The last few years have been interesting for me as I have found myself in a mentoring role with many of the young teachers that I have worked with. In a lot of ways they remind me of how I was back in the day when I was in their position when I was going to my mentors asking similar questions. Aside from that, I have recently taught some students this past year who have expressed not only their interest in theology but also their desire to pursue theological studies once they get into college. That's when I decided to share some of the insights I have learned over the years in a series of blogs that begins with this one, which I think is the most important things you can do for your students, and that is simply to show them love.
That may sound easy to some but one of the most disappointing experiences I have dealt with over the years are students who came to me to share some of their struggles with their current teachers. Many times they do compliment these teachers on all of the material they have learned in class but if there is no exchange of love and respect in the class then the material will carry no weight whatsoever. So here are some things I would like to highlight in terms of how you can show love to your students.
Earn Their Trust
From the first day our students walk into our classrooms we MUST do all that we can to earn their trust. What works for me is to tell them that they are welcome to ask any question that is on their minds and/or hearts. For some of us that might seem kind of scary but I can promise you that they will ask more questions about things that are gnawing at them rather than personal questions (more on that later). Many of the students will be somewhat suspicious of what we said because we still haven't earned their trust but in time one of them will decide to test the waters and that is our moment to show them how sincere we were when we invited them to speak their minds.
Now it's time to address the student with the big question. At that point it is important for us to remain calm and clear because we have no idea why that question came up. Perhaps we will address some strange teaching they heard from another theology teacher (that happens way too often), perhaps it's something they grew up with, there will always be questions about something that surrounds them in our distorted culture and many other things that we'll never see coming. It's always good to thank them for asking the question and them simply do what we can to answer it clearly and lovingly. If we don't know the answer then we should be honest about it and promise to do whatever you can to find the answer. There is no shame in looking something up or speaking to a veteran teacher or administrator who might be able to assist us. Remember that our job is not just to teach the material but to be that beacon of light, that Christ among them that is so beautiful that it will attract them to the faith. Remember the famous saying from Teresa of Avila: Christ has no body now but yours.
The other thing that should be addressed the first day of class is the fact that a theology class is a place where a student may feel moved to share something really personal and that this could happen at any time. That is why we should politely insist that anything said in class that is of a personal nature must remain in the class. That is another way to show the students that we will do everything in our power to protect them. If they feel safe in the environment we have created their trust in us will increase. Aside from that, they will also protect each other because they will model their behavior after our behavior. Of course we have to remind them of our legal obligation to report anything that leads us to believe that the student or another person is in some kind of danger but in most cases it's just something that they need to get off their chest.
Finally, a very important way to earn your students' trust is to share some personal things about ourselves. Let's face it, we didn't arrive to our position as a theology teacher without a faith struggle. In fact, that struggle may have been the very thing that made many of us want to be a theology teacher or because it made us search for answers. Once God revealed these answers to us a spark ignited in our heart that made us want to go out there and share this feeling with the rest of the world.
It is amazing to see the impact it has on our students when we are not afraid to reveal our own flaws and failures because it makes us look like a real person instead of, dare I say it, a mean teacher. Yes, it's true that our students are not relatives or close friends of but Christ did not wait to get to know people on a personal level before showing them God's love. And anyone who has taught before knows that it doesn't take long for a teacher to find out a whole lot about our students. This is the job folks and while this might frighten some of us know that this is the reason why we are teaching theology teacher and not another subject.
See The Good in Everything
Every class has their own personality. Some times we will have students whose devotion is as strong as our faithful grandmothers while other classes have students who will challenge everything we say. Remember, each of these opportunities is a teachable moment so be grateful that they're actually participating in class and not just sitting there waiting for the bell to ring. The alternative is that they will tune us out because we didn't respect the fact that they are on their own journey and are in fact looking for answers.
The most important thing we can do with all of these students is listen to them! That may sound simple but I can assure that it's not because many of us want to deliver the truths that our students need to know and move on. But we have to remember that they might not be ready for every truth we have to share. Let's dig even deeper to see what I am trying to say.
First off, we have to know the culture in which we live in and to do that there are times when we have to dive right into the mess. Our students already believe things that they have learned from their most trusted relatives and friends along with their favorite celebrities so if we think that we're clever enough to say one simple thing to sway their minds then our hubris is off the charts. Aside from knowing the culture we have to know the student asking the question so listen, listen and then listen some more. Take in all that they are saying because in doing that they can see how serious we are about what we share with them, which is another way of showing them love. Don't forget, even the students with great devotion are watching and need to see how we treat our neighbor. One final thought on dealing with our culture: no matter how aware we think we are of what is going on around us there are many times when the students will show us even more. Again, listen to them.
Second, find the good in the teaching or belief that we are not in agreement with because the same God we are teaching our students about also created the people who hold to a different system of beliefs. Our students need to see that we respect everyone and not just those in front of us. For example, while we might believe in the value of a child having a male and female parent there is nothing to fear in admitting that a same sex couple is capable of loving a child. While we perhaps oppose abortion there is nothing to fear in admitting that a person who helps a desperate woman get an abortion in fact thinks they are doing the right thing. In acknowledging the good of a person's intention from an objective point of view we are showing our students that we are really looking at the whole picture, which in turn shows each student that we take whatever the say seriously.
