Illus. Teacher’s Appreciation day. Daughter of Florist. Son of Candy Store. Son of owner of Liquor Store. “Is it wine?” “Champagne?” I give up you’ll have to tell me.” “It’s a puppy!”
How many of you remember a teacher who was deserving of that kind of gift? A Teacher who impacted your life in a positive way? Made a difference in your life?
I had a first grade teacher by the name of Mrs. Shark. I had an image of a great white teacher with a mouth full of teeth! She just happened to be one of the best teachers I ever had. And taught me a great deal!
Teachers are called upon to do much more than simply pass on information…aren’t they?
“A good teacher inspires a thirst for learning that lasts a lifetime.” Bill Clinton said that on August 5, 1993 during a ceremony honoring inductees into the teacher’s Hall of Fame.
Henry Brooks Adams said, “Teachers affect eternity, they can never know the full range of their influence.”
Good teachers see potential and inspire potential. They make achievers out of ordinary people.
You would think that such an honorable profession, given the charge of shaping the minds of our future leaders, the profession that teaches and trains all other professions, would receive compensation equal to their responsibilities.
But in our culture we reward the athlete who can throw, kick or shoot a ball, or skate or handle a puck, or can run or swim faster than others, above the teacher.
We reward actors and actresses who amuse and entertain us above the teacher.
It was Tom Brokaw who reminded us, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s much harder to make a difference.”
And so, because you are drastically underpaid, and continually under-appreciated, we honor you today. Teachers, Educators.
I was thinking about how difficult it must be to be a teacher today, but after some thought I came up with 3 great reasons to be a teacher…They are June, July and August.
Another reason we honor you today is because your professional efforts truly affect the fate of this earth.
You possess the ability to shape and mold minds, you can create mindsets, encourage attitudes and widen perspectives.
I was thinking about teachers who have had a great or profound impact on the world. These are people most of you are going to recognize. May be one or two will be new to you, but I think you will recognize their contributions to humankind.
(slide)
Confucius: (slide) He was born in the Chinese state of Lu. He began teaching at 20 years of age. His theories and principles were spread throughout China, and many people learned from his wise sayings.
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
“It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot teach his own family.”
“The one who knows right principles is not equal to the one who loves them.”
Many of the Chinese Proverbs we often hear can be traced back to the wise teachings of Confucius.
He was a teacher of great wisdom.
Galileo: (slide) In 1589 Galileo became professor of Mathematics at Pisa. It was Galileo who proved that light objects dropped from a height would hit the ground at exactly the same time As a heavier weight dropped at the same time, from the same height.
In 1609 Galileo used his skill to improve on the spyglass, and created the telescope. Later that year he became the first person to study the surface of the moon using a telescope.
As Galileo continued studying the moon, Saturn, Venus and the sun he observed that Copernicus’s theory that the earth, and all the other planets revolved around the sun, and not the other way around as most believed.
This observation shook the established church and their belief that earth, and humanity, were at the center of creation. The church called Galileo’s theory heresy. After a trial, Galileo was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Because of his age and poor health he was eventually allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. He died 9 years later.
Galileo’s contribution to humanity, was more than his discoveries, but his persistence to teach truth in the face of adversity and great personal costs.
He was a teacher of the strongest convictions.
Sir Isaac Newton (slide) (invented the fig Newton) No! He was the Father of the laws of motion and gravity that were foundational to later inventions such as flight, and even space travel. He saw beyond what others could see.
He was a teacher possessing great vision.
Albert Einstein: (slide) Professor in many outstanding institutions in Prague, Zurich, Berlin, and Princeton. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. It took great effort for Einstein to be able to communicate with people of lesser minds. He had to stoop low to help others understand what was basic for Him.
He was a teacher who was willing to humble himself to teach others.
Ayn Rand: (slide) Is another brilliant teacher who has made her mark on our world. At age 7 she began writing novels and screenplays. In 1949 she became fulltime writer and lecturer at Yale, Princeton, Columbia, University of Wisconsin, John Hopkins, Harvard and Cambridge. (Impressive)
She was a teacher who had the ability to communicate effectively, with passion and clarity.
As we list examples of teachers who have made a profound impact upon mankind we cannot overlook the One who I believe stands as the greatest teacher of all time: Jesus.(slide)
In fact he is often referred to as “The Master Teacher”.
• Master of the Object Lesson.
Mustard seed, mountain, fig tree, water into wine, dirt/saliva
• Master of Communication.
- Was heard. Talking on flat place, “Can I use your boat? Push out a little. There he taught the crowd.”
Sermon on the Mt. Up on a high place. Could be heard by all.
- He was clear to those who had “ears to hear”
- When it was vital, he made it easy to understand.
- Children, educated and uneducated alike understood.
• Master of Surprise. Kept everyone awake and engaged. Teacher’s sometimes that can be a challenge.
Illus. Teacher in middle of lecture, noticed one student sound asleep. “Billy, wake up your neighbor.” “You put him to sleep, you wake him up!”
