Christian Living

THE EMPTY CLASS ROOM

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
08/07/20
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PROLOGUE

“School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
'Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful, barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate, "I Love You, Joe"
When we were a couple o' kids.“

(Written in 1907 by Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards)

I remember hearing my grandmother singing this old song. She would sing it over and over, as I got ready to enter my first day of school, after the much-needed summer vacation.  This chorus seemed to be the most popular part of the song’s lyrics. The chorus is all I remember of the song.

Did this chorus live up to its billing? Yes, it did, early in my school years.  Unfortunately, I had my knuckles cracked many a time by the infamous hickory stick. Perhaps we need to bring back some of this particular "social justice." 

It seems like crime has progressively ramped up in our public schools more than ever before. What has happened to those good old school days of yesteryear? One need only surf the Internet to find the answer in a mire of different opinions, most of which seem to border on today's self-help psychology.

History has proven that anytime the providential care of our Creator is removed or disallowed in a society, that society tends to progress into immorality. This is the stage our school system is at.

The Supreme Court of the United State rendered three major decisions in 1962 and 1963 which directly affected the public-school system; those were the removal of prayer and the Bible from public schools. These three decisions alone have been the most significant spiritual events in the modern history of education, I think.

According to one anonymous teacher, the standard disciplinary problems of the past, such as talking, chewing gum, making noise, running in the halls, and getting out of turn in line, have now progressively evolved into a quagmire of criminal charges such as rape, theft, assaults and even murder. The mayhem of progressive socialism is now running the show. 

So, what's the answer? I can just hear my Old Time Religion preacher grandfather now. “This modern generation is missing the mark. What they need is to be escorted back to the old fashion woodshed altar, or to attend a good “hickory stick” revival, to the tune of the old King James Red Letter Bible."

I get his drift. In other words, he believed in that Old Testament justice. For me, however, my grandfather was indeed partly right. We need to put God back in our classrooms. (Philippians 4:8)

Now here it is, an educational fiction parable for today’s living, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Take a look at today’s secular education. Could this happen in real life? Is it already happening in our school systems of today? I trust you will enjoy this little blog entitled .“The Empty School Room”

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”" (Psalm 2:1-3)

Thank goodness, school's out and summer is finally here. A much-needed rest for this old-fashioned college professor is surely needed.  What has happened to the old tried and true methods of education? Innovative modernization is good, in its place, but we must not forget our country’s basic founding documents. And above all, we should not forget the divine teaching of the Scriptures. (II Timothy 3:16) 

Now to bed, I really need the sleep. Nonetheless, my sleep was short-lived, with another of my habitual dreams, visions, or whatever the good Lord seemed to want to throw at me.

I found myself transported into what appeared to be a college classroom. The room was well equipped, with the latest educational learning technology. Nonetheless, this arrangement just didn’t seem quite right. Something was missing. I looked closer.

No blackboard, no chalk or school books in sight, only high-tech equipment. I seemed to be the only one there. The student seats were all empty. The professor, sitting at his front desk, was apparently teaching on-line by way of his computer. It was surely a weird sight to behold, a college professor having to teach this way. I could see from his facial expression; he was quite put out with it all. From time to time he would bring out his handkerchief as if wiping away tears.

Having been caught up in the entire scenario, I just couldn’t hold back, I had had enough. Raising my hand, I was swiftly recognized.

Looking up from his computer, he spoke out.  “Who are you? If you are one of my students, please come forward and be recognized. Come chat with me. State your purpose for being here, and please state your question.”   

“I’m a visitor," I replied, "but I can’t help but wonder. Why this particular method of teaching? The book shelf is empty, no text books, no tablets nor pencils. Most importantly, there are no Bibles. And in looking at your teaching agenda, posted on the front monitor, what has happened to the three basic tools of learning, the three "R"s  referring to three basic skills taught in schools: reading, [w]riting and [a]'rithmetic?"

Looking rather distressed, he explained, ”You must not be one of my regulars, or you would be aware of the truth. You see, the learning tablet has changed. It’s all high tech now. No more unreadable handwritten essays to wrestle with, nor tedious boring book reports to read, I simply load the lesson plans on the computer so the students can work it at home at their own speed. In-person interaction is a thing of the past. No one needs that outdated learning format. We all have our own personal ideas of what is good for us. It's labeled progressive social interaction.”

He went on, “Oh yes, the Bible. Well, it too is outdated as are all the other founding documents. This is the new Twentieth-First century, my good man. Today’s social progression has surpassed the outdated religious concepts of the past.”

[Please note: (II Timothy 3:1-9, 13) alludes to mass corruption and a breakdown of law and tradition, holding a form of godliness and having the outer semblance without the spiritual dynamic.' (Dr. Charles Ryrie)]  

“No need for student class activity anymore," he continued. "The new progressive Internet has the teaching truth, and that’s all they need to fit into today’s environment.”  

[Please note: "(II Timothy 4:3-4) gives a description of people who are no longer content to hear the sound teaching, but who were compelled to turn to many different teachers of novelty and untruth. (Dr. Charles Ryrie)]

Having had enough of this societal nonsense, this Old Time Religion professor was just about ready to walk out on this arrogant professor, leaving his ungodly, progressive ideas behind. However, thanks to divine Providence, I was swiftly taken from the scene. I woke up. It was only a dream or vision, and a bad one at that. It was one of the most unusual nightly happenings of my long religious teaching career.

I must have really fallen asleep this time around. The students were gone. Nobody was left but the cleanup janitor. “Well, Mr. Professor, you burning the midnight oil?” he called out over the roar of the floor buffer.

“Yes, but I’m on my way out, so as not to disturb your work,” I answered rather sheepishly. I hope this doesn’t get out among the troops. My reputation would be down the drain. They all like to get at the faculty, you know, especially an elderly religion professor. I hope I can make it home all right in the dark, my night vision not being as it used to be. After whispering a little prayer, I made it.

Well, what I did next was much needed for the enhancement of my teaching career.  I immediately grabbed my Bible and Bible Concordance and went to work brushing up on the truths of God’s Word. I’m ready now, and can’t wait to get back to the classroom to explain the Bible’s inspired writings. (II Timothy 3:16) (II Peter 1:20-21) Amen!

EPILOGUE

I trust you enjoyed this much-needed educational musing. History has a very precise track record of the religious involvement within our great country. From the very beginning of our founding documents, into the halls of education and learning, this divine Providence has always stood out in all aspects of our country’s freedom.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that our country’s populace will feel the need to return to its spiritual roots, both in living and in education, in order to save this great nation of ours.

As (II Chronicles 7:14) explains, it's all up to us, His people, to turn this great country around. Amen!

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