This past week has been American Education Week. The week of celebration has been around since WWI days. In fact, it is because of WWI that this effort was started.
“Draft boards had reported that 25 percent of the drafted young men were illiterate and 29 percent unfit.”1 Something had to be done about this dismal statistic that, if left alone, would most likely get worse and become disastrous for our country. Members of the American Legion, the U.S. Office of Education, National Education Association put their heads together and developed a plan that would celebrate education as well as educators. Other initiatives were launched to help correct illiteracy issues and athletics were introduced to help get kids in shape.
Today is the Friday of Education Week and it is specifically Substitute Educators Day. Since my wife has been substitute teaching over the last year and a half, this hits a special place in my heart.
A month ago, she was teaching second grade at Stryker. She had forgotten her reading glasses, so I took them to her. Walking into the school, all sorts of feelings bombarded me. First was nostalgia. Nothing looks like it did way back in the 70s and 80s yet it still felt like going home. I loved school and I felt a wonderful euphoria.
The secretary knew me immediately (I have no idea who she is!) and knew that my wife
was right up the hall. There sat Mrs. MacFarlane at the big teacher’s desk, reviewing the plans for the day and getting ready for the kids. Yes, I was exceptionally proud of her!
Oh, the classroom!!! I wanted so much to be there!! Everything has gone electronic with a huge, interactive Smart Board screen on the wall, a large Smart lectern, computer screens everywhere you look, while still maintaining the look and feel of a second-grade classroom.
She had taught the first-grade class a day or two before and all these first graders were going by, hugging her, and they even remembered her name (most were saying Mrs. M). I did NOT want to go home! Something swelled in me, and I would have loved to have been with those kids throughout the day. There’s something invigorating to see those fresh faces in the morning and to get to work with them all day. I know the teachers must get exhausted and they experience “kid fatigue.” But a special moment with a child has a way of making the bad events fade away.
Driving the school bus isn’t quite the same. Yes, I love it and I love being with the kids. But you don’t get to do a lot of interacting with them. You have a moment when they are getting on or off the bus. You get hugs. But there’s not a lot of one-on-one time. And the only thing you get to really teach them is: keep your feet out of the aisle, stay seated at all times, no food, no drinks, no cell phones, etc. Not the most exciting lessons, for sure! It’s just a pile of rules that have to be followed.
Do you enjoy working with kids or are you one of those that can’t stand kids? Yes, there are those who remind us of the “child catcher” in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. If they could, they would capture all the children and lock them away somewhere! Caractacus Potts’ children were locked away in the tower after they were caught.
Let us never forget that “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” It’s not just good song lyrics. It’s good truth. Matthew 19:14 says, “But Jesus said, Suffer [permit, allow, don’t hinder] little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus was also protective of that childlike faith. He said in Matthew 18:1-6, “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (2) And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, (3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5) 
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. (6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Working with children ought to be a thrill for us. While we may not have the temperament or patience to be in a classroom day after day, we can still love kids, showing them Christlikeness. They help us adults relearn how to have childlikeness.
Psalms 78:4-7 reminds us, “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. (5) For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: (6) That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: (7) That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/november/american-education-week-week-before-thanksgiving
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