More Teaching Vicar

Some time ago, maybe here, maybe somewhere else, I received an email bemoaning that the church was under satanic attack. A list of examples was given of things that, if I were a gambling man, I would have put money on happening in any group of people the size of that particular church.

If the petty squabbles, relationship difficulties and people-behaving-badly stuff listed was a sign of the devil at work I wondered, in replying, who was in charge of the attack where (insert name of nation) was being (insert name of disaster). I did it more tactfully than that, I like to think, but in essence offered the suggestion that the email writer should calm down a bit and get some perspective.

It was what happened next that I loved. I got a further reply suggesting that the church needed more teaching on this.

That's right. The response to me, the pastor, offering teaching, was to say we needed more teaching. When actually the person wanted more teaching that accorded with their own views.

We live in a world where people are told they haven't listened if they are not going to do what the complainant wants. People who insist they need closure simply want to write a happier ending than the one currently on offer. And teaching not to the pupil's taste is deemed inadequate.

That's me finished moaning for a bit. Will write lighter stuff over next few days holiday. Probs.

Good Teaching

I was interested to discover from The Observer that Tim Martin named his Wetherspoons pub chain after a teacher who told him he would never make a businessman. Of course we are robbed of the context of the remark by a brief piece of journalism.

Teachers can use lines such as 'You'll never succeed...' but in my experience often follow them up with '...if you carry on the way you are.' It can be the catalyst for change.

Whether you consider you got your results because or despite of your teacher, good teachers don't care. They like it when others win. That's why they are teachers.