Roger's Reflections

This is a reflection on a confusing world written by Roger Price. While he is a Worship Leader at Earlsdon Methodist Church with a ministry in writing, the views and comments contained in this reflection are his own and do not necessarily reflect any position held by Earlsdon Methodist Church.

More details of Roger’s writings can be found at: www.rogoofsham.co.uk
(Please note Earlsdon Methodist Church is not responsible for the content of any external site.)

Taking the Blame

Some of my regular readers - well, the only one I know about actually - have noticed that I've not posted much lately. I'm sorry to say that is because I've been working and that has left very little time for anything else. You'd be surprised how tiring standing at bus stops can be. However you do get to see an extraordinary variety of life.

It was while driving back from one of these passenger counts I heard on the radio a short item about schools. The head of a humanities department was commenting - complaining I think, or arguing for a greater pay rise - about how much of his time was being taken up with children who were disruptive in class. In a sort of negative and derogatory manner he said something along the lines of "And when I ask them why they've not been working like the rest of the students the usual reply is 'I can't do it, I'm thick.'"

Now that really got my goat. I remembered my mum who worked in a junior school on the edge of one of the toughest housing estates in my city at the time. I remember how she chose to take the remedial children as they were called in those days. I can even remember one of the lessons she taught about the Israelites fleeing the Egyptians and hiding in the desert. Those kids learnt something by hiding amongst their desks and never felt they were too thick.

Don't get me wrong. My mum was no wonder teacher. She didn't change their worlds. She still kept track of her former pupils by reading the court reports in the local paper. But she connected with her pupils. I recall the time a widow in our street got robbed and she went storming off to the 'pub on the estate where she met one of her former pupils. She told him in no uncertain terms that whoever had broken into the house had hurt this lady badly. My mum told him to put the matter right. All the stolen goods were returned within a few days.

Books and films tell of this ordinary teachers connecting with extraordinary pupils. "To Serve Them All My Days", "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", "Goodbye Mr. Chips", "To Sir With Love", "Up the Down Staircase" and "Please Sir" are the ones that come immediately to my mind. All of these and my mother's remembered experiences show me one thing.

No matter what that head of faculty says about disruptive behaviour in the classroom, it is not the pupil's fault.

It's the same when you look at the church. Regularly complaints are heard that the great unwashed out there use it at their convenience. They like to be married in church - especially if it's photogenic. They like to have their children christened, baptised or dedicated. They like to think that their earthly remains will be laid to rest by the same institution. And between times they never set foot in the place - unless it's for the Carol Service. Regular church goers are left to carry the load of keeping the place going. Surely if they want it there at these points of passage, they should be around at the rest of the time to help with the care, financing and maintenance of the building?

Just in case you're wondering, it's not their fault that they’re not.

I even heard recently that the Church of England is seeking the appointment of a Minister of Religion because our established church is feeling marginalized in the current multi faith society. Maybe it is. But, if that is so, it's not the government's fault is it?

We live in a society where everyone is quick to look for someone else to take the blame. After all we have every confidence that we are in the right so it cannot be our fault. Or can it?

I'm just glad that I know someone who was ready to own up to his own mistakes. And what's more he took on everyone else's faults as well. He took them to the cross.

His name was Jesus.

Roger
6th July 2008

An archive of these reflections can be found on Roger’s Blog which can be accessed via his website as above.