Colourful Chairs, Times Square, New York City, August 2009Come have a seat. Sit with me for awhile. Let me spin you some yarns about the spiritual conversations I have been having all week with some of my students.
Their questions and comments come at seemingly inopportune times which is a mystery to me. Although one theory I have is they are trying to sabotage their struggle with the Phythagorem Theorem and other algebraic equations for lessons of faith. Why they wouldn't want to do their math when I make it so interesting for them is another mystery to me!! hehehe! I sing jingles, add actions and bribe with candy in order to help them understand the mysteries of math! Oh but I digress again.
Why they approach me and not other staff with their deep faith questions is beyond me. I do have a theory... "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." :)
I want to make it clear I am in NO way proselytizing! I am VERY careful in my profession. These students are the initiators. I wisely answer their philosophical questions to the best of my ability at the appropriate time. I make it clear these are MY opinions and try to encourage them to have these discussions with their parents! I do try desperately to re-focus their attention to the task at hand. But the conversation always comes back around until I take a brief moment and let them get it out of their system. Then we can move on. I count it a privilege these inquisitive students trust me enough to want my opinion on such profound matters regarding the meaning of life.
So, are you curious what these young, impressionable minds are asking?
"Miss W., who created the world?"
As I was heading down to the library to work on math with three students in grade 8, I overheard them debating creation versus evolution. One of the students is a Hindu, one is a Christian and the other is nothing specific. Two of them were trying to convince this Hindu that God created the world. I LOVE the innocence of youth. I LOVE their honesty today. I LOVE how they just tell it like it is in their black and white world.
"Miss W., do you think God has a brother or a sister? Who do you think Jesus is?"
I arrived in the grade 5 classroom as the teacher was giving her lesson in geometry. I sat down beside the student I work with and immediately these questions randomly flowed out of his mouth. He is a Muslim boy and has a form of autism called Asperger's. So, his voice is booming loud and he has no understanding of the social cues of the classroom! Once again I tried to re-direct him to continue listening to the teacher's lesson. However, he persisted and could not focus until I answered his questions. It was kind of comical because I was basically trying to explain the Trinity to this Muslim boy in two seconds or less when I realized I was confusing him more! At recess, he asked me some more questions and I answered to the best of my ability. I asked him what he believed. I am learning more about the Muslim faith through my students. Interestingly, we do share similar moral beliefs, like abstaining from alcohol, abstinence, filtering our music and movie watching, etc.
"A., are you a Christian like Miss W.?"
The boy that asked our lunch room supervisor this question has autism. I have no idea how he knew I was a christian. I haven't even worked in his special ed. classroom thus I rarely have any conversations with this boy. Well except for telling him the type of car I drive! He has an impeccable memory and is fascinated by vehicles! I am still baffled by his question! Maybe he overheard me talk about my weekend and possibly I may have mentioned I went to church on Sunday. I don't remember. Whatever it is, this boy believes -accurately I might add- that I am a christian. And that is important to him.
"Miss W., what kind of genius puts a letter in a math equation?"
The best comment ever said to me! While taking this grade 8 student down to the library to work on her algebra ( 2x+1 =2; An example for those of you who forget grade 8 algebra!!) she blurts this comment out in all seriousness. I nearly fell on the floor laughing! She has a good point though!
Later on that morning, this same student and another boy were discussing how old they would be when they graduated from university as doctors. "D" looked over at me and affirmed,
"Miss W., you will be REAL old when I graduate. I can be your doctor!"
"T" pipes up and pronounces in a tender voice,
"Miss W., I'm sure when I'm married my wife won't mind you coming to live with us in your old age and we will take care of you!"
Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever! This boy comes from a rough background. His mother is a drug addict. His oldest half brother is in jail. He and his siblings live with their dad now. It is a good thing. They come disheveled to school everyday but they work hard and are sweet. I just may take this boy up on his offer!
"Miss W., are you a virgin?"
Okay that is not a deep, dark philosophical question but I had to throw it in - yes, I was asked this question out of the blue during math once again! My response, "get back to your work!!!"
I wonder what will transpire this week at school! I can't wait!
"This little Light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little Light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."
Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ( Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)
Their questions and comments come at seemingly inopportune times which is a mystery to me. Although one theory I have is they are trying to sabotage their struggle with the Phythagorem Theorem and other algebraic equations for lessons of faith. Why they wouldn't want to do their math when I make it so interesting for them is another mystery to me!! hehehe! I sing jingles, add actions and bribe with candy in order to help them understand the mysteries of math! Oh but I digress again.
