soulful-sunday-1

The Call of Teaching

I will never forget the moment I was called to teaching.

I was pregnant with my third child and decided to give my hand at volunteering in my son's kindergarten class.  The first time I walked into the classroom a rush of knowing filled every pore.

I was home.

Like many before me who have had a deep calling – I did not listen to my soul's yearning.  I thought, “Oh, not now. What on earth do I have to offer?”

It would be 8 more years before the call would knock again.   I am still amazed how something so simple can become so profound.

It was an innocent visit to see an alternative form of education.

My dear friend Sue and I had traveled to Boulder, Colorado to see Shining Mountain Waldorf School.   We were given a tour.

The tour guide took us into a third grade classroom.

Goosebumps ran up and down my arms.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw these students in action.

My heart swelled.   There was this vibrant life and energy in the room.  These third graders were on the edge of their seats engaged in learning.   The power of the education in that classroom was like a sculptor of clay.  It was forming the very soul of these children.  It was stunning.   Never before had a classroom moved me with such a force of deep respect.

Honestly,  I walked away from Shining Mountain in deep sadness about the quality of education in public schools.
Every child deserves this.  My child deserves this. 
My teaching heart knew – Education is more than facts, more than reading, more than test scores.

Witnessing that third grade classroom I knew there was a deeper truth of education (whether we admit or not.)
Education is the cultivation and weeding of the human soul.
It is soil in which we grow our young.
A test driven education is like a weed-choked garden.

It suffocates.

I believe teaching is a deep call of the soul.

It is a path of deep and profound privilege.

It is time to weed the garden.