January 15, 2001

Jesus in the Classroom
By Iona Hoeppner

If your children attend public school or you work in that environment, you are faced with a dilemma. As a believer, you want the Lord in every aspect of your child's life just as He is the focus of of all your own day-to-day activities.

You want Jesus in the classroom, but the law says He cannot be there. Like the signs warning dope dealers to stay out of the "Drug Free Zone" around school grounds, there is an invisible barrier banning Christ from the entire venue of public education.

When I taught school, I kept a Bible on my desk, taught creationism along with other "origin of life theories" and openly discussed my faith with students, colleagues and patrons. In spite of legislation and policies forbidding such a display of Christianity in the public school setting, I was never challenged. Some would say I was permitted such "liberties" because I taught in small towns or that most of the time my husband was the Superintendent of Schools... and I'm sure these factors played a part. But I believe there was something more...

Here is a simple list of things I believe help put Jesus in the classroom and keep Him there:

1. PRAY! Daily prayer works wonders! Pray for the school, the staff and the students every day. Pray that laws will change or be interpreted with more wisdom in the courts. Ask other believers to commit to daily prayer for your school.
2. SUPPORT! Our public schools need your support more than they need your criticism, but all too often well-meaning Christians are so busy raving against all the "wrong" things about the educational system they fail to take note of all that is "right." You will be far more effective in achieving change for the better if you are a helper and supporter of your local school than if you develop a reputation as a complainer. You can lead people to progress, but pushing is seldom effective... it just makes everyone tired!
3. GROW UP! I am ever amazed at how many Christians are childishly rude and believe because it is for the cause of Christ, it is acceptable to throw tantrums and behave in the most crass and disrespectful manner "against" those who are unbelievers. Our goal is to convert them, not insult them. How can the Gospel message appeal to someone you have just belittled? If you conduct yourself with honor and maturity, you will gain a reputation for wisdom and your agenda will be far more attainable, plus you will be emulating Jesus.
4. NETWORK! Find and connect with other believing parents and staff members. Get together for prayer, brainstorming and mutual support. Get to know policy makers such as administrative personnel and legislators, making frequent and positive contact with them.
5. TAKE ACTION - SLOWLY! Get involved with the school as a helper. If you're a parent, volunteer in your child's classroom or assist with school activities. If you are a staff member, be a "willing worker," and get to know as many patrons as you can. As you build your positive reputation you can begin bringing your faith into the educational system in small steps such as:
   * Leading a small group in prayer at the beginning of ball games
   * Silently saying grace in the cafeteria (or teaching your child to do so)
   * Wearing Christian jewelry or clothing
   * Carrying a small Bible in pocket or purse... and reading it on breaks
   * If there is a tragedy on the news, discuss it in class and have a "moment of silence" for those effected
   * Inviting your child's teacher to church
   * Showing Christ's love for others in your own life
6. REACH; DON'T PREACH! Reach out in love and helpfulness, then let your service and life lived for Christ do the preaching.

There is, of course, no special formula and every situation will involve different personalities and conditions, however, we serve an awesome God who is able!

Homework Assignment: Explain God
Submitted by Henrietta Johnson

 

Sit back and enjoy reading the simple unedited words of an 8 year old boy trying to explain God. Written by Danny Dutton, age 8,from Chula Vista, California, for his third grade homework assignment to "Explain God".

EXPLAIN GOD

One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way, He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk, he can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.

 

God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere, which keeps him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.

Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church. Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind of like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said OK. His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth, so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore, He could stay in heaven. So He did.

 

And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important. You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to hear you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.

You should always go to Church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun, like going to the beach. This is wrong! And besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway. If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim very good and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids. But you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.
And that's why I believe in God.

...And God Created the First Teacher
Submitted by maleman

On the 6th day, God created men and women.
On the 7th day, he rested.

Not so much to recuperate, but rather to prepare himself for the work he was going to do on the next day. For it was on that day-the 8th day-that God created the FIRST TEACHER.

This TEACHER, though taken from among men and women, had several significant modifications. In general, God made the TEACHER more durable than other men and women.

The TEACHER was made to arise at a very early hour and to go to bed no earlier than 11:30 p.m.- with no rest in between. The TEACHER had to be able to withstand being locked up in an air-tight classroom for six hours with thirty-five "monsters" on a rainy Monday. And the TEACHER had to be fit to correct 103 term papers over Easter vacation.

Yes, God made the TEACHER tough.. but gentle too. The TEACHER was equipped with soft hands to wipe away the tears of the neglected and lonely student... of those of the sixteen year old girl who was not asked to the prom.

And into the TEACHER God poured a generous amount of patience. Patience when a student asks to repeat the directions the TEACHER has just repeated for someone else. Patience when the kids forget their lunch money for the fourth day in a row. Patience when one-third of the class fails the test. Patience when the text books haven't arrived yet, and the semester starts tomorrow.

And God gave the TEACHER a heart slightly bigger than the average human heart. For the TEACHER's heart had to be big enough to love the kid who screams, "I hate this class - it's boring!" and to love the kid who runs out of the classroom at the end of the period without so much as a "goodbye," let alone a "thank you".

And lastly, God gave the TEACHER an abundant supply of HOPE. For God knew that the TEACHER would always achieve the highest successful by transmitting HOPE to students... hope for a happy, productive future; hope for purpose in life, hope for today and tomorrow.

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Author: Iona Hoeppner
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