Hope for School TeachersSample

PARENTS

How many times have you heard your co-workers talking bad about parents? With such extensive training among educators, a superior attitude can rise up—especially when there seems to be a lot of parents who are clueless about their children’s behavior in school.

Often they misunderstand the challenges of running a class of 30 or more students or the mandates you must follow. While many parents/guardians are wonderfully helpful and a blessing to you, some seem entitled, demanding, and immensely disrespectful. Moms and dads can undermine your authority, undoing your hard work in seconds. 

Each person has different expectations for how you should conduct yourself and what your style of teaching should look like. It can seem like you can’t please anyone, especially parents.

Yet there’s no denying parents have rights. In light of Philippians 2:3, respecting those rights and honoring all the hard work that goes into raising a family is important. Their job is harder than yours when you consider they have the child more hours of the day for 18+ years. Your influential role is short-lived in comparison. 

Placing others before your own needs as God’s Word instructs, is humbling. Parents have entrusted you to teach their child. That’s a noble privilege, so how should teachers respond?

Matthew 7:12 (a.k.a. The Golden Rule) is a wonderful guideline when you’re mistreated or misjudged by your student’s family. Jesus instructs us to treat others like we desire to be treated.  

The first chapter of James tells us to ask for wisdom, and it will be given. Often wisdom shows itself when we keep our lips closed. Swallowing our pride and turning the other cheek could be part of God’s plan. That’s hard amid criticism, but doable with the Holy Spirit’s help. 

The Lord is faithful to instill you with hope. Ask Him to help you respond in grace this week when dealing with difficult personalities.