Agape love is heroically patient.

By Bruce J. Stewart

You may have heard it said that love has no greater expression than compassion.  As teachers and educators, how do we show compassion?  How do we demonstrate compassion for our students?  Do we greet a second grade student who is late for school with the same gracious welcome that was shown for all the students whose parents enabled their children to arrive on time?  Do we offer some special encouragement to this second grade student knowing that perhaps their tardiness was a result of family dysfunction which also explains the wrinkled and soiled shirt he (or she) has been wearing for the past week?

Compassion is defined as sympathy for the suffering of others, often including a desire to help.  As teachers, we have learned that while many of our students may wear a “friendly” face, they may actually be suffering.  A friendly face may in fact be a defense mechanism against being bullied.  A friendly face may hide a student’s fear of asking a teacher to explain the math solution again; or to please repeat the instructions; or to please “slow down, I need more time.”

How do we respond to the learner who always seems to require additional time to complete an exercise while our first inclination is to blame their hyperactivity for their “failure” to get it the first time.  Agape love is heroically patient.  Agape love allows us to connect with the student who needs us the most.  Agape love is gentle and kind.

Our calling as teachers demands that we teach with compassion.  Or calling as teachers demands that we extend to each and every student our love and sincere belief in each and every soul entrusted to our care.