Principal's Pennings
Principal's Pennings
How often do we as parents look at our children and expect we will see the “perfect child?” How often are we a bit disappointed or embarrassed when we see and admit to ourselves that our child does not fit all our expectations? Our children are certainly a wonderful work in progress as they develop into what God intends for them to be. They will make mistakes, but haven’t we all? They will learn from their mistakes as we have.
Each is his/her own person who will develop according to his/her Godgiven talents. It’s our job as parents and school to help them learn right from wrong, to learn to recognize their talents, and to know where those talents come from. The following poem was read at a faculty devotion, many years back. You may recognize your own child in this, or you may help your child accept and respect those who are a bit different, who don’t necessarily fit our “mold.”
The following poem speaks to this idea.
The story in preschool was of the Resurrection of Jesus, and how He met back with His disciples. The disciples were still rather unsure of the events, and still somewhat afraid that Jesus would leave them again. During this “Jesus Time” lesson, the preschool teacher told the children that even as the disciples (His friends) that He would always be with them, that He was also the best friend of the children and would always be with them wherever they might be, a very reassuring thought, not only for small children, but also for adults. It was shortly after the lesson when a little girl asked to go to the bathroom. From behind the closed door. The preschool teacher heard the little girl call, “Jesus, I’m in here now!”
As parents, we teach our children in many ways, and as teachers, we do the same thing. My father, I think, taught his children not to take life too seriously, to find a bright side, and to move on. He was a great story teller, and could find a good story in most any situation. He could laugh at himself, and find a “moral” to the story.
I remember ice fishing in northern Nebraska. (Wonder why I thought of ice fishing this week? It’s COLD!) Anyway, it was a fun, but very cold activity. We’d bundle up, pull covered sleds of fishing equipment behind us, find a spot in the middle of the lake, dig an icy hole, sit on the sled, and drop the hook into the hole in the ice. When fishing was good, we’d enjoy pulling perch through the ice; when the fish weren’t biting, we’d drink a cup of hot chocolate, and move to a different spot to dig another hole. Maybe that’s what kept us warm, digging so many holes!
Teaching is an interesting occupation. It never has its dull moments. The children always come up with something that you haven’t thought of yet.
“Principaling” isn’t much different; not too many dull moments, and the children still come up with things that you haven’t thought of yet. For me, the hardest children to discipline are the very young. They don’t do things that are very bad, but when they do step over the line the teacher may send them in for a “little chat” with the principal. Now, I haven’t been in the classroom all day, noticing the irritating antics of the errant child, and all I see is this sweet little boy or girl, looking totally innocent, who meekly walks into the office for our “little chat.” This was how it began with a little 5 year old from kindergarten. He walked in, sat down, and said with all the innocence he could muster, “Before you begin, can I tell you what REALLY happened?” I replied that I already knew what REALLY happened, because his teacher, Mrs. B, had already told me. I knew, of course, that his version would be different, so I chose to rely on Mrs. B’s memory of events.
My mother’s birthday would have been this week. She will be celebrating in heaven, and has been for many years, as she would have been 105 this week. Mother was probably the most significant Christian in my younger life. She was a school teacher, too, although her “teacher training” consisted of only six weeks of training in high school, and her teacher career lasted only two years. After that, she spent her life as a Christian wife, mother, and grand mother. Mother taught us by words, of course, but I think mostly she taught us by example.
I don’t recall her ever missing a chance to worship on Sunday mornings. What did we learn from that? Worship is important! We go to church on Sunday morning. It’s not something we decide every Sunday morning – we just knew if it was Sunday, we worship.
Mother sent birthday cards to everyone she knew, it seemed. Her theory was to let people know you are thinking of them and care enough to take a little time to help make their day special. I doubt they were Hallmark cards, but I’m sure they made everyone smile.