Several decades ago, I received a call from my college asking me to leave my mentor's classroom. To my surprise they told me to head immediately to the District Teaching office to get an emergency teaching credential, and that I would start work the next week. I still had several months left to finish my student teaching, but my college told me they were releasing me to start. I was confused, but excited! Upon arriving to the District Office I was told I would not have to pay for the credential, to sign and report immediately to the school for my assignment.
The elementary school I headed for was and is a mid city school in a nice community. There were some 19 different home languages spoken with a large number of hispanics. Also at this school were many gifted teachers who were and remain inspiration to my teacher's heart to this day. I had been a Teacher's Assistant there for several years making some money while in college studying to become a teacher. I also had a wonderful upper grade mentor teacher there as first leg of my student teaching being now in my second leg. I watched and gleaned substantially from her and many teachers there, combining what I learned as I watched along with my formal education.
I was surprised and excited to start my teaching career before I even finished student teaching. As I arrived I was greeted by the ever warm and friendly office secretary, MaryLou. She smiled and said "Finally, you're here!". Escorting me directly to the principal's office with her hand extended toward a chair I sat, she telling me to wait as she located her. After a few minutes Melinda arrived, closed the door behind her and instead of sitting behind her desk, pulled up a chair sitting next to me.
Having been a principal for many years, nearing the end of her career, she looked me in the eye and made a confession. She told me that the possibility of this scenario never entered her mind. There was a third grade class that was out of control, driving their teacher to take psychological leave. Every sub that they had brought into the classroom worked one day telling them her they would not return and as they call now for a sub the word is out...no one responds. While she and the secretary were talking the question came up. "Who can we get into this classroom to get control?" And together, they said my name. Inside my head I scream..."REALLY??? NO WAY!!!"
Out of her mouth came something I never will forget. The she told me that of all people she knew, I was made to take on challenges. Again, inside my head the screaming continued, "NO WAY!!!!" She then told me that she'd never thought she'd ever have to say this to any teacher....
"I don't care if you teach them anything, just get control of this classroom."
THIRD GRADERS!!! How challenging could it be? How about throwing desks in the classroom. Physical fights with several kids several boys constantly in the counseling office. She then added more fuel to the fire. She said that if I failed, no one would look down on me and that no one wanted this classroom. But "if you succeed, it would be as if you walked on water." How's that for encouragement? As far as I know, only Jesus and Peter have done this. I had come this far, I guess I was committed (or should have been committed).
I was escorted to the classroom and introduced. The principal left. Me and a room full of third graders all wondering what I would do. I looked at the schedule and pulled out some of my time filling sub materials...and I prayed. I remember asking God to lead me to make right decisions that would show these kids I cared about them. I remember confessing my inability in this new career with such an immense challenge before me. And then it started.
One of the boys became agitated and wanted to go to the counseling center because another boy was looking at him and he wanted to get out before he got in trouble. I prayed and made him stay in his seat.
"But my teachers always let me go!" was his response.
My response? "Today, I'm your teacher and you will stay."
After a few minutes of working, I started a math lesson. Things seemed to be going pretty good. While students started working independently after the lesson, some started asking for help and as I worked with one, I could tell the others were listening and liked my explanation. As we continued though, frustration started rising. The same student who always went to the counseling center still wanted to go and I told the other boy to focus on his work (his defiant look urging my response, but I only responded with kindness in my heart...difficult to do). I also told my agitated student to ignore him and get back to work. As the tension continued rising the lunch bell rang.
In one boisterous percussive unison they slammed their books closed and started mob rushing the door. I told them to stop and return to their seats. You would think I had asked them to run back into a burning building rather than out of it. But firmly I insisted and made them return to their seats. The other classes walking by looked into the window as if hoping to see some disaster like a car crash at a NASCAR event. They all seemed surprised that everyone was in their seats looking at me. I got them to orderly line up outside the door and we, the last class started heading down to the lunch pavilion.
