Is the church destroying the family?

Provocative statement I know, but an important one to discuss.

I just watched a documentary online called "Divided" about the overwhelming failure of age-segregated ministry in North American churches. I encourage you to take an hour of your time and watch it as well: http://www.dividedthemovie.com

What struck me the most, as an educator, was that the church has the same ultimate complaint/frustration that the secular education system has:

Why are we (school, church, teachers, pastors) expected to raise kids instead of their parents? How can we get parents to take responsibility for their family again?

Every teacher I have spoken to (myself included) will have one immediate answer to the question, What's the hardest part of your job?

The parents.

Hands down, the worst, hardest, most frustrating and challenging part of a teacher's job is the parents of their students.

How do I get them involved? How can I support them? How can I help them? How can I get them to see their child for the precious gift they are? On, and on.

Any and every teacher will tell you, a child will not improve substantially until the family gets on board. The family is the key.

Yes, this is a massive responsibility but it cannot be gotten away from. It is undeniably true that the family is the building block of society. The "health" of our communities, societies and the world as a whole is a direct mirror of the "health" of our families.

So why do we keep putting institutions in the place of the family?

I have many questions I plan to investigate further after watching this film:

What does the Bible say about age-segregated ministry and education?

What does the Bible say about educators/ministry workers role in supporting the family?

How can I do a better job of training, supporting and discipling the families I am in contact with?

Teaching & Learning

One of my students gave me a Chapters gift card as an end of the year gift. (I'm not embarrassed to say each year I hope I get a Chapters gift card!) I automatically went to the office supply section, they really have the funnest office supplies there. As I was wandering through the notebooks (a blank notebook gives me immeasurable joy for some reason) a book caught my eye. "The Happiness Project" it was called, "Or how I spent a year trying to sing in the morning, clean my closets, fight right, read Aristotle and generally have more fun".

I picked it up for a closer look.

The author, Gretchen Rubin, spent a year of her life actively trying to play more, sleep more, eat better, have more fun and in general appreciate her life more. Sound familiar? Is there a single one of us that doesn't want those things?

But this post isn't a book review (it is pretty great so far though). This post is about a quote I read in it, "People teach what they need to learn."

Now, as a teacher this statement grabbed me instantly and hasn't let go. I teach not just as my profession, but as anyone who knows me will tell you, a teacher is WHO I AM, it defines me in so many ways. So this was a statement definitely worth mulling over closely.

What am I teaching that I need to learn?

Yes I have a barely jr. high grasp of math, but that's not what I'm talking about. :)

I have always been very aware of the irony of the fact that I (basically) teach parents how to better parent their special needs children, and yet I can't have children. Does this mean I need to learn to parent, perhaps, but still not the conclusion I've come to.

My program's entire focus is Learn Through Play. I teach kids how to play, I teach parents how to play, I teach educational professionals how to play, yet I don't play away from work. Ironic? Oh yeah.

At home I'm exhausted, I'm grouchy and often bitter. I'm frustrated and unmotivated to do things around the house or have fun with my hubby.

I teach play because I need to learn to play. I need to learn to lighten up, be silly, let go and have fun (and not just when I'm around 4 yr olds).

At school I make funny voices, I build with Lego, I play dress up, I run around, I hulahoop, I draw & colour, I PLAY!

Why don't I do these things at home? Just because I don't have children at home doesn't mean I can't play just the same.

I teach play because I need to learn to play.

What are you teaching that you need to learn?

Maybe I AM a Workaholic...

So here I am, three days into summer vacation and I'm already bored out of my tree! I really think there is something to my husband's frequent allegations that I don't actually know how to relax. I slept for the first day and a half (wonderful) and since then have been running errands, teaching Sunday School, scrapbooking & cardmaking, organizing, cleaning, baking and starting school work for next year.

I think I need help.

Anyone wanna volunteer to give me lessons on to freaking chill out?