Emily DeGrange

Teachers and Faith Reflection

The main purpose of this well-written article about faith and teaching is the focus on the
motives that drive teachers to be their best. Teaching is a way of living not simply a profession
and one way the article discusses this point is in the distinction they make in saying that teachers
are in charge of forming the whole person. They are in charge of the mental, physical, spiritual
and emotional well-being of their students not just the academic portion of their classroom
(Eckert 1).1 The second main point that the article makes is that teachers of all backgrounds can
be excellent teachers, but those of faith usually have more drive behind them. Teachers who have
a solid faith foundation typically teach because they feel it is their vocation to help form their
students and have a strong sense of purpose outside of themselves (Eckert 1). The final point is
of the article is that teachers are expected and trusted not to impose their personal religious
beliefs on their students (Eckert 2).
I think that the article does a wonderful job in explaining the difference between letting
God drive your work versus letting your work drive God. All of the people presented in the
article let their divine vocation as a teacher penetrate all of their being including their teaching.
They treated all their kids as sons and daughters of God possessing dignity. Personally I believe
that this is the role of a Catholic teacher to not conform to the ways of this world but be
transformed but the renewing of our minds2 as St. Paul says. These teachers in no way impose
their beliefs or even emphasize the fact of their Christianity. They just let God be the center of
their career and their light shines bright so that they would not need to tell people that they are
Christian. People just know by how they live. This is the teacher I hope to be someday.
1
2

Eckert, Jonathan Teachers and Faith Kappan Magazine, V. 93 no. 4, pgs. 21-24
Romans 12: 2