As a substitute teacher, I walked into the classroom yesterday morning with the familiar sense of trepidation and anticipation. One always HOPES for a good day but middle school students can be a handful....especially on a FRIDAY!!! However, I felt positive and was praising God for the opportunity to interact with 8th graders and earn a living!!
As first block students came in I greeted them with a smile, introduced myself and gave the assignment the teacher had left on the desk. Most students began doing the work quietly. But there were five boys at one table who seemed oblivious to the fact that there was a teacher in the classroom and I quickly lost control as they became disruptive. They talked loudly, began walking about the room, and throwing paper wads.
One boy was extremely rude and argumentative. He went from one table to the next doing NO WORK at all. After about thirty minutes he suddenly became studious and asked me to help him with the pronunciation of words. When he brought his book to me I saw that he was on the WRONG chapter (purposefully) and only wanted me to pronounce the words because they were about body parts that were a little embarrassing to say out loud. I asked him to sit down. He refused and continued to whine, "But I can't read these words. How do you say THIS? How do you pronounce THIS? Ms. Klass, you won't even help me." He kept this up for three or four minutes really trying my patience. He was a problem the entire time.
Another little boy was so defiant that I wrote him up and sent him to the office. A girl offered to escort him but I heard one of the kids whisper to her, "When you get in the hall, tear up the discipline form." So I called the office and told them he was coming alone.
A couple girls came to the desk at least four times and stuck their paper right under my nose in a demanding way saying, "I can't get this question." I think they had sprayed something on the paper because they would rudely push it in right into my face!
When the buzzer rang for dismissal I couldn't believe what happened. As the children RACED out the door I was hit with a barrage of paper wads and balled up paper!!! They had to have planned this final insult!!! I felt like bursting into tears and going home. (Later, when I thought about it, it seemed rather funny but at the time I was devastated.)
Fortunately second block was a planning block so I collected myself and decided I wouldn't let the situation get the best of me. (Actually, I HAVE been in MUCH worse!!!) I called my husband and mom and asked them to pray for me. I had brought some scripture verses in my bag to try to memorize so I got them out and read the following:
"....and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET......" (Eph. 1:19-22a)
God prompted me with the thought, "Put the verse into practice!!!" I felt impressed to begin a "prayer walk" around the classroom!!! I walked to each table praying over EVERY CHAIR asking God to give the students a desire to learn. I prayed for a quiet, peaceful, classroom where the students would be respectful and do their work. I quoted the scripture in Ephesians several times as I prayed. God's spirit seemed very close.
When the third block students came I sensed an immediate difference in the atmosphere. They sat quietly, did their work and were respectful. There was minimal talking and even when we went to lunch and recreation time outside, they stayed together and I had NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER with this class and it was STILL the 8th grade and a LARGER class than first block.
The fourth block was about the same.
So, yes, there IS STILL prayer in PUBLIC SCHOOL!!!! He will answer our cry WHEREVER we are!!!
5 comments:
Love this post!
What a blessing! Thank you for the timely reminder.
I imagine that there are also the prayers of students who have or who have NOT adequately prepared for tests. And for the record, there has to be special heavenly rewards awaiting teachers and that includes the substitute teachers who step into classrooms that are not exactly filled with the good things that are conducive to learning. Yet there are those precious children,,,,just needing a touch from a believer who loves and cares for children,,,,even the teenage variety. Glad you are willing to be on the forefront, Dorothy!
Your blog always speaks to me......thank you for sharing about prayer in the public school......... That kind of praying cannot be stopped! Cheers to you !! I could hardly stand to think of you being bombarded with all of those paper wads and unkind remarks. After all, YOU are my sister and I love you !
Your blog made me think of my own day yesterday........I wasn't bombarded with paper wads, but with discouragement from the media, discouragement from doubts about my parenting abilities (it's only been 29 years of parenting that I was analyzing and wondering about..........),just a whole lot of things being hurled at me at once. I couldn't handle it and I did what you didn't do........ I burst into tears.
Your ending that God hears us wherever we are makes me want to share the "rest of the story"...... Hope you don't mind!
I was crying so hard that I was stumbling through our yard.....to the front door of the house. I said to the Lord,"I just need a hug.......I need someone to hug me. Lord, I just need to hear from You!"
I went to the computer to get some work done.......still crying as I typed....... Jonathan brought the mail in......He handed me a letter from my niece, Tillie. Tillie is six. It took a full page for her to write her message to me. It simply said, "I am your prayer pal Aunt Darlene" Tillie
I cried some more, but I knew I had been hugged.........hugged by God and Tillie. I knew that God knew exactly where I was and what I needed. I can't begin to explain what that letter has meant to me this week!
Hug Tillie for me, Dot, and tell her that her letter was a "right on time" answer to prayer this week!
God does answer prayer anywhere and everywhere. HE is a great big wonderful God. I am thrilled that He answered prayer for you right there in the public school!!! Just goes to show that He is still in the pubic schools........ready to answer any student that calls on Him. And THAT is encouraging !!!
I love you, Dot!
Dar
For Darlene,
I am so glad you shared "the rest of the story" with us. That brought tears to my eyes. And for the record - from an observer who rarely sees you and your children - I have seen evidence of some WONDERFUL parenting and heard stories of your Godly ways and genuine inspiration instilled in those who have been watching you all these years. I'm glad my dear friend Valerie and your dear brother, Dean's precious little girl was God's arm reaching down to give you that hug. Hope this day is an especially good one for you....
Marlene
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