I was good at walking backwards while leading a class. I led them down the hall and down the stairs, walking backwards with eyes like a hawk. As we joined the long line heading to the cafeteria, I noticed all the kids watching our class and happy to see Mr. Arii on campus again. Feeling pretty good, suddenly a boy falls out of line crying while the entire lunch court freezes. I run back to discover that the staring boy punched the other boy (yes the one who goes to the counseling center to escape). Confirming it with the students standing next to him, I have one student escort the injured to the nurse and with elevated nerves pick up the assailant under my arms. The lunch court came alive with cheering as the counseling office door slowly closed behind us.
Inside the counseling center, the first words out of my mouth to this young person was
"I care too much for you to allow you to continue doing this."
He looked as surprised as I felt. I continued,
"We WILL work together to fix this. Trust me."
The counselor asked me what he would like him do. I told him what had happened asking him about reports etc. needed to be completed. He told me he would take care of it and an in school suspension was in order. My response surprised him. I told him that I wanted this student back into our classroom as soon as possible and that I would work with him.
Inside my head I heard,
"This kid always gets his way and has a hard home life. He needs to be inside a caring, success driven class. I (God) will help you work with them all."
You can ask my wife. I came home every day that week and crashed into bed. It took every ounce of every skill I had and then, when I shortly exhausted my abilities, the miracle of God's provision came to help me gain control of the classroom. I remember sitting in every desk after school praying for each student asking for wisdom to rearrange their seating and meet their needs. The only credit I can take for in the eventual miracle of success is that I committed myself to love those kids and give them each what they wanted, a safe classroom. After a month, their teacher now ready to return, the students did not want me to leave. When I asked them if leaning was fun they ALL said yes! I remember asking them to trust their returning teacher and that she wanted the same thing, and that I would remain on campus.
Another teacher was heading for maternity leave and I was asked to fill that position until the end of the year as reward for what I had done in that third grade classroom. The next year I was given a fully credentialed teaching position at that school having finished my credential being observed in these classrooms given the official probationary license.
Can I say that before you slam and criticize the third grade teacher of the classroom out of control, that it took super human effort and care to reel them in. And, by the grace and provision of God, that teacher was able to finish the year with her new classroom. Before this all happened, no teacher there wanted to try it, no sub, no one including me. Just like everything in my life, I have learned that my abilities are small, but one of my favorite writers of all time Danniebelle Hall wrote a song "Ordinary People" that "little becomes much when we place it in the Master's hand".
The only thing I can boast in is in my Lord. God provided courage, strength and insight as I grew to love every kid in that classroom. It required strong compassion. They may never know it was Him, but clearly for me, it was accomplished by the power of God. Today's post is plain reminder to me that I must continue to walk in sober judgement of my limited abilities to do anything. In subsequent years of teaching, my colleagues believed I had walked on water; and in a way I did, but did so in the same way as Peter. It wasn't by my ability but the ability given me by my Lord. Unless I want to finish poorly, I and we all need to remember from whom our gifting and success emanates.
You readers may find it surprising to hear of such a classroom in the United States. Not only was this real, this was decades ago. As I head off to work with teachers in Bosnia, I have been reminded not to be too hard on them or their system. As I visited a few of their classrooms, they are like those here and I have yet to hear of a classroom similar to that which I have shared with you. I have always said that students are students wherever I teach, and they are even in Bosnia. Teachers are too. There are good and bad ones everywhere but truly awful classrooms are extremely rare. I want to say this clearly and factually, the majority of the teachers in Bosnia are great, including those I visit and get to work with in Bosnia.
Just like all of our students and teachers both here and in Bosnia, they really desire others to come alongside them to help them continue learning. In order to continue learning and growing it takes others to care and understand the challenges we all face in our situations. Others can give us encouragement and support along the way as we join in relationship with them. And can I say we all have challenges in our lives daily. None of us are exempt.
This is discipleship. We need others to speak into our lives so we don't lose sight of the one who provides the ability to 'walk on water'. I am just an ordinary teacher who has allowed the plethora of other wonderful teachers insights and abilities into my life giving me a solid toolbox from which to work. But mostly, I hope you can see that my success is found in the revealing power of God, His insights, His care, His wisdom speaking and me, hearing and doing as He asks. Walking on water is easy as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He makes the impossible possible. This should be the story of our lives. Lord help us ordinary people place what little we have into Your masterful hands for Your glory. We want to be just ordinary people walking on water with You.
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