Okay, I’m 48 years old. When I was in school parents could request a meeting with their child’s teacher if necessary, but for the most part, you expected a one-on-one session to discuss your child during parent teacher conferences.

There were just too many students to address every parents’ concern by meeting or by phone every day.

It still is. 

Boundaries must be established.

Fast forward to the age of online accessibility!

Parents! You may buy your electronics, clothes, shoes or groceries online. You may stream your music online. You may find out your ancestry online. You may be able to order goods and services 24-hours a day online – but you can’t have access to my wife!

My wife is a dedicated teacher of almost 20 years. Her record speaks for itself. But, I’m disturbed with how much she and other teachers are being pressured to interact with parents and students 24-hours a day via email.

Students are less obligated to get all necessary information in class because they or their parents can just email the teacher with their concerns, complaints, criticisms and questions. At 7pm. At 2am. On Saturday morning. Sunday afternoon. Each teacher touches dozens of students, so these emails can become quite overwhelming.

How fair is that?

Why should anyone feel that’s a reasonable job expectation?

What’s unfortunate is that because of social media, namely parent Facebook pages dedicated to schools, grades and even individual teachers some administrators are pressuring teachers to respond because of the criticism, whining and complaining on these pages.

Teachers are being pressured to work more and more outside the classroom, bordering on parenting responsibilities.

If you’re a parent, teach your child to pay attention in class. To report to you and bring home all of the important information. To be a responsible student. And, please remember that your child’s teacher has a family too.

Please share if you are, or love a good teacher too.

BE BLESSTIFIED!

Too many those of us who attend church regularly criticize or judge new members who joined but drifted away.

Nothing deep here, just four things I think we should consider before we open our mouths…

1. They come to church looking for something and it doesn’t happen fast enough, so they leave.

2. They come to church looking for something and it happens quickly, then they leave.

3. We, who should be mature in the faith, run them away because we forget they are weaker, OR we aren’t nurturing enough, OR we’re too self-righteous.

4. They came seeking something other than God. This is usually the reason for 1 & 2. (That will be discussed in tomorrow’s post.)

Romans 14:1 (NKJV)

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Romans 15:1 (NKJV)

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the week, and not to please ourselves.

BE BLESSTIFIED!