Why they approach me and not other staff with their deep faith questions is beyond me. I do have a theory... "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." :)
I want to make it clear I am in NO way proselytizing! I am VERY careful in my profession. These students are the initiators. I wisely answer their philosophical questions to the best of my ability at the appropriate time. I make it clear these are MY opinions and try to encourage them to have these discussions with their parents! I do try desperately to re-focus their attention to the task at hand. But the conversation always comes back around until I take a brief moment and let them get it out of their system. Then we can move on. I count it a privilege these inquisitive students trust me enough to want my opinion on such profound matters regarding the meaning of life.
So, are you curious what these young, impressionable minds are asking?
"Miss W., who created the world?"
As I was heading down to the library to work on math with three students in grade 8, I overheard them debating creation versus evolution. One of the students is a Hindu, one is a Christian and the other is nothing specific. Two of them were trying to convince this Hindu that God created the world. I LOVE the innocence of youth. I LOVE their honesty today. I LOVE how they just tell it like it is in their black and white world.
"Miss W., do you think God has a brother or a sister? Who do you think Jesus is?"
I arrived in the grade 5 classroom as the teacher was giving her lesson in geometry. I sat down beside the student I work with and immediately these questions randomly flowed out of his mouth. He is a Muslim boy and has a form of autism called Asperger's. So, his voice is booming loud and he has no understanding of the social cues of the classroom! Once again I tried to re-direct him to continue listening to the teacher's lesson. However, he persisted and could not focus until I answered his questions. It was kind of comical because I was basically trying to explain the Trinity to this Muslim boy in two seconds or less when I realized I was confusing him more! At recess, he asked me some more questions and I answered to the best of my ability. I asked him what he believed. I am learning more about the Muslim faith through my students. Interestingly, we do share similar moral beliefs, like abstaining from alcohol, abstinence, filtering our music and movie watching, etc.
"A., are you a Christian like Miss W.?"
The boy that asked our lunch room supervisor this question has autism. I have no idea how he knew I was a christian. I haven't even worked in his special ed. classroom thus I rarely have any conversations with this boy. Well except for telling him the type of car I drive! He has an impeccable memory and is fascinated by vehicles! I am still baffled by his question! Maybe he overheard me talk about my weekend and possibly I may have mentioned I went to church on Sunday. I don't remember. Whatever it is, this boy believes -accurately I might add- that I am a christian. And that is important to him.
"Miss W., what kind of genius puts a letter in a math equation?"
The best comment ever said to me! While taking this grade 8 student down to the library to work on her algebra ( 2x+1 =2; An example for those of you who forget grade 8 algebra!!) she blurts this comment out in all seriousness. I nearly fell on the floor laughing! She has a good point though!
Later on that morning, this same student and another boy were discussing how old they would be when they graduated from university as doctors. "D" looked over at me and affirmed,
"Miss W., you will be REAL old when I graduate. I can be your doctor!"
"T" pipes up and pronounces in a tender voice,
"Miss W., I'm sure when I'm married my wife won't mind you coming to live with us in your old age and we will take care of you!"
Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever! This boy comes from a rough background. His mother is a drug addict. His oldest half brother is in jail. He and his siblings live with their dad now. It is a good thing. They come disheveled to school everyday but they work hard and are sweet. I just may take this boy up on his offer!
"Miss W., are you a virgin?"
Okay that is not a deep, dark philosophical question but I had to throw it in - yes, I was asked this question out of the blue during math once again! My response, "get back to your work!!!"
I wonder what will transpire this week at school! I can't wait!
"This little Light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little Light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."
Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ( Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)
3 comments:
you must just love your kids. such sweet souls. they are so lucky to have you and yes let that little light of yours shine!
Hi sweetheart, it's my first time here i'm loving your posts! I've subscribed your rss feed, follow my fashion blog too!
"A respectable appearance is sufficient to make people more interested in your soul." - Karl Lagerfeld
@ MAISONCHAPLIN.BLOGSPOT.COM
@ sealaura...I do love my kids...so hard to not get attached to them..they make my job very interesting and rewarding!!thanks for your sweet words! i see u are doing well too...happy thanksgiving!
@maison chaplin...thanks for stopping by...i will check out your fashion blog!
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