Then we'd do a talk-thing about whatever the topic was, and then ask "What do you think?" [pause for scuffling of feet, wherein we tried not to say "DO you think???"] *snerk* The best teacher I ever had at leading discussions had a fantastic approach to this kind of thing. Because there are so many things that keep people from talking, including a simple need for thinking time. So she would pose some question and then she would sit there, completely patient and content, and wait for people to start talking--five, ten, fifteen minutes. And it always worked, because you knew that she was perfectly happy with giving you that time. And sooner or later someone always gets antsy enough to say something.
Why would the church believe this? Do you believe it? (It's OK if you don't, as long as it's your decision)" and so on. But I swear, helping those children to think for themselves about what faith actually meant, and whether this was something they agreed with, (rather than - as they were clearly used to - making sure they 'knew all the correct answers') is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. That is certainly the good fight :) and far, far too rare an approach. As you say, though, there's an awful lot of experience and conditioning there that most kids have--I can see why that would take a great effort to start to get around.
It is fantastically rewarding, though, when you know you've gotten them to seriously re-examine their thinking :)
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*snerk* The best teacher I ever had at leading discussions had a fantastic approach to this kind of thing. Because there are so many things that keep people from talking, including a simple need for thinking time. So she would pose some question and then she would sit there, completely patient and content, and wait for people to start talking--five, ten, fifteen minutes. And it always worked, because you knew that she was perfectly happy with giving you that time. And sooner or later someone always gets antsy enough to say something.
Why would the church believe this? Do you believe it? (It's OK if you don't, as long as it's your decision)" and so on. But I swear, helping those children to think for themselves about what faith actually meant, and whether this was something they agreed with, (rather than - as they were clearly used to - making sure they 'knew all the correct answers') is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.
That is certainly the good fight :) and far, far too rare an approach. As you say, though, there's an awful lot of experience and conditioning there that most kids have--I can see why that would take a great effort to start to get around.
It is fantastically rewarding, though, when you know you've gotten them to seriously re-examine their thinking :)