The Weekly Variety
in which I share topics that get me on my soapbox, things I'm loving, things I'm reading and learning, or the blessings found in my mundane days
Soapbox
I listened to this podcast on Community Schools, a term I was completely unfamiliar with. Give the podcast a listen, it’s not exactly fantastic news regarding how public schools are being used as a hub to push agendas, ideas, and beliefs to young, impressionable minds without parent awareness or consent. This puts me on a soapbox, but not about the podcast.
I’m not naive and I do not discredit the information in this podcast. I know (or hope) the majority of private and homeschool families hear this information and refrain from putting a blanket belief over all public schools. But, if a blanket belief is your default, you are much like I once was. I was once a private school educator and quit with the intent to homeschool because I decided no organization could be entrusted with my children. I would hear information like what’s in this podcast episode and believe it to be true of every public school in America. I would then be fearful of the effects of public schools (even though I’m a product of one) and even question the decisions of Christian families to send their children to a public school.
Through circumstances only God can orchestrate, I now teach in a public school. I am so thankful to be freed from that fear and way of thinking. The public school system has been one of the greatest blessings to my career and our family.
The message I want to lovingly convey is this— not every teacher is teaching in a corrupt school system. The ones that love our jobs, love to build relationships with students, love to teach and watch our students learn, love to grow in our knowledge of best practices, and do this alongside amazing colleagues and the primary guardians of these valuable young humans—we’re still out there.
A sincere thank you to the guest on this podcast for reminding us this is not a call to abandon the public schools. We need the support of anyone who will believe in us and our students. Our jobs get harder by the day.
Blessings in the Mundane
Enough with the serious and mildly political, which makes me very uncomfortable—my daughter loves to play No Stress Chess. I’ve only beaten her once. As promised, it hasn’t been stressful, but I haven’t actually learned how to play chess. After she’s done winning, she collects all the pieces and pretends they are a family posing for a professional picture. I’m always ready to clean up and move on to the next thing, but her little Chess Family is a reminder to slow down.
What I’m Loving
A student left this note on my desk. “Thank you for this year VK.” No other job, other than parenting, is more rewarding.
Ole Hallesby
Good ole’ Hallesby. This is my second time to read his book on prayer. I haven’t finished the second read yet, but this is the book in which my favorite quote for my “why” to write is found, “The story of your life will be the story of prayers and answers to prayer.”
This classic book will change the way you view prayer.
“Prayer is something deeper than words. It is present in the soul before it has been formulated in words. And it abides in the soul after the last words of prayer have passed our lips.”
I think of my friend who is battling cancer and began treatments this week. God brings her to my mind often. The mere thoughts of her and her family are present prayers in my soul before I can formulate the words.
If someone is on your mind, it is because God is stirring your soul to pray.