What's in the Book Bag?

It's that time of year when teachers return to the classroom to prepare for the arrival of the students. Rooms are cleaned and rearranged, posters are sticky-tacked to the walls, supplies are carefully purchased, and desks and chairs are strategically placed in the room. We pause and take a deep breath and slowly exhale as we steel ourselves for the onslaught of students and their book bags on Monday morning.

Great effort is placed on preparing the classrooms and buildings for the school year. But how do we prepare ourselves for the students? Are we ready for the baggage that they bring to school with them? It's one thing for students to leave their book bags in their lockers; it is an entirely different thing to expect them to disassociate themselves from the psychological and emotional baggage they lug around everyday.

A sincere smile, a thoughtful word of encouragement, or a few extra minutes of instruction after class can help the student refocus and grasp the wisdom and knowledge they so desparately need. It's one thing to tell someone to get over their problems and it is quite another thing to offer help and support as they struggle with issues that are beyond their years.

So as you finish the Monday morning preparations, stop and take a deep breath. As you slowly exhale pray for wisdom and understanding. These are the qualities that will make us better educators, Christians, and human beings.

They're here...