She’s Got A Ticket To Ride

Dr. Linda Karges-Bone,
Charleston Southern University,
School of Education

[Sept 19, 2010]–




“She’s got a ticket to ride. But she does care”

The Beatle’s 1965 release of “Ticket to Ride” probably dates me a bit. I actually remember my mother playing the 45 on the hi-fi as she ironed Dad’s military uniforms, but the metaphor of the “ticket” is what I’m thinking about today.

It is four weeks into our fall semester in the School of Education, where we prepare competent, caring, committed new teachers. Sometimes the preparation becomes complicated.

Fairly, Lovingly, And Yet Firmly
The question that I wrestle with as a Christian professor, former public and private school teacher, and second generation Italian-American work-ethic driven woman, is how to deal fairly, lovingly, and yet firmly with my millennial students. Their understanding of what it means to come to class on time and every time, and with the requisite tasks, documents, and clinical materials befitting a serious teacher candidate is sometimes quite different from mine.

In the last few years I have been confronted with teacher candidates who miss class; ditch clinicals; neglect to complete assignments on time; and spend time texting during our quality hours together. Now, I know that professors all over the U.S. deal with these issues, but for those of us who prepare future teachers, nurses, and other professionals who must be certified, accredited, and licensed, there are unique pressures.

We have to “sign on the dotted line” that these new professionals have “what it takes” to join the team. When they get in the classroom, the hospital, or on the police force, lives will be at stake. Being a “little late” could create a lot of trouble for everyone once these novices are on duty.

So, at the suggestion of a colleague, I’m going to experiment with a ticket system. Periodically I will stand at the door of my Wingo Hall domain, and when class begins, will give out tickets for entrance to my “Children’s Literature” or “Curriculum and Assessment” classes. One student might get a ticket for being on time, or for having the assignment in one’s little hand, or for remembering their case study notebook. Without the ticket, entry will be denied or there will be an unpleasant points-deducted penalty. Candidates will need a “ticket to ride” into teacher education.

My Dual Roles
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Some, I fear, will feel conflicted over my dual roles as a Christian professor and a demanding professional. That would be a shame.

So, I want to be sure that the “ticket to class” and whatever else I come up with to meet the millennial challenge is not without mercy, compassion, and a sense of love. Illness, natural disasters, and just plain bad luck will certainly merit a “pass” when one arrives without the requisite ticket. That is for sure.

But when I must press hard I will do it with fairness and an explanation, so that these young minds that I am preparing for important work in an increasingly troubled and torn world will know and understand that their ticket is valuable, and so are they.

© 2010 Linda Karges-Bone

Heroes

Phillip A. Bishop,

Exercise Physiology
University of Alabama

[Sept. 12, 2010]–

“We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up…discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Last year I knew that I would be going to the International Congress on Sport, Physical Education and Health in Costa Rica. As is my habit, I let the local Campus Crusade staff know I was coming, in case there was anything I could do to help the ministry. Sometimes when I travel, this means having a cup of coffee with a small group of believers who need encouragement; other times it’s speaking to large groups.

Carlos Tenorio, Crusade’s national director, contacted Cinthia, a Christian professor, and encouraged her to figure out some way for me to be useful. He suggested arranging an evening meeting with a few professors. Shortly after arriving in San Jose, I learned I was, instead, scheduled to present a paper in a workshop titled, “The role of God in the exercise profession, one professor’s experience.”

Disconcerted

Immediately I was a bit disconcerted to hear that in a secular conference on physical education, I was scheduled to give a spiritual talk! What would come of this?

I reported for my morning workshop expecting to have a handful of sheepish participants. Actually there was only one person present. While we set up the computer and projector, a few more filtered in. However, by the time the talk was actually rolling, there were people sitting outside the door because all the seats in the room were filled.

The audience was enthusiastic and the interest was amazingly high – a rebuke to my own lack of faith. We heard later that only a few people attended the other workshops. One of the participants wrote that, “This workshop was an answer to prayer because I was seeking spiritual encouragement.” A young student, who had his own radio program, taped an interview.

Determined To Obey

Later on, I asked Cinthia why she felt she could schedule a spiritual talk at a secular Congreso. She stated quite simply and directly, “I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to do it, so I did.” She went on to say that she had raised the eyebrows of some of her colleagues when she added this spiritual workshop to the schedule, but that she had heard from God and was determined to obey.

From a previous trip to South America I had one of my testimonies in Spanish that dealt with science and Christianity. As I often do, I forgot to hand them out during my workshop.

The Congreso ended and each participant was given a packet with a completion certificate and other items. I saw a fellow who had been in my workshop and offered him a copy of my Spanish testimony. He said he already had one. Confused, I discovered that Cinthia had duplicated enough copies for every Congreso participant to have one.

Who would have done that? Cinthia is a busy professor like all of us; it would have been easier – safer –to focus only on her work. She was willing to ask God what to do, to listen, and then to do what HE said, even if it never put her in the spotlight. In my book, she’s a hero.

© 2010 Phillip A Bishop

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