I would never be the same.
Give me a minute to explain.
When I first started teaching in 1983, “classroom discipline” was much different than it is now. A young seventh grade boy was – in my estimation – quite recalcitrant in class. I arranged as “discipline” that he come to my house early on a Saturday morning to rake leaves.
His mom dropped him off and we proceeded to rake. All the while we talked. I had also promised him breakfast when we were finished. And like in the yard, we chatted over our eggs and toast. I arranged with the mom that I would drive him back home. And we talked.
But then I noticed, little by little, the closer we got to his location, he began to quiet. Arriving at the destination, the car silent now, I saw his house. It was a little mobile home trailer which couldn’t have had more than one bedroom. The car rolled to a stop. He opened the door and without a word got out. I paused in the space until he entered the trailer.
And I remember then as I remember now mixed feelings of sadness, shame, compassion, and resolve.
Never again would I assess a young person by their actions in my classroom without also considering their background, parentage, homelife, or surroundings.
Thanks for spending this minute with me, Dr. Mark Eckel.
Mark Eckel (MA English, ThM Old Testament, PhD Social Science Research) is Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration, Liberty University.
“Give Me a Minute” is an ongoing effort to simply, clearly, and quickly explain aspects of true Truth.
Gratitude, as always, to my longtime friend, videographer, and tech guru Josh for his continued service.