Wednesday, January 25, 2017

We Need To Put God Back In The Schools!




ummmmm......what?
Excuse me?
You think there is no God in schools?
You think God needs to come back into the schools?
I have one question
WHEN DID HE LEAVE?!?!
As one of my favorite professors said "If you think there is no prayer in schools you haven't been in a classroom before an Algebra test"

If you don't know God is still in our schools you aren't paying attention.
I see God in my classroom every single day.
I see him in the hallways when a student helps a special ed student get to class every day.
I see him in the lunch room when the lunch lady takes money out of her pocket to pay for a student's lunch.
I see him when my students lend each other make up, a clean shirt or applaud each other even if they didn't hit that note quite right.
I see him when the new kid is welcomed with open arms.
I see him when my principal gives the staff biscuits on work days and we meet together in fellowship before our meetings.
I see him in the classrooms late at night where teachers are burning the midnight oil to grade papers and make sure their students improve.
I see him when over 100 students gather to pray for a student who has been in a car wreck.
I see him in canned food drives, angel trees, art shows and music performances.
I see him in money raised for childhood cancer research, in pep rallies, and in graduations.
I see him in joyful reunions after breaks and I see him in the sorrow felt when a student is lost.
I see his grace moving through the building silently but fiercely.
If you think God isn't in our schools then maybe you need to get a bigger God. Mine is still there every day.

Jesus taught us to love. I try to live up to that. I love my students and know that I am showing them God's love every day. I might not tell them it is God's love because I believe in the separation of church and state but someday they will know him through me. And that is all I can ask.

So don't you dare think God is not in our schools. Don't use that as a defense. If you think he isn't there try looking a little harder and loving a little bit more.


“Preach the Gospel at all times.  When necessary, use words.”

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

My Post Election Letter to Trump

Nov 10, 2016

Dear Donald Trump, 
Congratulations! You did the thing. I honestly didn't think that you could. But you did and here we are. I've spent the last 24+ hours trying to wrap my mind around what this means. I have talked to devastated friends, tried my best not to engage in the online rants (I failed some) and cried in my shower.
In the two presidential elections I've had the privilege to vote I've been on the winning side. When I was in high school in 2000 I was on the losing side but I hadn't been able to vote so I wasn't really sure what it would feel like. I and many other Americans have gone through a roller coaster of emotions since the announcement early yesterday morning.
The hardest one to cope with and comprehend is fear. I fear for my students. I fear for my friends who are LGBTQ. I fear for my friends who have a different color of skin than me. I fear for women rights. We live in America. We are not used to fear.
You used fear and anger to start a movement that was successful. People are angry about jobs. People are angry about Obamacare. People are angry about immigration. I understand. I am angry too. I am angry because people I care deeply about are afraid. People I haven’t even met are being attacked because they are different and they feel they have the right to because they voted for you. Children are being told to sit in the back of the bus because of their skin again. Muslim Americans are being told they will be hung by their hijabs. Mexican American children in kindergarten are being told they will be sent to a new school next year.
That is not my America. I believe America is great now. I agree it could be greater. You created those events. In some way you made it okay for them to say those things louder and with more confidence. I know not everyone who voted for you feels that way. I voted against you and I do not feel the need to set a piƱata of your head on fire.
And I hear you saying nothing to your followers to stop this fear and hatred from continuing. I watched your speech you were calm, you were collected and I felt an apprehensive optimism that you might actually unite us.
So do it. Tell people to stop the hate. Stop the hate yourself. I am trying. It is hard when so many emotions are running high. Unite us with grace and truly consider the rights of all people- especially the ones so different from you. We are watching.
Like it or not you are now the father figure of our country. Stop being the biggest bully on the playground. Think before you speak and be a good example for my sons and all children. You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you. Know all of us are rooting for you to do the right thing but aren’t going to swallow the pill if you don’t.
Don’t prove our fears correct.
Sincerely,
Mallory Nonnemaker