Pencils on the Ceiling

When my youngest son, now a Youth Pastor in another state, was in the first grade, his teacher was a young single woman, fresh out of college.  After all these years, it is still my opinion she was not "God-called", but instead Mama-called, to be a teacher.  I don't think she loved little boys, particularly those who marched to the beat of a different drummer, and didn't meet her perfect student criteria.

We had not even completed the first week of school when the first discipline note came home for our signature.  I don't even recall the infraction, but it was probably something like this..."playing in the bathroom", "talking too much", "horseplay at the water fountain', "Sticking pencils in ceiling tiles while teacher was out of the room".... 

When the note was brought home, my husband gave him a stern talking to, and quite possibly a swat or two to the backside, with the threat...."You had better not bring home another discipline note.  Do you understand?".....followed by, "Yes sir".

As I have mentioned before, I worked in the Business Office at the school where my sons attended.  A few days later, in marches my son's teacher, red-faced and angry.  She sweeps out another discipline note; one I had not seen.  Holding it towards me, she said, "I want you to look at this discipline note...This is forgery!" 

Forgery by a six year old.  You have got to be kidding me.  I'm sure I made her angrier still, because when I looked at it, I started to laugh.  In the childish scribble of a six year old, in all caps on the parent's signature line, was only one word....."BOB".

Our little son was faced with a dilemma.  Daddy said, "do not bring home another discipline note...or else".  His teacher said, "get this discipline note signed and return it tomorrow".  So, he created his own solution.  Not a good solution, but a solution. 

In retrospect, we realized we should have been more careful in how we worded our discipline.  Don't make it impossible for your children to come to you when they need to confess.   Keep comunication lines open.  Children should feel free to discuss anything with you, as long as it is done in a respectful manner.

It was a long time before I let our son know that I thought what he had done was funny.  And I must confess, throughout that first grade year, I prayed many times his teacher would someday have a house full of rambunctious boys. 

Hopefully over the years, she gained a little wisdom and learned that we are all in need of a little mercy.  Aren't you glad that God never gives up on us?  He sees our potential when others may never give us a second glance.

Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney