TO SCHOOL AND BEYOND
To School and Beyond!!
It is that time of year when children and young people who are students are preparing for back to school, whilst others may be preparing for third-level education and moving from home for the first time. We all hope that our children will be Independent thinkers, open-minded and confident in reaching decisions. For some, the whole transition can be overwhelming, for others a break for freedom! Either way, we should all sit down together as families, as parents, as students and ensure we are educated on all the resources and supports for students as they navigate the next part of their journey. And what a few emotional days we had in the Scully household over this week or so with our daughters Mia and Sophie starting back to school and Mia starting into life in secondary school as I am sure it was for many families the length and breadth of Ireland. It’s a huge occasion, especially, I suppose, when it’s the last child in the family starting school. It’s one of those special milestones in life. It was a great first week for Mia and Sophie thank God, and we hope and pray it will continue for all children and young people going to school and third level especially when you consider all the children in our world that don't have the same opportunities as ours to receive a top class education. I hope that they, their teachers and lecturers, enjoy everything that they do and learn. Again a story from my Nana Scully’s prayer book might help to explain my thoughts on how sometimes children can teach us a lot.
The teacher who learned to teach and the student who learned to be taught
As Mrs O’Connell stood in front of her 5th class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Niall Mac. Mrs O’Connell had watched Niall the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. It got to the point where Mrs O’Connell would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs O’Connell taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Niall's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Niall's first class teacher wrote, "Niall is a bright child with a hearty laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around. "His second class teacher wrote, "Niall is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle. "His third class teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Niall's fourth class teacher wrote, "Niall is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class". By now, Mrs O’Connell realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.
She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful paper, except for Niall's. His present was clumsily wrapped in brown paper bag. Mrs O’Connell took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was half full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Niall Mac stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs O’Connell, you looked just like my Mom today and you smelled just like she used to. "After the children left, she cried. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs O’Connell paid particular attention to Niall. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. By the end of the year, Niall had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Niall became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Niall, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had. Six years went by before she got another note from Niall. He then wrote that he had finished secondary school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, and would soon graduate from NUIG with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs O’Connell that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. But now his name was a little longer - the letter was signed, Niall F. Mac MD.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Niall said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs O’Connell might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs O’Connell did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Niall remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr Mac whispered in Mrs O’Connell's ear, "Thank you Mrs O’Connell for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs O’Connell, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Niall, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
A prayer to start a new school year:
A huge thank you to all teachers, for your heart, devotion, and love for our children. As parents, we are so grateful for you, our words may not always fully express what we feel inside. We appreciate all that you do, often behind the scenes where no one even sees. Know that you are loved and valued by many. You are an amazing gift to our kids and to our families! God’s blessings over you, this new year ahead. A prayer for our teachers, as we start back to school this year…
Dear God, We pray for your peace and care over the whole school, college and university year ahead. We thank you in advance for all that you have in store and ask that you would unfold great blessings and gifts in the coming days, that this would be remembered as a year that God gave greatly. We ask for your wisdom and grace for each teacher as they prepare to lead their class each day. Equip them for every good work you have prepared ahead of time, we ask that your strength would fill them, that you would enable them to do all that they do with a heart of compassion and grace that comes straight from you. Give them ability and effectiveness as they teach, fill them with creativity and passion for this very important role that you have called them to. Give them laughter and fun in every day, but especially in the times when they get tired. And in the moments when they feel like there’s just not enough time to do all they need to do, multiply their hours, and give success to their efforts, for we know that you are able to do much more with a day than we ever could. Remind them that they have the incredible ability to make a difference in the life of a child. Every. Single. Day. And that what they do is so important, because they are a part of building greatness in our world, through the next generation. Give help when they’re weary, give grace when they feel they’ve reached the limit, give peace when they feel overwhelmed. Empower them by your Spirit with enough energy to match even the most active child in their class. Help them find strength in one another, reminding them that they are a team, and that there is greater power together, rather than alone, to face every struggle and obstacle that may come their way. Remind them, that more than representing a job, or a school, or a district, they represent you, and because of this, your spirit and covering are brought to school every day. And that is a very powerful thing. Give them a spirit of discernment for every child in their class, that they have the heart to understand each one of them more deeply, and see them as you see them. Give them a great ability to understand every parent represented too, reminding that you have destined every one of those paths to cross, and you have great purpose in it all. Give them a heart shield to block out any negativity, to see through the outside to the inner fears involved, to let go of what needs to fall away, and to hold on to what needs to be held on to. Give wisdom to embrace encouragement along the way and to give encouragement where it is needed. Instill in us all, teachers and parents, a heart of learning this year, because we’re never too old to learn new things. Give us all fresh perspective to see life through the eyes of a child, because sometimes important things become blurred and unclear as we grow up. Surround their families and personal lives in your care and protection, providing abundantly for every need that they have. Help them to release every concern and anxiety into your hand, believing that you are able – to do anything. Love through them, shine on them, pour out your blessing and favor over them, throughout the year. Amen
As a final thought, let us all try as much as possible to make a difference for the good in one another’s life’s as much as we can, for we all need help and support and indeed our country needs us all to make a difference for the good of one another as we continue to face into the dreadful economic situation that we find ourselves in. Let's all make a difference together and for one another. Best of luck to all students, teachers and lecturers as they all try to make a difference for the good in one another’s lives over the coming school and educational year. Let's also think of those children who will never have an opportunity to go to school because of wars, poverty, because they are a girl and in some cases because of people's inhumanity to each other.