| Low expectations prevail even in the Christian | | | | expectations! |
| community. There are exceptions, but too often | | | | You might wonder whether or not the school |
| Christians can be observed parenting badly. No | | | | employed custodial staff since the students and |
| longer are children responsible for their | | | | teachers did much to maintain the neat |
| actions-their bad behavior is always someone | | | | appearance of the school. Yes, there were |
| else's fault-teachers or other children. Children are | | | | custodians, but one of the strengths of the school |
| pulling the strings, dictating what they want from | | | | was the training of children in all types of |
| Mom and Dad who "dance" on cue. | | | | responsibility. I might add teachers, too. Many |
| Good manners have been lost. Few parents | | | | adults shirk their responsibilities and teachers are |
| require children to use "Yes Sir" and "Yes Ma'm" | | | | not exempt. All of us were responsible for |
| any longer. I would be thankful to hear "yes" | | | | keeping the school clean. I can't tell you what a |
| instead of "yeah" or "pardon me" instead of | | | | difference there was between this school and |
| "huh?" or "what?" How often do you observe a | | | | many other schools where the teachers and |
| young man stand up when adults enter the room | | | | students expected someone else to do the "dirty |
| or open the door for a young woman? | | | | work." |
| Respectfulness and consideration are missing in | | | | Whenever we took students on a field trip, it |
| society. | | | | never failed that someone would ask which school |
| Young ladies are scarce. Fathers and mothers are | | | | we represented. People were impressed at the |
| not teaching daughters to be godly young women. | | | | conduct of the students and the good manners |
| Fathers are not showing love for their daughters | | | | they exhibited. The good behavior didn't happen |
| when they permit them to appear in public as if | | | | accidentally. Having high expectations and |
| they are working the streets at night. Modesty is | | | | expecting students to meet those expectations |
| a learned virtue. Christians have melded with the | | | | was part of the success of the school. Students |
| world. We are supposed to be in the world but | | | | saw their teachers walk the talk. As parents, I |
| are not to be of the world in our daily walk with | | | | encourage you to do the same. Parents must live |
| the Lord (John 15:19). Too frequently Christians | | | | the way they desire their children to live. Parents |
| look just like the world. It is refreshing to see a | | | | cannot expect their children to perform to the |
| young woman dress as a young lady and not as | | | | best of their ability when the parent doesn't. |
| a vamp. I know of a few fathers who inspect | | | | Sometimes, I had to take a second look at what |
| their daughters' new clothing purchases. On | | | | I expected from my own children when I was |
| occasion the garment is returned to the store | | | | not living up to the expectations I required of |
| because it fails to measure up to the family's | | | | them. Be careful! Children will notice the hypocrisy |
| dress code. Those fathers are praiseworthy, for | | | | and be much too eager to point it out to you. |
| they are doing what they are called to do-bringing | | | | That old phrase "Do what I say, not what I do," |
| up children in the love and admonition of the Lord. | | | | will become old and weary to your children if you |
| An artist friend and I attended a museum exhibit. | | | | rely on that worn out refrain. |
| As we moved from room to room enjoying the | | | | Teaching at the that school was a pleasure |
| art work, we noticed three high school students | | | | because rules were clearly defined and enforced. |
| viewing a particular painting. We were drawn to | | | | Infractions of the rules were not common |
| the three young women because of their | | | | because the students knew that there would be |
| attractive outward appearance. Their uniforms | | | | repercussions for breaking them. When we made |
| indicated they attended a private school. Unlike | | | | rules, we backed them up with action when they |
| many students, including private school students in | | | | were disobeyed. Much more was achieved |
| uniform, these young ladies were fastidious in | | | | because of this orderly approach. Parents should |
| appearance from head to toe. Their hair was | | | | do the same. If you have told your children that |
| worn attractively, their uniform was neatly | | | | there will be a certain punishment if they do not |
| pressed, the skirt length was appropriate, and | | | | obey in a particular area, and you fail to follow |
| there was no loud jewelry that distracted from | | | | through, you only make parenting much more |
| the pleasing look. We knew nothing about these | | | | difficult the next time there is an infraction of that |
| students, but their engaging appearance drew us | | | | rule. Your children will develop an indifferent |
| to them. We spoke with them for a few | | | | attitude because of your idle threats. |
| moments and came away with a favorable | | | | Reasons for Rules |
