This past Wednesday approximately 20,000 educators from across
North Carolina gathered in Raleigh on a rainy day for a “March for Students and
Rally for Respect.” This was the largest
political rally by teachers in North Carolina’s history. The importance of education was proclaimed
loud and clear. I applaud their
actions.
The story of our
nation’s founding is filled with many recognizable names: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry,
George Washington, John Hancock, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James
Madison, and many more. But mention
William Small and most Americans don’t have a clue who you are talking about. He didn’t serve in the Continental Congress
or write the Declaration of Independence, but his student did. And Thomas Jefferson was quick to say that it
was Dr. William Small, his mentor and professor at William and Mary, who
“probably fixed the destinies of my life.”
He said Small was like a father to him and for “his enlightened and
affectionate guidance of my studies while at college I am indebted for
everything.”
For every Thomas
Jefferson there is a William Small. For
every great leader there are dedicated teachers who have been influential and
transformational; teachers who have recognized great potential, providing
affirmation and guidance as they have gifted their students with the resources
to discover their God-given greatness.
I probably would
have never been a public speaker without the persistent guidance and
encouragement of my 3rd Grade teacher along with my grandmother and
great-aunt, both of whom were retired educators. They drilled me on the art of public
speaking, helping me to work through a speech impediment, instilling confidence
and courage with each speech I delivered to my class. Even though I was assigned an inordinate
number of speeches compared to the rest of the class, those 3rd
Grade orations provided the foundation of every speech and sermon I have ever
delivered.
I am grateful to
my 6th Grade teacher for helping me to believe that I could be
anything I wanted to be. My 10th
and 12th Grade English teachers opened the doors to creativity in
writing and speaking. My New Testament professor
in college opened my eyes to a new world of Biblical interpretation as I came
to realize that I didn’t learn everything there was to know about the Bible in
Sunday School. My Philosophy professor
taught me that a minister of the Gospel should be filled with kindness,
humility, and respect for all. My
seminary professors challenged me and demanded more of me than I thought possible. I learned how to love God with all of my
mind. The intellectual disciplines were
liberating, and the truth did indeed set me free.
The eloquent
wordsmith of the Declaration of Independence was convinced that the education
of the common people was foundational to the security of a free society—and not
just the education of the wealthy and the elite. He believed that nothing was more important
in government than providing an education for all citizens, “from the richest
to the poorest.” I have no doubt that
Thomas Jefferson would have approved of the rally in Raleigh on Wednesday.
The Apostle Paul
said we must “study to show ourselves approved of God.” But how shall we study without a
teacher? And how shall they teach unless
they have adequate resources? And how
shall we provide the resources unless we are committed to education?
Public education
must be a top priority for our state and our nation. It is not right that teachers have to pay for
classroom supplies and snacks out of their own
pockets. Teachers are gifted
professionals who have answered a calling to lead their students on a
pilgrimage of truth and discovery. They
deserve better.
