When we were learning about the ten commandments, one student asked me "should we memorize all ten commandments?" I quickly told them not to. The bible is to be interpreted, challenged and discussed, not blindly memorized. We discuss the themes of the bible and act out the most important scenes. There is a lot of work to be done in this class but sometimes students show me how much they’re thinking. After class, one female students asked me about the submissive role of women in the bible. I encouraged her to continue thinking critically about the bible in that way because that’s where I want to take the class eventually. These moments show me that there may be more to the critical thinking capabilities of these students than they initially let on.
Teaching is a blessing of a job. I’m challenged everyday to do my best. The students are always ready to show me how much they know and how much they want to learn. I learn so much about their perspectives as students, Chinese citizens and young adults. The back and forth of learning and growing is a gift that keeps on giving.
