Gifts of children

Praise God it is rainy season and time for a break, for vexing philosophical about the school and for marking the end of a school year with celebrations of achievements and victories in learning: there is much to rejoice about.
Some children, over whom we were worrying because they didn’t seem to progress as much as they should, have shown signs of improvement. We notice when teachers bring evidence of victories to our attention, sometimes we realize when during talks about our struggles names are suddenly missing; names of children who used to be of concern but now are not. Occasionally we notice because some who used to be a worry are being used as standards against which other more challenged children fail.

One of the greatest challenges for LAMB School is the challenge to be both competitive and compassionate. We seek to deliver quality education. Quality is often measured in how well students perform. That can, however, be a poor standard if it means the weak and the disadvantaged are weeded out of the system. In an era when resources are limited, concern for the common good may dictate singling out the exceptionally gifted for better education. Doing this can easily lead to neglect of the average, let alone those who are not gifted in the subjects taught in schools.

At LAMB School we believe in the value of all God’s people. We therefore do not single out or exclude those who fall behind. We give them the best we have. In doing so we teach them, as we teach their more gifted friends, that every person is of immense value to us hoping to reflect, however imperfectly, a little of how much God values each of them.

Our resources and skills are limited and so there comes a time when we must stop our efforts to educate; the most gifted because they have gone ahead and can continue in prestigious educational institutions elsewhere, and the least gifted because even our best efforts don’t help them progress any further.

As we make decisions and help families make decisions about the future of their children we take into account each child’s potential, our skills – and the alternatives available. We take some comfort that the level of English, of understanding of other cultures, will help these children. We also believe, that our efforts have given them an understanding for themselves, for others and for the world in which they live which, with the knowledge of God’s love for them, is a foundation upon which they can build.

We are thankful for each of our friends who pray with and for us in our work at LAMB School. We are thankful for each of the gifts you send to help us continue the work we do. We are thankful that, in the eyes of God, each one of us – and you, is precious.