Feeling a good tired…. A Sabbath Pondering
Looking back at the week here’s what caught my eye.
- From an earlier post this past week we noticed a growing trend from people around the Leaf. That is a lot of people would probably call themselves Libertarian. Meaning that they prefer to keep big government out of their lives. I would venture to say that there is a growing fear of a government that’s trying to make decisions for us instead of the people making decisions for themselves. We will keep an eye on this topic and maybe hit it again in the future. Thanks to all of you that gave your input on that post.
- I experienced a good sense of tired this week. Don’t know if any of you have ever experienced being tired at the end of the week ‘not just’ because of the amount of work you did. I was tired and a little worn this week but I still felt energized as in I could do another day. I think the secret is probably that I spent half of my week with other people and away from the desk. Thinking this is what I need to strive to do more often. By the way the more you discover your purpose for God the more you will feel like this as well.
- Starting to seriously think about home schooling. I think we have great teachers out in the school system but they are being handicapped by our regulations. Because of testing standards, according to Tommy Pascoe a smart guy when it comes to educating a child, we are making average students. That is to say that because of things like, ‘leave no child behind’ initiatives, that we spend a lot of our resources developing deficiencies instead of building on strengths. Again, that is more about a government regulating what they think is best to a bunch of educators in a classroom. By the way I am an ex-educator (11 years in special education) from a giant school system. I am actually thinking about running for the school board one day down here in Paulding.
- Spent some time in confession to one of my close friends this week. No, I don’t have anything to hide from you all. This was a spiritual discipline I was practicing found in James 5:16. Bottom line, there are some things in life that I have never told anyone else and I even don’t mention them to God much. By speaking them out loud to another human being is a freeing act. This is a big thing that I want you all to consider so I am going to blog about it at the beginning of next week.
Now take some time and enjoy your God as you reflect this Sabbath.
Blessings,
Jody
April 24th, 2010 at 9:41 AM
Looking back on this past week I would have to say I am afraid of what “big government” is taking away from us.I’m not saying all government is bad.Take my wife for example,she has a gift to teach.As a teacher in the public school system the government has taken that gift from her.If the government would step back and allow these teachers to teach then I think these children would be fine.We have never considered home school or private school until now.Sherry loves to teach and I want her to be able to do that.I’ve decided to let God handle it.He will show us and lead us in the direction we need to go.Because I know without him I will just mess things up.Jody thanks for this one.
April 24th, 2010 at 9:59 AM
the government is gonna do whatever the government is gonna do. that’s why the government will never bring about life change.
and i know it’s controversial, but i think homeschooling is the exact opposite of being salt and light in the world.
April 24th, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Good point about government being the government, Michael. I also think some kids have different needs than others and I kind of look at it like what is the need of the child and what is their final destination. There are ways to be “light in the world” outside of a school.
Travis, it is definitely not a light decision to make and not something to be based on “is it easier for a parent”. I have heard from your wife how not being a public school teacher is not her first choice. she is definitely a witness for Jesus while being there.
As for what is best for one’s child it is a blend of the child, what is God showing you about them, how much of an influence can they be, and in the end can that kid be in the world but not love it.
Bottom line, if your child is going to be a light in the schools everyone’s parenting needs to step it up a notch.
April 24th, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Michael, I know exactly what you mean. I have always felt that same way. I now teach in public schools. However, because of the way that the government has intervened in education, I am now second guessing my beliefs on this. The government is putting SO much pressure on students and teachers. I really feel like people that are not in education can’t fully understand the extent of the pressures that students and teachers face. Just this past week, I watched students cry in the middle of the CRCT because they knew that they probably would not pass it (meaning they fail 3rd grade despite the fact that they have completed all homework and classwork to the best of their ability). I had to sit a trash can beside a student because even though she is in special education, she had to be tested on the same level as the general education students. She literally almost threw up. It saddens me that the students are being put through this kind of pressure. Kids do not learn how to sit up, talk, crawl, and walk at the same age. Neither do they learn some of the concepts in school at the same time. I can prove through research that kids do not develop abstract thinking skills until a certain age. A great portion of the CRCT is based on abstract thinking. It is developmentally inappropriate.
Okay, I could go on for hours. Maybe we should meet over coffee. In closing, knowing that God called you to pastor Oakleaf, what if the government told you how you had to deliver your message? You can see how that would effect the leafers.
Thank God you can do it like you do because we love you!
April 25th, 2010 at 11:45 AM
school is not primarily about education.