Such a thing can also be shared when the gossip comes up and believe me, cultural gossip always comes up in a theology class. I remember one time when one of my students made a negative comment after Kim Kardashian married Kanye West. My response, She's a beautiful woman and maybe Kanye really loves her so perhaps they will find real happiness. Then I said that, we should wish them the best because everyone deserves to be happy.
It got pretty quiet after that.
Grading
Good teachers focus on whether a student did what was asked of them on the assignment with the content not always being the focus of what is graded. It's bad enough that many college professors threaten their students with bad grades in order to prevent them from being free thinkers. However, free will is a hallmark of Christianity as is love so a student should NEVER feel threatened with a grade based on what they believe. If students are simply writing or saying what they think teachers want to hear they are only learning to lie and if that's what we want from our students then we are doing them a disservice. Remember, it's not about us or dare I say it, our fragile egos, but the student who needs to develop into a free thinking adult. If they in fact do all that we ask of them then they should be rewarded with the appropriate grade.
I have taught Morality for many years and our final project gives students a chance to research a moral behavior that they have strong feelings about. Many of them choose a topic that they have experienced personally with each student having to criticize or defend what they believe to be right or wrong. Regardless of their position on the issue they also have to research arguments from both sides of the aisle and share their reactions to such arguments. This is the part that frightens them the most because like most people they tend to only associate with those who agree with them on the issue. What would happen when they encounter someone who might in fact have a really good argument against their position? To that I tell them, welcome to adulthood.
In most cases students did think deeply about what they learned and in some cases even changed their points of view on the issue. But there were still times when they remained faithful to their views on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, same sex marriage, etc., all of which are issues where the culture tends to disagree with the Church's stance on the issue. As a teacher you can't see that as a failure because after all, they did in fact research the opposing view to their position and do have to show evidence that they took in what is said by their opponent. In many cases, students find more middle ground than expected, which allows them to see the possibility of being able to work on a solution with those in opposition to their point of view. Imagine that.
Yes, I know that some theology teachers worry for their students' moral development and eternal destination but there are times when all you can do is plant seeds and pray for them. Remember, even Jesus Christ had people walk away from Him and it wasn't always out of hostility. There were times when the things He taught were just too hard for people to understand (John 6:60). But did these people walk away from Him believing that He didn't care about them? And, do we know what happened to these people later in life? How do we know that they didn't have a conversion experience that was simply not recorded in the Gospels? And, what makes us think that the way we treat our students won't impact them later in life even if we never hear about it?
There are moments when it is a leap of faith and there are times when it is not because some of our former students will at times track us down in order to thank us for all that we have done for them.
Outside of the Classroom
Sometimes the most important thing we can do is show an interest in our students as people. Good theology is much more than an academic subject and the best example of that was when Jesus Christ loved those in need of love. He didn't win the hearts of His people by winning debates with the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those were the moments when He showed the credibility of His teachings (more on that in a later blog).
We spend about 10 months of our year walking the hallways of our schools. We are going to see many of our students hanging out with their friends and at times, not looking very happy. In either case, we should greet them and wish them well. If they look like they need some assistance then we ask them if they are okay and if there is anything you can do to help.
I know this sounds so obvious to many but in 22 years of teaching I can't tell you have many times I have seen colleagues of mine walk right past anyone that approaches them in the hallways without even looking at them. And yes, many of these people were theology teachers!
W should greet our students every day and let them see us greet our colleagues in the same way. If they share something with us in terms of what they are up to we should ask them about it the following day. Let them see that we are interested in their lives. So many people forget that many of these students come from broken homes and that teachers, coaches, counselors, etc. are in many cases the only adult mentors they have in their lives.
Conclusion
I hope that some of the insights I have shared will bring some light to those who are figuring out this profession and/or give a glimpse to those who wonder what it's like to be in my position. Yes, there are times when it carries a big weight and so much of what I have learned over the years came from so many opportunities where I failed my students. In each case I never hesitated to apologize to them because that too shows how much I care about them. Each student is also person so if they have been hurt they have the right to have these hurts addressed by the person that hurt them, even if it was a theology teacher.
Aside from that, the rewards are so amazing that you can rarely put into words how it makes you feel. First off, we feel a special grace that could only come from God because we are doing His work while also answering the call to our profession. Second, we see the growth of our students as people because one can never underestimate how it makes a person feel when they know that they are loved. Many times we talk about the look on a woman's face when she is in love and while that is in fact a very beautiful thing to see we will in fact see the same beauty on the face of a teenager who has accepted the fact that there life does it fact have value and meaning, which can only come fro being loved.
You want to talk about having hope for the future...
That's why I love this excerpt from the Dream Theater song Surrender to Reason: "I believe the sacrifices in life give more than they take." Yes, much is always asked of us and there are times when we can feel these demands pulling us in so many different directions. But within that agony there is ecstasy because one, there is always that chance where we will see the difference we made in a young person's life. Aside from that, if we never see the fruits of our labors and/or find out that a student didn't quite make it in life we will never have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we exhausted our love for ouor student because we already know the answer.
I'll let Karl Menninger have the last word.
Carlos Arthur Solorzano
BA & MA in Religious Studies from Cal State Long Beach
Certified Through the Theology of the Body Institute
Theology Teacher at St. Augustine Catholic High School
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