Education

Monday I watched a CBS This Morning interview with Joel Klein, former NYC Department of Education Chancellor.  The five minute interview can be seen on the CBS website.

The first questions to Mr. Klein concerned the fact that the candidates are not discussing education.  A graphic showed that out of more than 40 hours of candidate questions, less than twenty minutes was spent on education, a dozen questions out of more than 800.  Reference was made to the esteem in which many other countries hold their teachers – much higher than we do. Just over half way into the interview, the reporter moved on to questions about the Murdoch scandals and education was forgotten, again.

Our media creates – and destroys – heroes.  They are aware of this ability, yet ignore teachers (and education) for the prurient glimpses of scandal and celebrity-hood.  We collude with the media by responding to their lead.

A few days ago, one of our church members – a teacher – wrote:

Just a word to 7th and 8th graders. Life is all about attitude, strive to have a good spirit. Use as few words as possible, let your actions and your attitude do the talking for you. Go to school every day, find something good about every teacher and then tell your teacher. It's all about attitude and how you look at things. School and teachers are not your enemy, but your friends. Remember you may lose lots of things in life, but you can't lose a good education. Work hard and have a great spirit and good things will happen. Keep life simple and have a great year, good luck.  Coach Horton

That’s not just for 7/8th graders – it’s important to all of us. Education is no longer important to Americans, and our work force is impacted.

We adults need to follow Coach Horton’s admonition, too.  We need to find the good in our teachers and help them mold the next generation.  We need to lift them much higher than we do those who simply entertain us – unless entertainment is all we want out of life.

How does this fit with the Bible?  The verse our school children should learn very early is:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

Solomon’s Proverbs refer to knowledge many times – my favorite is:

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (Proverbs 8:10 KJV)

But – that’s not what we’re teaching them, is it?

My husband and I have no children in school, but we pay taxes to provide for those who do.  We need to be just as interested in the teachers as their students’ parents are. We do have grand and great-grandchildren in school and their future is important to us.  They need instruction and knowledge. They need the best of opportunities to achieve their goals. Those opportunities come with the proper education in order to study, becoming unashamed workmen.