“Head ’em up, move ’em out!” –Gil Favor
“If a person has nowhere to go, he will tend to go nowhere.” –Gary Inrig
Powder river let ‘er buck! Here they come, let them out of the chutes–another school year upon us. Now, don’t go getting mad, I didn’t call the little dears dumb cows, just an expression that here they come. Now what to do with them.
Perhaps the greatest challenge facing Christian teachers is the fight against contrasting worldviews, especially those of secular humanism and postmodernism. I recently reread an article by Arthur W. Combs in which he said, “The humanist movement is no fad, destined to come into being for a short time and quickly fade away.” One of its purposes is to destroy Christianity. Combs continues with the following concerning values. “Values provide the criteria by which we make our choices. People seek what they value and avoid what they do not.” Part of the purpose then is to change the values of students.
I’ve been watching pieces of the Olympics and reading some about them. But I’ve been shocked, surprised, even flabbergasted that not one medal or award has been given for participation. To get a medal you have to be either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. No mediocre awards given out there. Yet we continue to bless the little darlings with ribbons of entitlement. Because I participated I get an award. Nonsense. This is part of the problem with the Millennial generation; the idea of entitlement. What did Paul say, all may run but only one wins.
Go back to the classroom. Grades should be earned, not given. All can learn, that is true, but not learn at the same rate or pace. Not all are “A” students, that is something to be earned. Even the Lord, though we are saved by grace, gives out awards. He expects a sanctified life and will announce “Well done, good and faithful.”
“Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” –1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NLT)