Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise– 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise– 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

                In today’s society, many parents do not train their children to honor them.  They do not require respect and obedience from family members.  Biblically, a child should not address an adult in the same way they address a classmate.  Even though this is swimming upstream from modern society, you need to teach this to your class.  Role plays and short lessons in respect can reinforce the student’s understanding of this principle.  They are never too young to understand that they need to learn how to deal with authority.  If they don’t develop respect for authority, someday, when they fail to respond correctly to their boss, they may lose a job.

            You, the teacher, cannot change the training being given at home.  However, you can instill truths in the child through short lessons at school.  Should parents come for counsel to ask how to help their child at home, or should they mention that their child seems to behave better at school than they do at home, you will have the opportunity to share valuable knowledge about student discipline. The discipline pointers may enable parents to support discipline training at home, which will, hopefully, build better family experiences and relationships. 

Do not be afraid of the parents; become their co-workers.  They have the student more hours than you do. Any consistency you can establish between the home and the school will be to everyone’s advantage.

            You may want to have parent days and invite parents to visit the classroom one day during the year.  This will help bond the parent to the school. You can honor them as the parents of the day.  During their visit, which can be one or two hours long, ask them to share with the class about their jobs and other interesting hobbies they do. You may even want to have seats of honor at the lunch table for the Parents of the Day.  A follow-up thank you card would be appropriate.

           The more that students understand the honor due to those in authority, the greater unity, and discipline you will experience in your classroom.

Dear God, Help me to honor parents–all of them.  Forgive me if I have preferred one parent over another.  Give me creative ideas on how to show respect and honor to the parents of my students.