Not necessarily a word I like to hear associated with myself…discipline sometimes produces a negative image. I do something wrong and need discipline to correct my behaviour. Yet sometimes it’s a good word…we all need discipline in our lives in order to get done what needs to be done. If I wasn’t “disciplined” as a mom my kids wouldn’t have been fed, washed, taken to the doctor etc.
I saw this word in action last Monday at the Academy. I needed to talk with our head teacher about class lists but when I went to her office it was full of students. I left and came back later to yet another group of students in her office. Once she was available I asked her about the list but also asked what was happening in her office all morning…she said she was disciplining. She told us the students were beginning to slack off from their studies and she needed to set them straight. Over the weekend they had spent too much time playing and not enough time studying. Even when they were in the classrooms supposedly studying they were playing. She wanted to impress upon them the importance of education, responsibility and yes, even discipline. Discipline to manage their time and balance work with play.
Many parents realize how important education is and expect their child to work hard while away at school and here at Nice View we take education very seriously. Between Gideon who is the Director, Stella who is the head teacher/principal and Chuck and I have told the students we can help them by supplying books, paper, pens, etc., having qualified teachers, feeding them everyday, etc. but when it comes down to it they have to want to succeed and they must do the work themselves…we can’t do it for them.
I think more pep talks and yes even discipline may be in the near future for the students but I also ask for your prayers for the students, teachers and staff here at Nice View. I pray they see how very much God cares for them by allowing them this opportunity at education and educating and that they will do all their activities with the Lord as their focus.