Our school is "legal"!

(Legal is pronounced lay-GOW, meaning cool in Portuguese)


What makes a school a good one? Some say that it has to do with the teachers. If the teachers are dedicated, know their subject matters, and have good pedagogy and classroom management, the students will learn a lot. Others may judge a school by the facilities: a school with new science labs, smart boards, a 40,000-volume library, and sound finances might be considered top-notch. Still others might say that a school is only as good as the types of students it produces: are high school graduates going on to competitive colleges, such as Columbia, Northwestern, and Dickinson (wink, wink)? Are they successful in their careers and other endeavors? There are many other ways that schools may be measured.



As I ponder these marks of supposed excellence, I must say that the school where we teach now falls short in many areas. In terms of technology, our school falls short of the norm in the United States. For example, I need to save any documents I want to print on a pin drive, then bother the school receptionist (if she's there) to print it from her computer using an inkjet. Then, I need to hike upstairs to the laboriously slow copying machine to make copies. (I know this would be normal fifteen years ago, but I guess even let-me-churn-my-own-butter A has gotten used to the new standard.) When it comes to finances, our director cut twenty-three staff members last year for various reasons, one being that the school could not afford to pay them. So, one might say the school is under-staffed right now. When I consider that I am the only English teacher for the large number of students who have needs, and that Z is teaching six different courses, I would say this is true. Certainly, our school does not market itself as one that sends students to the best universities. After all, some of them are just trying to learn English! Z commented at his disappointment that such a small portion of one class completed an assignment, even with two extra days to do so. Motivating students is one of his challenges.

Still, I do believe that we have not just a good school, but an excellent one. I will start out by saying that we have a dedicated and trustworthy administration. Our director and his wife, who are from Arizona, give almost every waking moment to keep the school running. I believe that without their commitment and sweat, the school might not exist. They also create an environment that allows honest, open communication amongst administration and staff, which makes the school a more comfortable place to be for us. Now, in terms of facilities, we have a beautiful location in a peaceful, safe, green area overlooking a lagoon. We rent facilities from the church that owns and meets on this property, and the classrooms are sufficient for our small class sizes (usually not more than fifteen students per class). We also do have dedicated, loving teachers. While I cannot say that I am an expert at what I do since this is my first time teaching Bible, and I still have more to learn about teaching English learners, I can say that I aim to do my best, and I know that Z does the same. I have seen the passion and dedication of other teachers at the school as well, and I know that they are there to love their students first and foremost, which is what the Lord calls us to do, after all. Paul says in a letter to the Corinthians, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." No matter how much knowledge a teacher might possess, or how well he imparts that knowledge to learners, if he is void of love, he may as well not even bother.


While we may not have playing fields, tennis courts, or reliable internet, we do have the Holy Spirit guiding us and a staff united in Jesus Christ. I have worked at a number of schools, and this is the first one in which I have recognized the trust that we have in one another due to our shared faith. I also recognize sincerity in teachers that I have not witnessed with such consistency in a school. I do not sense competition among personalities, but rather a sense of unity and cooperation. I do not feel as much pressure to prove myself professionally to the staff, but rather that I can focus on doing my best work for the Lord, trusting that my fellow teachers and I will accept and encourage each other, despite our inadequacies. Even though I am overwhelmed by the needs to be met here, I can take it one day at a time and turn to others for support, likewise offering my support to them. Rather than stressing out that I may not be crafting the tightest, most creative lessons to teach Bible, I can teach the students in love, confident that the Lord will multiply whatever I offer for him to use.


I have barely mentioned the students even though they are the very reason we are here. Our students may not be competing for valedictorian, but we do have loving, friendly students from unique backgrounds. We both teach the senior class, a group of ten tight-knit, intelligent teens who we look forward to seeing each day. I cannot believe I have the honor and responsibility of teaching them about the Lord, though I am sure I will learn much more from them. I also get to teach English to three precious siblings who are from Venezuela by way of Mexico, as well as a second-grade sweetheart from Germany and a local Brazilian kindergartener who knocks on my door and waves vigorously every time he walks by.


These are just a few reasons why we love our Christ-focused, international school, and why, despite its lack of resources and intense academic rigor, we consider it a privilege to be here. Perhaps it is the parts that lack that make the community all the more endearing to us. Just as the Lord can be glorified despite our individual weaknesses, so also can he, in his mighty ways, work through the collective strengths and shortcomings of an entire community that is focused on Him first. We expect to see him work in amazing ways in and through our school. All the glory be to Him!

In front of our school with our matching staff polo shirts.