Our missionary kids started school about a month ago, a bit earlier than schools in the States since we have longer breaks within the year. As schools in the States were all finally in session this past week, I kept seeing two news headlines related to the return of teenagers to the classroom.
One headline was the increase in districts and states putting limits on cell phones in the classroom. There is now enough research linking increased cell phone availability at school to decreased focus and learning and increased bullying and mental health issues. I don’t know that any of this comes as a surprise to educators, but it took some years and data to convince institutions to make changes to the policies that allowed cell phones in the classroom. In God’s goodness, NCA has been slow adopter of technology in the classroom. We are limited by internet bandwidth and students with individual devices, and we have not pushed the issue as we as educators understood the likely negative effects.
The other headline was the tragic news of a school shooting in Georgia here in the States. As more has been learned, it looks like there are mental health, parental, and accessibility issues. My heart aches for the teens and adults facing such huge struggles. For many reasons, such an event isn’t a concern at NCA.
However, we still teach teenagers at NCA. Almost all of them have spent time recently in their passport country. Almost all of them have regular access to social media and video games. All of them have to navigate relationships with other teens and adults. All of them face upcoming changes. Not all of them know and follow Christ. And so, as we go back to school here and there, I am praying for the teenagers. I am praying that they are growing in discernment and fellowship and joy in the Lord. I pray that those teenagers who do know Christ are a light to their communities. And I pray that those of us that teach them are wise and joyful in the Lord too.