Tamiko couldn’t help but feel a little nervous as she set up her classroom for the lessons that she had planned today. Everything had to be perfect. There would be no room for error. Tamiko made sure that all the materials she needed for the mini-lessons were placed discreetly under her chair. The morning meeting materials were out and accessible. The biggest challenge would be the children themselves. Overall, they weren’t bad kids. They had more good days than bad days, but when they did have bad days they were awful. But Tamiko couldn’t control that. That’s where God stepped in. She had been reciting the 23rd Psalm to herself since she came in this morning. Tamiko had faith that God would be with her on this most important day.
He had been with her through so much by now, she wondered at how she could still be so nervous. In the past two weeks alone, she had been taken through so much by the administration that she felt like David when he was being pursued by Saul.1 First, they had directed her to change aspects of her classroom setup and bulletin boards despite the fact that they had been re-arranged earlier in the year by the same people who were finding fault now. Then when she submitted her lesson plans for today’s Quality Review, they were rejected and had to be re-written, not once, but four times. There were constant surprise observations in which the feedback amounted to little more than nitpicking. Suggestions like “don’t use dark colors to back children’s work on bulletin boards” and “math word wall words should be in the times roman font” bordered on harassment. If this wasn’t enough, she was told to re-organize the way that the children’s goals were kept and tracked. The work kept her up well past midnight and then she had to get up at 5:00 in the morning for work, not to mention all of her graduate school obligations and assignments that had to be taken care of as well. Sometimes Tamiko felt as if she didn’t have any strength left. At those times she would call upon the Lord, and He would help her make it through. There were even times when she thought she would lose her mind, but she was grateful to God that He didn’t let that happen. God would be there with her today, as well, but she only wished she knew exactly what His plan was.
Now that she was done, she stood in the midst of the room, giving everything one final survey. Then she prayed:
“Heavenly Father, You have been with me in the midst of all the trials and tribulations that I have faced up to this point. Please continue to hold me up as I go through this Quality Review. Please guide my hands, my feet, my mouth, and my heart to do Your will this day. I ask that You give me wisdom to make right decisions this day. Heavenly Father You also know that the enemy is out to destroy me here. You said that no weapon formed against Your children will prosper.2 I ask that you break the bands of the wicked and confuse every evil device. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.”
When Tamiko had finished her prayer, she looked up to see Mrs. Steele in the doorway of the classroom.
“Hey, Ros. I didn’t know you were there.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t want to interrupt you. I should have asked that you say a prayer for me, too.”
“I do pray for you, actually. I pray for everyone here. Even the people who don’t like me that much.”
“We’re going to need it, too. I just came in to wish you luck. But from the looks of it you probably won’t need it. Seems like you’ve got something much better.”
“Thank you. And may God be with you today, too.”
“Thank you. You know I’m going to let you know now, that no matter what happens today, I think you’re a fine teacher.”
“That means a lot to me, coming from you. Thank you, so much.”
“And not just a fine teacher, but a fine person. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go at this school, and I must say that I haven’t met anyone like you. I’ve seen so many people fall away, not just from this school, but from this profession who hadn’t gone through half of what you have this year. And so far you’ve come through with a grace I’ve never seen before.”
“But you’ve been in this field for a long time. You’ve probably been through and seen more than I have. That would make you a lot tougher than me.”
“Or so it would seem. I don’t know what you have, Tamiko, but I sure wish I had it. If I did, I wouldn’t be leaving at the end of the year.”
“What? I thought that was a rumor?”
“It was a rumor. That is until this morning. I’ve just grown so discouraged with the system. Some friends and I are in the process of starting a non-profit group that empowers underserved parents to make better educational choices for their children. The way I see it, the main reason why the system won’t change is because corrupt local officials deny parents access to the information that the teachers have. Then they use this to divide and conquer us in order to continue the status quo. Someone’s got to make sure the parents know just as much about education as the teachers and administrators do.”
“I’m sorry to hear that you’re leaving, but this new venture sounds wonderful. I hope God blesses it to grow. We surely need something like that.”
“Thank you. Oh, look at the time. We’d better be getting downstairs. The reviewer is probably here already.”
“You’re right. After you”, said Tamiko, respectfully giving way to the older woman.
As Tamiko descended the stairs, her anxiety began to lift as she put on her spiritual armor. She was in God’s hands. Always had been and always will be. And as long as this was true she had the victory already.
Seventy-Six