Chris and I have collectively worked in education for 57 years. Besides that number making us sound frightfully old, we can also say that it is a field in which we still feel privileged to serve. The joy in building relationships and building competency in a kaleidoscope of students over the years has not diminished.
We focus on very different areas (Chris educates students to be effective counselors, I educate future teachers) but the goal is the same. We want students to leave our classes knowing the subject matter and the skills necessary to be strong in their future opportunities. This means that building relationships with the students becomes a good teaching strategy but also a ministry. Perhaps you have had the experience of being with a teacher who could impart wisdom and knowledge but had no connection with the students. Or perhaps you had an instructor that was very relational but couldn’t teach the subject matter. Both of these scenarios inspire Chris and me to motivate, model and mentor our students. We believe that learning can excel when we do so.
There is an approach to education called student-centered learning. While we both feel this is a good approach to teaching, the term takes on a deeper meaning for us in the Christian context. It means that, regardless of connection or not, we remember that each person is a creation of God. We strive to make the content we teach accessible to each student, adapting our lessons to showcase their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses – and sometimes adapt to their personal circumstances. We seek to uphold the paradox that Parker Palmer (a Christian author and educator) shares that each class should honor the individual and honor the group.
This can be a challenge made even more daunting when we recognize that we need to model our ideals in a very real way. Students know how to “read” teachers and know when someone is authentic and when someone is faking it. Students know if a teacher really cares about learning and if a particular student gets under their skin. It is a humbling experience to have your words and actions “under the spotlight”. With prayer, we approach our craft – and our attitudes – to make positive impact on student lives. It is a career where we can use our gifts and abilities but don’t have to look too far down the road before we are aware of our shortcomings.
We believe that a Christ-centered approach to education means we see our careers as a call to service. We can, by God’s grace, make a small contribution to those individuals put under our care. Whether we are reading articles, researching, changing our class activities again, working with colleagues, or dealing with the latest trends in education, we keep the students as our focus and motivation.
Cindy Sink
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