One Room Schoolhouse

In 1902, Miss Smith had 17 students ranging from ages six to twelve. She taught in her one-room schoolhouse: grades one through eight. She was a master of her craft.

Her craft was readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmatic. When she taught ‘rithmatic to a six-year-old, it was different from teaching a twelve-year-old. The ones who were just learning to count were in the same room as the ones practicing long division and learning about fractions. One of her pupils was Albert Einstein’s second cousin; another grew up to be the village idiot. Miss Smith taught them all and everyone benefited from her teachings. She was a master of her craft.

In a setting like this, it was important for Miss Smith to keep order. For this purpose, she kept a short narrow stick that she used to whip the children who mis-behaved. Her authorization for this necessary evil came directly from The Holy Book which said: “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Down the road a ways, was a little one-room country church. The one who taught there did not have the advantage of beating his parishioners with a stick. Instead, he kept order by threatening them with the fires of hell. He, too, taught those of various levels of ability. The ones who were just learning to obey the basic laws of Moses were in the same room as those learning universal love or contemplative prayer.

The great Teachers of the past had these same problems. Jesus Himself, had to teach both beginners and sages. And, his scribes dutifully recorded his Teachings.  But the scribes forgot one important thing. They forgot to tell us readers whether we were reading what Jesus taught to the beginners or what He taught to the sages: the grade 1’s or the grade 4’s or the grade 6’s.  Modern readers have to sort that out for themselves.  And, unfortunately, we are not the masters of our craft.

We were so much better at learning when we were children: so much better then than now. When we were seven years old, we easily accepted the  reality of our position in the class. Of course the 10-year-olds knew more than us – we’re only 7! Of course a grade 5 has a greater knowledge of ‘rithmatic than a grade 2! But, adults operating at the level of a grade 2 in spirituality or religion have great difficulty with those operating at a grade 5 level of spirituality. For some reason, many adults with a grade 2 understanding of spirituality shun the understandings of the grade 5’s. How strange! It’s like they know how to add and subtract, but enthusiastically reject algebra, geometry and trig. How very strange!

It’s not like they’re rejecting the concept of learning certain subjects. Certainly, we all have the right to “not know” certain topics. But there’s a big difference between “not knowing” and “enthusiastically rejecting.”  Why are those with lesser knowledge and education in spiritual things, so intolerant of those who know more? 

Perhaps those ancient grade 2 teachings about the fires of hell have scared them too much. Perhaps that’s why they’re afraid to check the grade 3 curriculum.

KennyDN www.kennydn.com

April Fools Day, 2021