Maybe I'm Weird . . .

By Rebecca Talley

Years ago, I sat in a PTA meeting while we discussed changing the start time for our elementary school. I was pushing for it to begin later because kids, some as young as 3 years old, have to meet the bus at 6:30 am each morning because we are in a rural area and we start school at 7:40 am. That is very early, especially for young children. My own kids don’t start school until first grade so that I can teach them to read and can feel confident they are going to school with the ability to read, do simple math, and have a closer relationship with me. But, many parents send their children to pre-school and it seemed as though starting the school day a little later made sense. Last year, my first grader fell asleep on the afternoon bus everyday so I had to be sure to meet the bus at the end of my lane to make sure the bus driver didn’t forget my sleeping son and accidentally take him on her next route with the older school kids. As we discussed changing the start time, I was startled to hear a mother exclaim, “Start school later? Are you kidding? I’d rather have it start earlier so I can get rid of my kids sooner.”

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I always feel so sad when school starts and my children leave for most of the day. My older kids don’t come home on the bus until after 5:00 pm, which means they are away from me for over 10 hours each day. That makes me sad. I love being with my kids.

This summer was crazy busy with camps, a Youth Conference, Scout training, and my son returning home from his mission. The house was usually in disarray with all the kids playing games with each other, dressing up, and making crafts. We didn’t have a set schedule, though I did try to make sure we did some cleaning and watered and hoed the garden. It was a bit chaotic at times, but it was great. I loved watching the kids play together, especially with their younger siblings who don’t attend school yet. The summer ended far too fast for me.

Next week, will be even harder when my two oldest leave for college and the next step in their lives. They won’t be gone for 10 hours a day; they’ll be gone for days and weeks at a time. Yes, I understand that this is the normal cycle of life and that children grow up and leave home, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I often think of the song, “Sunrise, Sunset,” as I watch my children grow. Where does the time go? What happened to that little baby I held in my arms? I must’ve blinked.

And so here we are, another school year has begun and I’m sad to see my kids go. I miss having them around the house. I miss the hum of their voices. I miss the squeals and excitement while they spray each other with water. I wish summer break was 9 months and school was only 3 months.

Maybe I’m just weird . .

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Notes from the Classroom: Disruptive Students

Randal Chase

I've chosen to focus my blogs on classroom experiences since my books are intended to be aids to both teachers and students of Gospel Doctrine classes. After 32 years of experience teaching this class, rotating through the entire curriculum 8 times, it's possible I've experienced just about every possible scenario. My post this week refers to an experience in my CES class last week, which consists of 168 eager adults who come out on a Wednesday nights to study the gospel in greater depth than is possible in the 40 minutes afforded us in Gospel Doctrine classes.

Our subject was Abinadi and his teachings to King Noah and his priests. Among those teachings was the notion that we are not saved by obedience to law but rather by the loving grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. True, we are expected to demonstrate our faith in Christ by our willingness to follow and obey Him, but in the end we can never do enough to "save ourselves" no matter how hard we try or how well we do. Combined with the teachings of King Benjamin about how unprofitable we are despite the best we can do, the lesson tried to make the point that the blessings we receive are not fully earned or deserved. We are much more greatly blessed than our behavior could ever merit.

As I made this point again in my closing testimony of Christ, an older gentlement sitting near the front of the class blurted out, "I don't believe that." No raised hand. No attempt to gain further clarification. Just a spirit of contention and a desire to put me in my place. I said as patiently as I could, "Brother you are not required to believe me, but neither you nor I are going home to our Father without the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ," and tried to finish my testimony.

It's an age-old problem for teachers. How do you include class discussion and allow people to share their views and their feelings without turning it into a free-for-all of opinions. We must recognize each person's contribution but never allow false doctrine to go unchallenged or to waste the time of 167 others for the sake of 1 student who behaves disruptively. I meant to speak with him after class, but he very quickly exited. This was his first time attending our class, and I suppose it will be his last. I feel bad about that. But some students do not come to learn. They bring no scriptures, read no passages, and hear only what they want to hear. We must avoid being "teachers with itching ears" who are always more concerned with being loved and accepted than with teaching the truth. It's not a job for the faint-hearted or insecure.