Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A tour of Number Three's classroom

Over text, Number Three gave the family a tour of his classroom as he had a bit of time at his school waiting for an evening event. As I went through each photo, editing them for this post, my heart filled with love and gratitude.

We mothers pray for our children... insistently, nagging heaven to watch over them, to guide them, to open doors of opportunities that will provide them with their daily needs... but mostly that will teach them the way to heaven.

When we traveled to Number Three's graduation last year, it was very uncertain still what he would be doing following that. I know I don't talk about family stress much here--I much prefer to keep it in prayer--but any reader will imagine what it is for a parent the desire to see a newly graduating child well-employed. Not employed with a great salary: no, employed in a way that it will continue forming his or her character and compassionate heart, teaching them the way to virtue and to heaven. And of course still providing them with the necessary for basic needs.

Again this mother's prayers were answered--how can my heart not sing in praise and gratitude? Through our dear and faithful friend Fr. B. A., in a very round-about way, Number Three was offered the position of Greek Middle School and Fifth Grade Homeroom teacher at the Regina Coeli Academy, a small classical school in Philadelphia.

I cannot think of a first job better suited, or more perfect for him. To transition from college life to the real world by working daily with children, telling them stories from classical antiquity he loved from childhood, and his passion for the classical languages as well! And all in a prayerful, disciplined environment where he must behave as a role model and a mature adult.

Not surprisingly, he has thrived in the job! Unprepared and clueless as a 22 year male can possibly be, he learned to ask for help, to humbly learn very basic-basics, and with these, some very important attributes of adult life in the real world. He is loving it. He has always loved children and now to hear him describe his students, his enthusiasm for teaching them, his new-found delight in teaching... how wonderful! I do see the possibility of him teaching all his life, and maybe staying with kids! I see his own future kids in his classrooms, and like he did, they too may surpass their own dad one day in knowledge of Greek and Latin, or the intricacies of the mythology stories from classical antiquity!

We greatly enjoyed the tour of his classroom below! To me the classroom looks more beautiful than any richer, better equipped school I have seen: this one has soul, discipline, and humility before God.












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