By Megan Patterson, Transformational Teaching Ministry
Pierre and Claudette* have both been through the Transformational Teaching workshops I run and are now putting the lessons they have learned into practice in their respective school classrooms.
Claudette, who has a class of 60 in a primary school with a Muslim headmaster, said: âIn the government school I am now in, my colleagues call me âMadame Gentilâ (Mrs Kind). Itâs because of what we learnt at the Transformational Teaching workshops about every child being made in the image of God. Consequently, itâs the way I always try to treat the children and my colleagues.
âI have one child this year who has quite severe learning difficulties. I cherish him and already he is learning to fold his arms, to listen quietly and to put his hand up.â
Pierre, who has taught at the same Christian school for 18 years, said: âAs I see it, Christian education is fundamentally about the transformed heart of the teacher. Itâs not about dropping Godâs name into our lessons or turning our classroom into a Sunday School.â
As I see it, Christian education is fundamentally about the transformed heart of the teacher.
It was a treat to watch Claudette in action in the classroom. She had been entrusted with the first class, with children ranging in age from about four to eight. Between them they speak eight different languages, while Claudette teaches them in a ninth, French!
I saw her energetic troop eagerly follow their calm, warm teacher outside to have a lesson under the tree. âItâs cooler outside and I know they will concentrate better,â Claudette explained.
I couldnât help but notice that no other teacher had this idea. I sat a while in her headmasterâs office. After thanking him for letting me visit, he was quick to praise Claudette.
âShe is an excellent teacher,â he said. âThatâs why Iâve given her the first class. Itâs very important that the first and last class have the best teachers. I take the last class. Claudette has them when they begin school.â
Pierre has no doubt that their faith has an impact, both on the way they teach and on the way others see them. He said: âWe have more freedom here but, wherever we are, what matters is how we behave, everyone notices. Most of the children are from Muslim homes. All the parents know we follow Jesus. One day these children will confess Jesus too!â
Please pray
- For Pierre and Claudette as they face the daily challenges of displaying Jesus in their teaching.
- For the Transformational Teaching workshops to have a continuing impact for Christ across the globe.
- For teachers to find creative ways of showing their faith in countries where Christianity is not the main faith.
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