There are several values found in Scripture that we miss, because they seem insignificant. They relate to both affirmative and negative belief and conduct – and they become important. A teacher wrote an article to our newspaper on her move from two decades of teaching in public school to a position as instructor in an education department of a university. She wanted to inform the public about the persons from whom she learned the most about the matter of educational practice from her experience. She learned the skills and attitudes that made her effective as a teacher so to be invited to join a faculty teaching students how to become good teachers. Her first kudo went to the staff of the school, especially to Pat. They were kindly to manage a variety of concerns, ready to serve with information or find it, with grace and affirmative attitude that faced both gracious and ungracious persons in and out of the school. Her second affirmation went to some of the students, perhaps with disabilities who would respond affirmatively to her without puckishness or complaint. Asked each day by the teacher: So how are you? How is your day going? She reports that a particular student invariably answered: Great! Beautiful! Good! Her third honor went to a new young teacher who asked questions so to know not only some procedure, but the operations of a classroom. What did the new kid-on-the-block need to know to get on well as a teacher, colleague and organization for the good of the students, self and those on the team of the school? The article accented what might be called little things that occurred over the previous twenty years that led to wisdom. Her accent was not on the facts of this or that course, but how does one discover, embrace and practice wisdom.
I take it from this article that the author is right-on, and offers me good excuse for my accent on this Page. In the many years of my education I would point to teachers that not only knew their stuff related to the substance of the courses they were teaching, but something about them that I relate to humility, grace and human perception that taken with the growth of knowledge, included the understanding of human relationships, to knowledge that led to respect, service and a feeling that application to understanding agreed between the teacher and the student. I am ready to say that I learned more from professors who seemed to be on my side as well as on their own. They clinched their points in ways that others did not. In referring to the staff person most influencing her, Dawn Quigley wrote: ….she is the one who has taught me how to be a professional woman who can balance work and play, and spiritual and family life. Some people may have letters before and after their names: Dr., Prof., PhD., Esquire. But this office worker has something that can’t be taught in schools. She has something that no letters can spell. She has wisdom.
My only disagreement with the writer is that I believe it can be taught in the school. That teaching ought to begin with parents teaching questions to their children, and that reinforces what mentored students continue to cultivate. It relates to humility without shyness, questions without embarrassment, application fitting to the person receiving the information to the degree of acceptance or amendment (as I am amending by addition the excellent article this teacher has written). It deserves to be read by every parent, teacher and student who can perceive the insight. Everything can’t be said in one article that might be expected by readers. I have seen many wise persons who could not teach well as professionals, and part of their wisdom is that they know it. I have seen some teachers from whom I wanted to gain what they had to offer but they did not seem wise to me. By that time, it didn’t make any difference to me in that I did not want to be like them except for their scholarship. What was gained, even then was not the full offering the scholar could make. There is a mystery, a sort of password that makes life and learning more effective. Even parents need to have serving spirit-making relationships. We know from Scripture that we are to love one another, but joining of our minds and lives for wisdom takes effort related to respect and humility. When I ask a question, appropriately, I am honoring the person addressed in assuming he or she has something I need for clarity to self. The first answer may come back as a question so to set the situation for mutuality and progress. Jesus used the method as daily practice – virtually with all persons. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020