By “Deacon G”
With the start of the new school year, let’s look back to the first day we can remember going to school. For some of us it was frightful. As we were being separated from the security of our home for the very first time, we perhaps received more than a gentle nudge to get on the bus.
If our parents or guardians drove us to school, we might have needed some coaxing to emerge from the car and may have shed a tear or two as we began our travels to a new world. For others, it was a time of excitement, a chance to make new friends, learn new things and to come to appreciate recess.
For most parents it was a bittersweet day, one filled with sadness due to separation anxiety and one filled with hope for a good education that would lead to success and a comfortable life for our offspring. We had taken the next step in fulfilling our moral obligation to provide for the education of our children.
It’s a sad but true statement that not in all cases were our dreams fulfilled and some of the blame may fall squarely on our shoulders.
In looking back, we may have to ask ourselves some tough questions and we may not like the answers. Here are just a few. Did I attend parent-teacher conferences to discuss my child’s progress? Did I take an active role in the education of my child by reviewing his completed homework assignments? Did I make sure he got adequate sleep and breakfast to help him be alert? Did I ensure that education took precedence over outside activities and entertainment, such as sports and electronic games? Did I teach my child the social skills, including proper etiquette and conflict resolution, so that he could avoid trouble that might lead to an interruption of his education?
If we did not answer most, if not all of these questions with a resounding “yes”, then chances are we contributed to his lack of success in school.
We often hear that people turn to crime because they don’t have marketable skills to get a job. Many dropped out of school because they struggled due to lack of parental involvement in their education. The jails today are filled with people who wouldn’t be there if their parents had taken an active interest in their child’s school work.
We can make a difference in the peace of our community by doing all we can for the proper education of our youth. If we have children in school, it’s never too late to provide direction by doing what it takes to answer “yes” to all of the tough questions previously discussed. If we’re a grandparent, we can guide our children in the education of our grandchildren and perhaps offer to help if the parents are unable, due to work constraints or lack of education. If we have no children, we can support teacher pay raises, school fund raisers and volunteer to help teachers at school.
Finally, there was one question I saved for last regarding our children’s education, that is, “Did we provide them with a faith that teaches them to pray?” This is important because there will be times when they’ll need God’s help. They have to know that there is someone beyond their immediate family and friends that they can count on when things get tough. God can give them the strength, knowledge, hope, and direction to overcome any obstacle to their success. For Christ tells us, “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matt 21:22)
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