Illus. Another boy fell asleep. Teacher raised her voice and woke him up. Derrick, you know you can’t sleep in my class.” “Maybe if you talked softer I could.”
We have no record of anyone falling asleep during one of Jesus’ lessons. They never knew what was going to happen next.
“Oh man, you missed it! What? What did I miss? Jesus just took a boys happy meal and multiplied it. And He fed 500!”
• Master of Inspiration
Jesus understood that the important lessons were going to come out of His life, not out of a book. I understand you have a saying in the Administration Building.
“Children learn more from who you are than from what you teach.”
Illus. Pastor was building a deck and every day a little neighborhood boy came by and watched. Watched everything he did. Pastor, “Are you watching me so you can learn how to build a deck?”
No, I’m waiting to hear what kind of words a Pastor says when he hits his thumb with a hammer!”
The Mediocre Teacher Tells.
The Good Teacher Explains.
The Great Teacher Demonstrates.
The Best Teacher Inspires.
They realize that people are watching all the time.
It’s the moments when you think they’re not looking that they catch the most from what they see you do.
Read Poem “When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking”
Jesus knew people were watching Him all the time. One day some religious teachers decided to put Him to the test…
A woman was caught in act of adultery.
Religious teachers surrounded her.
About to give her a failing grade. Rocks in hands. “F”.
Jesus knew it was time for an object lesson.
Wrote something in the dirt, sand. Maybe…
Powerful lesson. All dropped their stones.
“Let the one who has no sin, throw the 1st rock.”
He didn’t lower the bar…this is ok now, still pass.
He didn’t let the woman get away with something.
My Dad is here today. Visiting from Jamestown, NY.
My Dad was the Master of the teachable moment.
I didn’t realize it at the time but my Dad was always teaching me something. When worked together fixing a bike.
Taught me after I was punished. (I love you.)
Taught me when I blew it BIG time.
One night wrecked my car. Drivable. Limped it back home. Went inside. Late at night.
“Dad, I had an accident. I wrecked my car.”
“Are you ok?” “Yeah.” “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
Here’s what I learned that night:
* “It’s just a car.” * Things are only things.
* People are more important than things, stuff.
Jesus used this moment as a teachable moment.
“Where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you.
Time for a re-test. Here it is: “Go and sin no more.”
(slide) Chalkboard. “SOL’s today.” (standard of Learning)
Idea is to raise the bar. Bring every child along. No Child Left behind.
Dr. Bishop, passion. Committed to embracing those who are at risk of slipping thru the cracks. Applaude your commitment.
In closing moments today, talk about raising the bar and SOL’s.
Jesus shared the desire that No Student Would Be Left Behind.
(SOL’s) (slide) Standard Of Living. The Woman caught in Adultry...
Jesus raised the bar. Lifted her SOL grade.
You can do it. You are worth my effort. My involvement.
Now go and do it! Live at a higher level!
Great teachers raise the bar, then lift others up so they can see what it looks like on other side. Inspires them to want it!
* We have talked about what makes a great teacher…their students get it! A teacher who teaches but has no one learning is simply making noise.
Jesus’ desire: No student left behind. “For God so loved the world….That whoever believes should not perish, fail the test”
He wants everyone to get it! He loves us too much to leave behind! He paid the price for our failures. He took our “F’s” Himself. he took our failing grade upon Himself!
I think one of the hardest parts about being a teacher is that sometimes kids don’t get it.
Jesus understood that part of teaching as well.
Look at Jesus’ students (disciples):
- 2 brothers always fighting w/each other, one of biggest arguments over who would be the greatest. When others heard them they all started arguing.
- One sold Him out,
- One doubted.
- One time they pushed the children who came away.
- one a tax collector (think IRS agent),
- They all swore they would stay by him and then when he needed them most they deserted him.
- When he told them to stay awake and pray they fell asleep.
- When he told them to sleep one day in a boat they all were awake with fear.
- one even cut off a man’s ear,
- “Where did he get these guys? Disciples R Us?”
These guys were his prize students. The minds and hearts he was shaping to change the world.
They themselves were sometimes lost and confused.
Lost, helpless, like sheep w/out a shepherd.
Jesus offered His teachings, His patience, Himself.
He taught them a SOL they could never reach w/out His help.
(slide)
He set the standard…Live to Please God.
He gave Grace - Power to live at a higher level.
He offered Forgiveness - when we fail.
Does it all in Love, w/us thru entire process.
Teachers, students…no matter our occupation, career, our station in life, He wants us to get it! He gave His all to teach us that He is the way, the truth and the Life. And the only way to God the Father. He wants no student left behind.
(slide)
(We had a soloist sing: Orphans of God)
(Closing Prayer)
WEe gave a small keychain that read "Teacher’s touch lives for eternity" to every teacher present. This sermon was so well received that A college dean asked me to come to a Teacher Training session and give the same sermon to the teachers. In a secular setting!)
