Message from Donn Start, Principal West Valley Campus

Proverbs 13:24 states that “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”

If you watch sports very much, you've no doubt seen some great plays that ended up not counting, because they made that great play out of bounds. As a former coach, I've seen many arguments over whether or not the players actually were out of bounds. But you don't see arguments over where the boundaries are. In sports, every coach and player knows exactly what the penalties are going to be for breaking the rules.

In athletic competition, if we don't have clear boundaries and clear penalties, we won’t have a “civilized” game. The same is true for school and at home too. If children don't have clear boundaries and clear penalties, they won’t have a ‘civilized” life! It seems as if way too often we see kids who are out of control; as if there's no such thing as being out of bounds. As Christian educators, we have an important duty to teach Christ-like behaviors and consistently enforce its boundaries in a Christ-like manner.

Proverbs 29:17, says, "Discipline your son and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul." Discipline is one of the highest forms of love for a child. It's a love that cares and brings children back when they've gone too far. As educators, when we discipline students, we respond thoughtfully in the way from which they will learn the most. This is far different from “punishment” when people simply dump their anger on the child.

As Phoenix Christian School educators, let’s be intentional in letting students know that not only do we love them, but that we owe it to them to teach and enforce Christ-like behaviors in our classrooms and on our school campuses. By intentionally teaching God’s desired behaviors, and correcting students when needed, you are providing children with a gift that will truly make a difference in their lives.

Blessings to you on a Christ-filled week.