-
How does your understanding of mankind’s fallen nature impact your work in the classroom?
-
It helps me understand my students better, including their motives and behaviors. It helps me understand myself better as well. Furthermore, it impacts how I show grace to those who need it as well as accountability to those who need that.
-
It helps me to remember that none of us is perfect. Showing students that everyone makes mistakes, and how to own, recover from, and atone for those mistakes, is invaluable. I also show them that emotions such as anger or disappointment are not bad in and of themselves, but that it’s how we respond to them that makes the difference. By not pretending that I am perfect, or anybody is perfect, it leaves students with opportunities to try things without the fear of failing (because we all fall short)…and to grow.
-
It helps me to know that we are not all prefect and we are going to make mistakes. It helps me to talk with the child and get them to see how their choices impacted themselves and others. Then ask them how they could do things differently next time. I let them know that I still love them and that I know they will make better choices in the future. I love on them just as Christ loves us.
-
Knowing, and remembering this should allow to us offer compassion to students, we all make mistakes, we all error and sin and through God’s grace we receive forgiveness it is important that we offer that same love to our students.
-
We know that every person is born sinful with selfish motives, both teachers and students. So I am not surprised when a student acts out that selfishness. I can respond very calmly with compassion to the student who needs to be guided toward wise choices that would benefit himself long term. I also can use that selfishness as a tool for competition to get the best grade.