In 2015, an opportunity
was presented to me to step into the educational arena. I had not gone to
school for a teaching degree or even had any desire to go in that direction at
all. It all started when I was asked by my son’s teacher to be one of the
chaperones on a field trip. I declined at first but changed my mind at the last
minute when my wife said that she would go with me. While we were there, one of
the students that I knew from my friend’s church was having an issue with
another student. I pulled him aside to talk to him, not realizing that one of
the teachers saw me. Once I was done, she ran up to me and asked, “Would you
like a job at the school?” I promise you I thought she was joking but I said
sure. She gave me her email address and asked me to send my resume. You see at
that time, I wasn’t working in the market place because I was doing full-time
ministry. So, to say that I was stunned was an understatement. Through much personal
prayer and friends praying with me, I understood that God was sending me there
because it was a life and death situation and my assignment was to speak life
into our “Now Generation”.
I work as an ISS instructor
which is short for “In School Suspension”. ISS is basically an alternative discipline
measure for students having behavioral issues in the classroom. This gives them
the opportunity to get back on track without being sent home. When done
correctly, it is really an effective tool to use with students. It provides a
safe environment for them to learn from their mistakes by having healthy dialogue
and being transparent. Coming up on 2 years now, I have been asked many questions
from my students like “Why are you here?” I would simply reply that I was sent
here to help you. I will never forget hearing some students saying that I was
just here for the money because that is the only reason why these teachers are
here. Now you may say oh that’s just a kid who don’t know any better talking
out the side of his head. However, I respectfully disagree. Our children know
when they are being loved or just tolerated. It didn’t matter to them that I
said that I wasn’t one of those teachers. They were explaining to me their
reality. I now understand that their words were a cry for help.
Many of you have been in
the educational arena longer than I have and I sincerely salute you or that.
Being in this environment has allowed me to see first hand how good teachers go
through much and are under paid. Once again, I have much respect for you. Now
with that being said, I need to, on the behalf of our “Now Generation”, address
those in this field that may have forgotten the purpose and mission to which
they promised to uphold. Please let me share some thoughts and concerns I have
as an outsider. One of the things that pastoring a church has taught me, is
that it’s always a good idea to have fresh eyes looking at what you are doing, so
that you may know what is working and what is not. The late Dr. Myles Monroe
said that when an individual or individuals, don’t understand the purpose of a
thing, abuse is eminent. In other words, if I have a dvd player and I stuff it
with paper, I am abusing it because it was not made to receive paper. If money is your only
motivation for high enrollment, perfect attendance, and great test scores, then
you are operating in abuse. You are abusing the student, the school, your
degree, etc… I understand that abuse is a strong word to use but it’s time to
walk in truth because it’s a LIFE and DEATH situation.
The purpose for setting
up a learning institution, is so that every child can develop into their God
given purpose. They are not in your building fill your pockets or bank
accounts. Our children are not dollar signs. We have made final decisions especially
concerning behavioral issues solely based on dollars and cents, instead of what
would benefit the student. For example, I said earlier that ISS is a wonderful
tool when used correctly. However, when you continue to place a student in ISS,
even after seeing that it’s not working, ONLY for getting the attendance count
for the money, you are doing a disservice to that child and not being honest
with the parent. No good parent, sends their child to school so that your bank
account can get bigger. They are entrusting you with their future. Let me say
that again. They are entrusting you with their child’s future! 
This must change and if you
choose not to change, you should strongly consider finding another profession
or shutting your facility down. This type of mindset is no different than the drug
dealer who influences our children to buy and sell drugs from and for them. How
can you in good conscience tell your student, stay away from drug dealers, the
ones who want to profit off them but then turn around and do the same thing. “Be
here on time for school”, has now become the fuel of motivation for getting
more by having warm bodies in the seats. This is some hard truth
to take but our children are worth it. If answering our kid’s cry for help mean
saying this, then so be it. Many of us have sons, daughters, sisters, brothers,
nieces, and nephews in school right now. How would you feel is they were being
treated like this? How would you feel if some educator didn’t see the potential
but only dollars signs?
