Thankful for teachers

by Hal Brady
 
Since many teachers have officially returned to the classroom, I want to offer a word of thanks to teachers, leaders, administrators, and school staff. These folks carry such enormous opportunities and responsibilities - and sometimes burdens - and the overwhelming majority do so faithfully and effectively. Remembering them in our prayers and expressing appreciation for them is and will be most appropriate. 

Honestly, what would we do without our teachers? Like you, I can immediately think of several teachers from my days in school, going all the way back to elementary school. It was a teacher there that taught me to be creative. It was a high school teacher that taught me my love for American History. And it was a high school librarian who taught me my love of books. So many of you have similar stories.

Repeating, what would we do without our teachers? David Kerns, former chairperson of Xerox, put it this way, “Education is the transmission of civilization. Civilization is not inherited; it has to be learned again by each new generation.” So, our teachers are those who transmit civilization to our children and young people. With the exception of the spreading of the Gospel, I can’t think of a more important task.

For a few moments, I’d like to point out the objectives of education in three points. 

The first objective of education is to open and enlarge human minds! Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts. It is to teach them to think. The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

The second objective of education is training in human relations! Humankind is made for fellowship. One of the aims of education is to adjust to our peers or associates. It is to learn how to live in community with self-confidence and with communication skills and respect for others. 

The third objective of education is civic responsibility! America was not founded by people looking for peace of mind and a comfortable life. This nation was built by men and women who risk and even gave their lives in order to fulfill their civic responsibilities. Simply stated, we cannot preserve a healthy nation “for the people” unless it is also “by the people.” And our teachers in our school have a gigantic role to play in educating our children and young people. 
 
Once more, our teachers are the transmitters of civilization. They deserve our thanks, prayers and support. May God bless them all!

Dr. Hal Brady is a retired pastor who continues to present the Good News of Jesus Christ and offer encouragement in a fresh and vital way though Hal Brady Ministries (halbradyministries.com).