| impression. These young women were positive | | | | Rules are not for making life miserable. Adults |
| representatives of their school. As Christians, we | | | | have rules to abide by-traffic laws, business |
| should be excellent representatives of our faith. | | | | conduct, tax regulations-and if they don't follow |
| When I was teaching at the a private Christian | | | | them, there follows some sort of punishment. |
| school in Atlanta, GA, female teachers were | | | | Many rules protect us. Speed limits are an |
| required to wear skirts and dresses, and male | | | | example. Rules we set for our children are for |
| teachers wore dress shirts and ties. When Mrs. | | | | their protection and preparation for adulthood. |
| "H" was asked if the women could wear jogging | | | | Some are for promoting order in the |
| suits on a teacher retreat, without hesitation, her | | | | home-keeping the playroom neat, for example. |
| reply was, "No, I've seen some of you in pants!" | | | | Teachers and parents should not burden children |
| We were professionals, and we presented a | | | | with an overabundance of rules or make |
| professional appearance. The hallways, | | | | demands that are impossible to attain! |
| classrooms, cafeteria, grounds, and even | | | | In my classroom, I had just a few rules listed on |
| restrooms exhibited orderliness and cleanliness. | | | | the wall at the front of the room, always |
| Students were responsible for helping to maintain | | | | reminding students of what was required. The |
| the appearance of the school. High expectations | | | | first two rules were the most important in |
| dictated all that we did. And I might add that | | | | maintaining an orderly and optimum learning |
| parents pay high tuition fees for their children to | | | | environment: "Treat one another the way you |
| attend this school. The cost is well worth the | | | | wish to be treated" and "When the teacher |
| price, because children learn far more than the | | | | speaks, listen and do not talk." If children learn to |
| academics. | | | | follow the first rule consistently, few additional |
| The students wore uniforms and adhered to | | | | rules are needed. |
| dress standards or the parent was called. This | | | | Dumbing Down Produces "Meniality" |
| only had to happen a time or two with a small | | | | We have lowered expectations, along with the |
| number of students, and generally the students | | | | rest of the world, and our progeny reflect the |
| made sure they were properly dressed in | | | | watering down of God's Word. The Puritan work |
| uniform-no missing belt or improper footwear. | | | | ethic needs to be reinstituted where life is not |
| This may seem very picky, but having high | | | | divided into the sacred and secular: The Puritans |
| expectations, even with uniforms, taught the | | | | viewed all of life as belonging to God. Even the |
| students that they had a responsibility to meet | | | | lowest job was performed honorably. We must |
| those expectations. The boys' hair could be no | | | | raise the bar and train up future generations. |
| longer than the top of the ear. If they broke this | | | | Take advantage of having a superior guide book. |
| rule, a note went home notifying the parents that | | | | God wants His people to abound and excel in |
| a haircut was in order. If the haircut did not take | | | | what they are (inward character) and in what |
| place in a few days, the student could not return | | | | they do (behavior or good deeds). It would seem |
| to school until he had visited the barber. Rarely did | | | | obvious that there is simply no way one can love |
| the hair length infraction occur. | | | | God with all his heart (Matt. 23:37) without seeking |
| The school hallways were meticulously clean and if | | | | to do his or her best to the glory of God (1 Cor. |
| a book bag slipped from its hook outside the | | | | 10:31). The pursuit of excellence is both a goal and |
| classroom, it was quickly picked up and returned | | | | a mark of spiritual maturity. This pursuit must not |
| to its place. Students were required to wipe the | | | | be reached as a result of pride but of desiring to |
| lunch tables and clean up the floor after eating in | | | | please the Creator. |
| the cafeteria. The next group to eat lunch quickly | | | | Preparing your children to fulfill their role as |
| let the prior group know if they had performed | | | | Christians in the world should be your goal. Fathers |
| poorly. Students vacuumed their classrooms, | | | | and mothers working together teaching and |
| washed boards, picked up trash on the | | | | training their children to pursue excellence is |
| playground, took out the classroom trash, and left | | | | commanded by our Lord. Do not be content to |
| the rooms neat and clean at the end of the day. | | | | teach your children to accept second-rate status. |
| Teachers didn't plead or cajole the students to do | | | | We do them a tremendous disservice and |
| these things. Some parents were amazed that | | | | dishonor the God we serve. May great |
| their son or daughter would do chores at school | | | | expectations flourish once again among Christians |
| that they didn't perform at home. High | | | | throughout the land! |