I Took A Bible Away From a Student

I never thought I would be a substitute teacher that would take away a Bible from a student. I have taken many things from students: paper footballs, notes, paper fingers, cell phones, mp3 players, homework for other classes, other books, balls and even those finger skateboards. The fact that I took a Bible away sort of disturbs me. To be fair the student was blatantly disruptive, unfocused and not listening the book she was supposed to be reading/listening.

It was fine until we reached a section of the non-fiction novel Daniel’s Story about the Holocaust and Auschwitz (all the school district 6^th grade social studies are reading this), there was an analogy/history about the Jews being prisoners in Egypt and building the pyramids. I asked a question if they understood that paragraph because there was some confusing looks on some of the student’s faces. Then I mention the Bible, Old Testament and the annoying disruptive girl in the back row (obviously not her assign seat, but it was a battle, at that moment, I choose not to do because I do not know where they were suppose to sit) said she had a Bible with her and showed me loudly and proudly. Obviously she did not know much about the Bible (I am not even sure if it is hers) because then she asked me where it was located and but I realized she only had the New Testament. She did not understand the difference. I just let it go.

We continued reading.

When I read to and with a class, I roam. I am not that teacher that sits of front and stares at the class during reading. I find that students behave if they know I could be right behind them without them knowing (I call it my ninja move). The next thing I notice she has the Bible open to a random page is “hiding” the larger Bible in her reading book, not very smart. If you are going to read another book in during reading time, you need to have smaller book. Obviously sixth graders have not learned the art of cheating properly yet. I told her to put it away. The Para-Educator also told her to put it away (all the social studies and English classes in middle school are Honors, but this is the learning issues honor class, do not get me started on this).

I moved on. We continued reading.

By the time, I walk back to her (less than a minute) the Bible out. She was talking to her neighbors. This time I took the Bible, and the Para and I told her to find her original seat, along with her disruptive neighbor.

I am not sure why I feel guilty about taking the Bible away. I am not sure if it was really hers or someone's New Testament. I know that when I was in middle school I was that girl in class that talked all time about the Bible (yes, I was at a private Lutheran school, but it really was not that religious). This was also the time, I was getting ready for my Honor Stars testing in Missionettes (yes, I once was a “poster child” for the AG church). I would study for my honor start testing in class when I was bored. I would read the Bible for fun in class. I stood there for fifteen seconds debating what I should do, and I tool the Bible from her hands. Then again, she knew nothing about the Bible. She was being disruptive. She was not doing what she was supposed to be doing. She did not care about the reading of the Jews in the Holocaust, so why should she care about the Bible? I felt pity and anger at the same time. I wanted to be a good Christian witness (as good as I can be, because I really am not a fan of “organized religion” at this current juncture of my life), but at the same time I am a teacher that is not allowed share faith but only in a historical context. I hope that one day this girl can come to terms if she believes or not.

I guess I am just overall shocked about who they pre-teens and teenagers who are ten years younger than me seem to be more out of touch with the world, knowledge and other people’s perspectives. I am fully aware that is sixth grade and my own childhood experience are not like typical sixth graders (I was a mini-adult, who was well read by this time). Perhaps it as just my upbringing: going to public elementary school, being extremely involved in my home church until I realized they were all about answers but not questions (like the poster with the duck tape over the man’s mouth). I went to private middle school and then back to public high school with teachers that made sure we knew there were other viewpoints. I guess this next, younger generation is slacking. They are less parented then the children of the late seventies and eighties. They connect to electronics quicker than my age group was. They do not know respect because their parents are never home to teach them.

I guess my reaction from taking the Bible away from the student is just a summation of how I feel about the general population of students I have been subbing. I have been out of high school for eight years, and so much of the world has changed. I do not know if growing up in the Midwest is the reason (those traditional conservative family values), or just the way society has shifted in the last ten years. I had to give a lecture about when reading aloud as a class, we need to respect the student respect and I even said, “Respect your classmates more than how you have been treating me.” Students today do not get respect, rules or discipline. Today parents are letting the schools, Principals and Teachers train and discipline their kids when it should be the other way around. I do not have time every time I sub to list extremely basic rules. The golden rule been tossed out the window. I am not saying that my generation was perfect, but I feel there was more respect towards adults, when we were elementary and middle school.

I took away a Bible from a student today, and wondering the decline to civil decency of human beings in a world that strives to be on the top regardless of those they trample on in the process.

It is only Monday. Thank goodness, Spring Break for the school district is a week away.

Christen

Full Disclosure: I also realize that I am subbing in a wealthy school district. At times, I hope that is not the reason that students are behaving the way they are.