My message to Gian Paul Gonzalez

Dear Mr. G,

I really appreciated the article about you in the latest issue of World.  I am sure I would enjoy knowing you, and that, as teachers, we have a lot in common. But I am also pretty sure there is a lot we don't have in common.  The article implies that you are a Christian (in one direct quote you mention Jesus), so as a brother in Christ, I have the freedom to ask you some hard questions.

You said, "My students want purpose;  they want to know that their lives have value...that they mean something." How do you answer this, Mr. G?   Do you tell them that there really is no enduring meaning outside of life in Christ? Or would that be too negative? Too intolerant? Do you present Christ as one among many ways to find meaning in life - all equally valid and undifferentiated? Or do you honor the implicit contract you have made with the state to be totally silent in matters of faith?

If you do say that meaning is found in Christ, are you above-board with your employer about this? Does your immediate supervisor know that you may be proselytizing on government time? Are you afraid of being found out? Does it cause you to behave deceitfully at times? What does that demonstrate to your students?   

You said, "If a student feels his life matters. [he's] willing to fight for it." On what basis do you tell a student his life matters? Do you tell him it matters because Gian Paul Gonzalez says so? Will that be enough when the student has moved on and forgotten you? Do you tell him his life matters because he's "special," like most public school teachers do? Do you not think he will eventually see through this...see that no one is citing an impeccable authority for such an assertion? Or do you tell him his life matters because the Bible says God formed him in his mother's womb and has plans of eternal consequence for him? If that's what you say, see the paragraph above about integrity before your employer.

Your advocates cite as one of your successes a former student who visits you every day and runs an anti-drug campaign. What is the message of the campaign?  Is it "Just say 'No!'"?  Because I'm pretty sure that failed twenty years ago. Or is it "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"?  If that's it, then I know a lot of other folks who are fools working for half the salary you make because they thought they would not be able to teach that message in a public school.

When you advocate "staying in school" and "getting your education," are you saying that education alone can redeem? When students see you pulling down a government tax-based pay check, ought they assume that you believe the government controlled public schools teach all that one needs to know for success in life?  I notice you wear a dog tag that says "Truth or Die." Are you sure that the state standards you teach by in history class represent God's truth from a Biblical world view? Or is the Biblical approach only one among many "truths." Does it even matter?

As I said, I would probably like you if we could hang out.  But I can't wish you "godspeed" without knowing your answers to these questions.*

Sincerely,

Tom Askew, Ed.D.
Educator for Christ

* 2 John 1: 10-11