive Director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention preach a sermon over Matthew 9: 35-38.  He focused on a persons "heart" as he preached his message.   We must love and show compassion for others no matter the difference of opinion and/or lifestyle.  This made me really reflect on education and our teachers.

The verses discuss how the harvest is plentiful, just like our students.  The students are plentiful that enter our school buildings every day to learn.  Several of these students carry burdens, hardship, guilt, grief, shame, sorrow, and fear.  Yes, our job is to educate these individuals but we as educators need to be willing to show them compassion so learning can take place.  These students come from all walks of life.  Some might be similar to us while others might be total opposites but we still must love them and treat them from the heart.

Jesus went to teach but when he saw the crowds he had compassion for them, they were helpless like sheep without a shepherd.  The laborers were few, just like the declining number of teachers.  Be a teacher that not only teaches but has compassion for students.  Be a mentor to these learners so they can learn right from wrong, good from evil, and love from hate.  Treat them with love and compassion from the heart so they will become willing to learn and grow.

Thank you Rob Davis for having Dr. Tucker be a guest speaker at First Baptist Church of Harrison, AR.  He inspired me to apply the word to my profession!