Teaching and Learning - Reflection by Canon Bob

I do not agree with the ‘truth’ that schooldays are the happiest days of one’s life. In my case my schooldays were a mixture exhilarating highs (almost exclusively on the cricket pitch) and stomach churning lows (almost always when examination results were posted). However there is no doubting that for me that time of my life left a lasting impression and in many ways helped to shape the direction in which I have travelled.

I attended Merchant Taylors’ School Crosby (a few years below Canon Myles!) mostly in the 1960s when there were no such distractions as Ofsted or League tables. This meant that our masters had permission to be a little eccentric and many a lesson meandered into their war time reminiscences after, it has to be said, some encouragement from us boys!

I was lucky enough however, to come under the influence of two very different, but to me equally inspiring RE teachers. They are both still alive and both later in their lives were ordained as priests. Between them they awakened in me an interest in Biblical theology and the necessity of making the connection between the written word and social justice. In their own way they ‘lived’ their subject. I am sure that I am not alone in being able to trace an interest or indeed a career back to my schooldays.

Since being here at the Cathedral I have discovered what a wonderful place of education it is. Our Education department welcome children from across the Diocese and do sterling work with both primary and secondary schools. There is, however other, often unseen, teaching and learning going on that helps to shape lives. I was talking to a colleague the other day who told me of the precious time he had spent some years ago as an organ scholar and the children in the choir have a high quality musical education cleverly mixed with social activities.

A teacher has it within their power to help those learning to love their subject and shape futures. It is a power with great responsibility because used poorly it can have the opposite effect. I believe that we are blessed that the adults who interact with the children in our care are talented and caring and are each day in different ways introducing them to our core values and helping shape their futures.
 
Canon Bob

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.