Back To School Just Seems Different This Year…

by Scott Dunn

Back to school. It’s something children dread. It’s also something they look forward to. They get to renew old friendships. They get to make new friendships every year. Going back to school is beautiful and frightening. Short of committing your life to Christ or getting married, I can think of no other event that is so full of joy and fear all at the same time.

This year is quite different though, isn’t it? The world is still in the clutches of a pandemic from a virus we do not fully understand. Businesses are going bankrupt, and schools are trying to make the best of it. Some schools are in full attendance like nothing is happening; others are opting for an A/B schedule, and lastly, we see many going fully remote.

Parents are faced with choices that are far more difficult than whether Ticonderoga #2 pencils are worth the extra cash or go with the cheaper generic #2 pencils (Hint: Ticonderoga wins). Parents must decide between the options schools are offering. Some are not offering but one choice. If that is full remote learning, the parent must find a way for their child to meet the demands of the school schedule or homeschool them. These are hard decisions our parents never had to make for us. I’m not going to suggest a path for you; we all must find the right fit for our circumstances.

Speaking as a parent, our family has been blessed with the ability to keep our jobs through all of this and to be able to work from home. Our kids will be working remotely, and that means we, the parents, have some extra responsibility in their education this year. I have faith that the teachers will cover their actual education, so my goal is to show them what school teaches them outside of their curriculum. The truth is, I know more about the other qualities they don’t realize they are getting than I do their curriculum.

Our kids are learning great things about presidents and math and science but focus on the life skills that they are learning too. School teaches them things like respect and responsibility and loving their neighbor. They do not realize these things are happening, do you as a parent see it? With children learning remotely, you as a parent must be on your A-game with responsibility here.

Schools teach your children things like;

• Being to class on time

• Getting up on time

• Dressing for success (even remotely our children are being asked to dress as they would for school, and I think this is a fantastic idea)

• Turning work in on time

• Keeping commitments and promises

Your child cannot do all those things without your help, so you must help them. The Bible commands this of you in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” It is far easier to say than to do; I’m keenly aware of that. When I fail, I am open with my children about it. Discussing failure allows them to understand and see why they must work towards success and why their discipline is not punishment but an opportunity to grow. The Bible promises that the fruit of your labors will be great. Proverbs 29:17 shows us our reward, “Discipline your child, and it will bring you peace of mind and give you delight.”

Your efforts as your children return to school are not for nothing. They matter to the parents and the children themselves in ways you may not fathom. Consider what Titus 2:2-5 tells us about the example we set for our children:

Going back to school is different this year, it’s not a daycare your kids go to. They are learning vital things. With many students being at home, we must support our schools as they evolve to help every child. They are not going to get it entirely right. Consider how your interaction with the people who want to help your child will affect the view your child takes of their school.

If you are unsure about the right choice for their learning, start asking questions. Ask their teacher from last year how they learned best; they may have an insight you don’t know exists. Ask your child for their input; this teaches them decision-making skills! Most importantly, pray. God is a 24/7/365 resource of wisdom, love, and peace. Lean into that as our kids go back to school.

Scott Dunn is a Christian husband and father who has spent over 15 years in the telecommunications industry. He is the founder of Talking with God (https://twgpodcast.com), a podcast that seeks to educate and encourage a closer relationship with God. Scott is a northerner who migrated south and has fully acclimated to the wonderful area known as the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He serves at his local church by helping with the production and online streaming of services. He has a genuine passion for the Christian man and his responsibilities, often writing about them on his blog https://justholdfast.com. Here he shares open and real-life experiences so that other men can relate to the human condition and how that relates to a stronger love relationship with God.

Scott Dunn