Lent 2014
March 25, 2014

 Read Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-13 

Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
   be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord,
  for my people have committed two evils:
   they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water,
   and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns
   that can hold no water.—Jeremiah 2:12-13

 One thing we must admit, prophets do not mince words. On the one hand Jeremiah tells us there is an abundant and never ending source of water. On the other hand, there are people ignoring that source of quality water while investing all their time and energy in digging holes and shoring them up with plaster that cracks, thus their thirst cannot be assuaged. 

That pretty much describes the current state of public education in the USA. We know what works: well-trained and well-supported dedicated teachers; reasonable classroom sizes; early childhood education; appropriate amounts of books and other resources for each child; children who are well nourished, get adequate sleep and exercise, and are secure in their home lives; parents engaged in their children’s education; and ongoing research and the application of its findings regarding how people learn and how to enhance learning. We actually have millions of students across this country who are getting exactly that type of schooling and thriving in it. I fear, in many of our areas overcome with poverty, however, we are tossing children into cracked cisterns and calling it good enough. It isn’t. 

The sin we are committing is greed. We are not willing to pay for what we know works. And yes we do want to hold the schools accountable for the use of our tax dollars.  And yes it will cost more per student in the poverty riven schools to provide all these necessary components of education because they do not have all the parts in place that is needed. But if we do not break that cycle, it will not matter how many standardized tests they are given. These children will continue to know only failure and so will their children and their children’s children. Our country and its economy will suffer from the lack of both a well prepared workforce and a middle class with purchasing power.  

Prayer: God of All Children, forgive us of our sin of greed. Open our hearts and minds to wise investment in your children’s future. Amen.

The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.