Since I had spent the entire semester in a public classroom, I was interested in seeing what a Christian setting was like. Growing up, I attended three different Catholic schools (in addition to the three public schools I also attended): Our Lady of Loretto (grades 1-5), St. Renee (grade 6), and Mount Assisi Academy (grades 11-12). I realize that Catholic beliefs and Christian beliefs differ, but I must say that being back inside a school that followed a religion was so refreshing. It was comfortable even! While taking my Education courses at Trinity, I always thought that I wanted to teach only in a public school, but after visiting Timothy, I realized that I actually felt more connected to things in a Christian setting. I felt right at home, which was both surprising and comforting.Dr. Boerman-Cornell was gracious enough to put me in contact with Emily Bosscher, an English teacher at Timothy. Though this is her first year at Timothy, she has been teaching English for thirteen years, and she's quite an amazing teacher! We talked extensively about her teaching career, and I really felt encouraged and blessed to have gotten to know her a bit. From the moment I walked in to her classroom, she welcomed me with open arms. I had not even felt this welcome in all of my student teaching placement. I was so lucky to have been given the chance to sit in on Emily's classes for two days.
During both my time at Timothy and the hours after I left the school for the day, I did a lot of reflecting about the differences between public and Christian school settings. When looking at the two different settings, it is not a matter of which is better, nor it is a matter of one being good while the other is bad. Each setting has its pros and cons - there's no doubt about it. I've noticed that the discipline and classroom management is much more controlled in a Christian setting. I am not implying that each and every Christian classroom contains angelic students who raise their hand and speak only when spoken to - nor do I mean to say that all public classrooms are disheveled and out of control. What I mean to say is that I get the sense that in the Christian setting, there is a higher concern for success and good behavior. I also want to say that it seems as though grades are taken more seriously in the Christian setting, but this can only be said loosely. I've seen students lose, destroy, and ignore homework in Christian schools while students receive over 100% on their report cards in public schools. While a Christian school may have better graduation and success rates in regards to academics, the questions of good grades really depends on students as individuals rather than a school as a whole. There is also something spectacular about students and staff coming together to worship together during the school week.
On Thursday, I attended chapel with the students and staff. I've forgotten the importance of taking the time to pray and worship together. At Timothy, time is set aside twice a week for chapel. Since Christmas was less than three weeks away, one of the teachers delivered a story about Cain and Abel. He always surprised us by having his wife and four children come in to act with him. Not only was he telling a bible story, but he always wanted to show us how his family worshiped together each day. Because this teacher welcomed us all into his family's personal/spiritual life, this shows me that a Christian setting seems to be much more close and comfortable as a whole.
I learned that Emily teaches Freshman and Junior English at Timothy. Emily was teaching her freshmen students Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare and her junior students about African American rights through literature. I gathered that she is great at what she does. The level of commitment and encouragement she puts into her teaching is unlike much of what I've seen in all of the teachers I've observed. Whether students were excelling, struggling, or sleeping, she was there to lift them and explain their worth.
I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity to observe Emily's class and experience the community at Timothy Christian. For years, I've told myself that I want to teach in a public school setting only. Since I've been to Timothy, I've seriously been considering working in a private school rather than a public school.
