The Core Curriculum

This morning while I was waiting for the computer to load, I did what any modern, tech-addicted, ADD person would do.

I loaded Facebook on my phone and flipped through pages while I'm waiting for my other technology to get going.

Talk about short attention span.

But while I scrolled, I came across a video about a teacher that looked interesting. Within 10 minutes it made me reconsider everything I thought about teaching.

It's about a physics teacher and his remarkable relationships (good ones) that he has with his students...and why he's able to do so.

You'll need to watch the video but its essence is this message-- the reason that physics works, that the universe works, is because of love. In order to make a classroom, a relationship, a family, a nation work, there must be love.

My nose started getting snotty as my eyes began tearing. How often do I forget the importance of love?

When it comes to my husband, it's easier. With my family, sure thing. With my friends, absolutely. But what about my work, my outside-the-home,church, family-responsibilities?

When was the last time that I made love the center of why I teach, why I communicate, why I write?

So often I get caught up in externals--  the theory, the technique, and the textbook--but as is rampantly evident by anyone who's experience a broken education system--those things, without love, become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

This is a teacher living out I Corinthians 13, something I'm ashamed to say that I often left it out of my lesson planning. It's after watching this, though, that I'm reminded to make it my core curriculum.