Teaching Middle School

I have been long-term substitute teaching the last two weeks (and until the end of the year) for a 7th grade math teacher. I have a new respect for teachers who spend their entire career fighting what seems to be a losing battle. I have been at this one school all year and I like teaching the students, but coming into a classroom at the end of the year has been difficult. A wise woman told me once that "middle school should be a work camp." I'm starting to believe it now.

For all of you that have children please, please, please, do not let your discipline become loose. They desperatly need to be shown in a loving way how the law works. When they understand the law grace will be meaningful. I have learned more than ever this year that our discipline should point children toward Christ. It should reinforce the fact that there is a penalty for sin in not only their lives, but my own. It should also open up doorways to preach the gospel and preach it boldly. I pray that my discipline enforced upon students will not go to waste, but be a teacher to them and a reminder to me of the Holy God.

Be looking back here for bookreviews to come on the GRBC website.

--Dirk