From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Parents,
We live on a planet with about 7 billion people living on it. The way God has set things up, we all to one degree or another must work with each other in order to accomplish goals and projects. People working with people is how it is done. There are great benefits to this, but there also can be areas of friction or tension, especially when a misunderstanding arises in a matter.
Today, I want to encourage you in how to handle misunderstandings or potential disagreements that could come up this year between any one of us and our parents, but especially between teachers and parents. Since teachers interact almost exclusively with the students, if a misunderstanding were to occur, it would probably be with the classroom teacher. Misunderstandings often come from two situations: expectations and discipline.
Here is how it goes: the teacher says something to the child or the class about an event or a project; and as clear as we try to be, students at times misunderstand and then they miscommunicate the news. We try to send home notes for significant things, but notes sometimes get misplaced and so all the parent has to go on is the child’s explanation, which might come across as unfair or unreasonable. What do you do?
Another situation involves discipline. A child gets in trouble for something, and may even get a conduct slip. At home the parent asks the child of the details. Sometimes the version that comes out is not exactly in line with reality. Now, a child might tell a different story for one of many reasons: because his story is indeed what happened, because he is trying to avoid additional consequences, or because his perspective is limited due to his youth. At any rate, his story might sound reasonable and the teacher’s judgment unfair. What do you do?
First, if the situation is a big enough deal that it bothers you, suspend your judgment until you find out the facts from the teacher. Proverbs 18:13 says, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
Second, assume the best about the teacher and his motives. Giving the benefit of the doubt will spare you the turmoil of thoughts of unfairness and potentially thoughts of bitterness. Love guides us to believe the best about people (I Corinthians 13:7).
Third, do not talk to other parents about the matter. “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeatheth a matter separateth very friends” (Pro. 17:9). Covering a transgression is not covering up a sin: it is dealing with a problem while keeping private things private. But the kinds of things I am writing about do not even classify as sins; at worst they are preferences. But if parents get together and talk about how they can’t believe this or that, their talk does not solve the potential problem; it exacerbates it.
If a problem deals with me directly, come to me. If, however, a matter deals with a teacher, go to that teacher first. If a matter cannot get resolved, then come to me. Following the steps I have laid out will help us have good relations as we move forward to help your children this school year.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sutton
Dear Parents,
We live on a planet with about 7 billion people living on it. The way God has set things up, we all to one degree or another must work with each other in order to accomplish goals and projects. People working with people is how it is done. There are great benefits to this, but there also can be areas of friction or tension, especially when a misunderstanding arises in a matter.
Today, I want to encourage you in how to handle misunderstandings or potential disagreements that could come up this year between any one of us and our parents, but especially between teachers and parents. Since teachers interact almost exclusively with the students, if a misunderstanding were to occur, it would probably be with the classroom teacher. Misunderstandings often come from two situations: expectations and discipline.
Here is how it goes: the teacher says something to the child or the class about an event or a project; and as clear as we try to be, students at times misunderstand and then they miscommunicate the news. We try to send home notes for significant things, but notes sometimes get misplaced and so all the parent has to go on is the child’s explanation, which might come across as unfair or unreasonable. What do you do?
Another situation involves discipline. A child gets in trouble for something, and may even get a conduct slip. At home the parent asks the child of the details. Sometimes the version that comes out is not exactly in line with reality. Now, a child might tell a different story for one of many reasons: because his story is indeed what happened, because he is trying to avoid additional consequences, or because his perspective is limited due to his youth. At any rate, his story might sound reasonable and the teacher’s judgment unfair. What do you do?
First, if the situation is a big enough deal that it bothers you, suspend your judgment until you find out the facts from the teacher. Proverbs 18:13 says, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
Second, assume the best about the teacher and his motives. Giving the benefit of the doubt will spare you the turmoil of thoughts of unfairness and potentially thoughts of bitterness. Love guides us to believe the best about people (I Corinthians 13:7).
Third, do not talk to other parents about the matter. “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeatheth a matter separateth very friends” (Pro. 17:9). Covering a transgression is not covering up a sin: it is dealing with a problem while keeping private things private. But the kinds of things I am writing about do not even classify as sins; at worst they are preferences. But if parents get together and talk about how they can’t believe this or that, their talk does not solve the potential problem; it exacerbates it.
If a problem deals with me directly, come to me. If, however, a matter deals with a teacher, go to that teacher first. If a matter cannot get resolved, then come to me. Following the steps I have laid out will help us have good relations as we move forward to help your children this school year.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sutton