Rules are meant to be broken. Well, not all rules, but you know what I mean. In recent conversations with some of my co-workers the topic of how to “best” educate our youth seems to be coming up. “Why is it so difficult to take notes while I lecture?” “How come the simple homework I ask for never get’s done?” “What’s wrong with worksheets followed up by written questions?” Now, these teachers have been in their career for a long time; 20, 25, 30 years for some. The ways they teach are proven to have great results and eventually work, but not without some resistance and conformity from the students. On the other side of this conversation are the teachers who have been doing this for 3, 5 or maybe 7 years. They engage students in conversation, use multi-media, force them to think by giving just enough information to tease, and not enough to write a research paper without them having to look up more information on their own. The teachers in the latter group don’t give out too much homework but do expect a lot of their students while in the class. This style of teaching isn’t as proven but still results in the student learning. So, which way is the right way? I say both. When Jesus began his ministry his teaching style was very similar to how it was done in the many centuries before him. He used the scriptures and interpreted them and invited conversation. What Jesus got into trouble for was how he didn’t conform to the “rules” of that day. He healed on the Sabbath, ate with sinners, touched the sick and even talked to Samaritans. What a rebel! In today’s society we focus too much on “how” we do things instead of “what” we’re doing. In the examples of how the teachers do their job I want to point out that they taught and their students learned. Let’s try to look beyond the things we consider “different” or “outdated” and see that in the end it’s all about the message; and that message needs to be one of hope, peace, joy and love.
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