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If you have stepped foot into my office, then it will be no surprise to you that I enjoyed school. Sure, there were aspects that I did not enjoy over the decades of education, but overall, I look back very fondly. I love reading books. I want to learn many languages. I want to be informed.

This is not the case for many. In fact, over the past 10 years of asking kids about the lowlights of their week, all too commonly the answer is a blanket statement of “school.” Oddly enough, me forcing them to do the math to see how many minutes each week that they were in school did not help them change their perspective that 2,000- 2,100 minutes each week cannot be all bad. They did not enjoy sitting in a seat. They did not enjoy being told what to do.

They found classes and homework boring. They could not see real life application. My heart breaks every time. Education should be fun. Learning is good. Before I give you some practical tips as how we can help the kids at St. Paul’s thrive rather than just survive, I want to challenge us adults with a few scriptures.

When you look through the book of Proverbs, the concepts of learning, knowledge, and wisdom occur over 100x. We read that a “fool despises wisdom and instruction” (1:7), and in contrast “Blessed is one who finds wisdom and one who gets understanding” (3:13). The figurative father of the 5 th chapter of Proverbs tells his son “Be attentive to my wisdom and incline your ear to my understanding” (5:1). There is also the statement that “the wise lay up knowledge” (10:14) and that Jesus grew in “wisdom” (also translated skill) and stature (Luke 2:52). Learning and growing are good parts of being human.

As adults, we need to show our kids that learning is good. We need to admit things such as “I do not know” to a question, but then also show the work of finding out an answer. Education is a continual opportunity to fail safely and with dignity. And education is not limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic. Education could be learning a new skill or craft. Education could be learning how to better maintain your vehicle. Learning could be memorization of Scripture or one of those 4 or 5 syllable words David and I use in our sermon deep dives.

We inadvertently teach our kids that school is boring or unnecessary because they do not watch us learn. Read books to your kids for as many years as they let you. Be involved with their homework rather than just complaining about the “new math” that does not make sense.

Let your kids know that mistakes and failures are part of life, and that their identity, value, and worth are not tied to success. So, on top of the items I have listed above, tell stories to your kids about something you struggled to learn or do as a kid—and how you overcame it. Recognize effort before critiquing outcome. When they get assigned a book for a class, go to the local library, get a copy, read it during that same time and engage with them about the book. Memorize Scripture alongside them.

And, pray! Pray for them to have great friends during school. Get to know their friends and their friends’ families. Pray for the teachers, coaches, paras, custodians, lunch ladies, principals, secretaries, superintendents, and every other person who works with the school. Do not passively let the school year go by. Bathe every aspect of the school year in prayer—continually. Your level of commitment and engagement will pay dividends.

For everyone with school age kids—I am in this right alongside you. All three of my kids are going to be in school this year. Lets pray together frequently for each other and with each other.