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Is mentorship something you’ve considered as part of your role as a Christian educator? Why or why not?
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Yes, I do believe mentorship is part of the role of a Christian educator. I believe it varies in degrees according to what grade level you are teaching. While teaching in middle and high school the role is more prominent. The student needs individuals in their lives who can advise them and help guide them in making wise decision for their lives. This is why it is important to have a Biblical worldview.
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Mentorship has always been on my radar as a Christian educator. I am pursuing my PhD in education and being a supervisor/mentor is top priority. I believe that I am being called to help bring up the next generation of educators and counselors.
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James does recommend not seeking being teachers and there is a lot of accountability/responsibility that goes with that task. I fled like Jonah and thought I would not teach anything but post secondary, but God kept hemming me in and I teach middle and high school. I took on the job understanding the immensity and the blessing that being a mentor is. My focus isn’t laying up treasure in heaven, but helping the kids map out their laying up of treasure in heaven, for them to feel how awesome it is to mentor others.
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As a teacher I want to maintain a certain distance from my students, just as I would want other educators to do. Yet I do head up a few clubs and invite many students into them, in order to develop deeper relationships with students!
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Yes because administration has asked me to mentor specific students in the past. Then I’ve had students ask me on their own to be mentored. Most recently a distant relative was asking for her daughter. When it’s a formal administration request there is usually some unfortunate home situation. I learn as much as I can about the student and their home before we start meeting. When we first meet I just try to get to know them. If they like basketball then next time we meet we’ll shoot hoops. Eventually they start sharing and that opens opportunity to point them back to the Word. It really is just teaching them to depend on Him.