Outstanding In My Field

You are evil

07:57, Saturday, February 16, 2008 .. Link

Don't let the title surprise you....yet. But this was the conclusion that I have been trying to get my middle school students to understand. But first, the story.

We have a rather eccentric teacher at our school. She told a group of middle school kids that they were evil, that they would never change, and that most of their parents should have used birth control. Some of the more sensitive kids took this kind of personally, and she was 'talked to' about it. Now before you get all bristled up, the focus is not about her. It's just the setup. And besides. I only disagree with half of it.

I definitely disagree with wishing they had never been born, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

I partially agree with thinking they will never change. More on that later.

I whole-heartedly agree that they are evil. Now they are not more evil than your average middle school students, and there are definitely encouraging signs that some of them may do the right thing from time to time. But problem really seems to be in their thinking that they are "good", or "not that bad", when in fact, from a standpoint of sheer motive, they are pure evil.

I was discussing this possibility with a student. Here's the point I tried to make (as I pointed to the cruelty prevention poster at his back). First, I was able to get him to agree that, by and large, causing or witnessing the suffering of another for personal enjoyment is evil. Yes, he could concede this point. Now at this stage, perhaps sensing where I was going, he tried to break it into degrees. For instance, ambushing a student to beat the stuffing out of him (which almost never happens at school) was 'more evil' than pushing them into the lockers (which happens every hour). I agreed that the ends may be of different magnitudes, but the motive that caused them was the same, and that it was evil. He was still reluctant to accept this at this point and I suggested that it may be due to him (and pretty much everyone he knows) having shoved and tripped some people for fun in his day. We didn't leave the girls out of this discussion, either. Words are often harder than the floor...and they can shove with the best of them. As our little talk came to a close, he seemed undecided still. I suggested he take a step back and look around and observe motives as well as actions.

Another thought that occurred to me is that I'm not surprised by the disregard for pain that I observe. I am a little surprised at the hypocrisy. By and large, and this could simply be at the prodding of our terror sponsoring media outlets, I would say the majority of these kids are against the war in Iraq. So...it's not OK to stop people who hate you and their neighbors from trying to kill everyone who disagrees with their brutal worldview, but it's OK to stick your foot out to trip someone as they innocently go to sharpen their pencil.

And now for the statement I half agree with. I agree that they will never change...on their own. But that does not mean they cannot be changed. Scripture indicates that it takes an outside agent to make it happen. And that agent is Jesus. Paul says that there is not one good person among us. We can only stand in the right when we stand because of the righteousness of Christ. Now as a public school teacher, I can't even say this on school property. But I can at least plow the soil.

The student I talked to earlier came up to me last week and said, "I think you're right, Mr. Dailey. We're evil." That's right, we are. Now what are we going to do about it?

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