My first “National Treasure” story comes all the way from Philadelphia. Occasionally those of us in education are reminded that the reall proof of our teaching is not in what our students do in the classroom, but inwhat they do outside the classroom. A friend of mine who teaches at Phil-Mont Christian School in Philadelphia passed along this letter, which his school received after a teacher at a different school overheard two of their students in a bookstore.
Dear Staff and Faculty,
My name is Rebecca Pine, and I am a Theology teacher at Lansdale Catholic High School. I was sitting in Barnes and Noble Booksellers yesterday afternoon grading papers when I had the pleasure of overhearing a conversation between two of your students and two students from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. The two girls (both juniors, one full-time and one part-time as she is home-schooled the rest of the time... I wish I had asked their names so I could pass them on to you!) were sitting talking about one of their Bible classes, when the two boys sitting next to them engaged them in what turned out to be an hour-and-half conversation. The boys challenged them on their faith, beginning with the basics and then moving on to more complicated apologetics topics. At first, overhearing them, I silently prayed that the girls would have the grace to defend the Truth well. I quickly discovered that they were perfectly equipped and confident enough to take on the challenge! As the girls clearly, confidently, intelligently, and CHARITABLY defended their faith, I was absolutely stunned and overwhelmingly impressed! I was silently cheering them from the side as they used Scripture, natural law, and logic to BEAUTIFULLY explain and defend the faith. It was awesome to behold. I was praying that the boys would leave so I could go over and affirm the girls without embarrassing the boys, but I had to leave before they did. I walked over and told the girls that I wish my own students could defend the faith as they just had, and they humbly and gracefully accepted the compliment. Wow!!!
I found your addresses on your website, and I write to both the Bible and Physics teachers because I overheard the girls mentioning those two classes most often. I COMMEND you and your staff on all that you are doing at your school. Based on what I witnessed yesterday, you are not only educating and preparing your students for the world they will encounter, but it seems that you are fostering a love of Truth and the ability to explain and defend it. Thank you for your witness, and if you find out who the girls were, please congratulate them once again!
Peace,
Rebecca Pine
Dear Staff and Faculty,
My name is Rebecca Pine, and I am a Theology teacher at Lansdale Catholic High School. I was sitting in Barnes and Noble Booksellers yesterday afternoon grading papers when I had the pleasure of overhearing a conversation between two of your students and two students from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. The two girls (both juniors, one full-time and one part-time as she is home-schooled the rest of the time... I wish I had asked their names so I could pass them on to you!) were sitting talking about one of their Bible classes, when the two boys sitting next to them engaged them in what turned out to be an hour-and-half conversation. The boys challenged them on their faith, beginning with the basics and then moving on to more complicated apologetics topics. At first, overhearing them, I silently prayed that the girls would have the grace to defend the Truth well. I quickly discovered that they were perfectly equipped and confident enough to take on the challenge! As the girls clearly, confidently, intelligently, and CHARITABLY defended their faith, I was absolutely stunned and overwhelmingly impressed! I was silently cheering them from the side as they used Scripture, natural law, and logic to BEAUTIFULLY explain and defend the faith. It was awesome to behold. I was praying that the boys would leave so I could go over and affirm the girls without embarrassing the boys, but I had to leave before they did. I walked over and told the girls that I wish my own students could defend the faith as they just had, and they humbly and gracefully accepted the compliment. Wow!!!
I found your addresses on your website, and I write to both the Bible and Physics teachers because I overheard the girls mentioning those two classes most often. I COMMEND you and your staff on all that you are doing at your school. Based on what I witnessed yesterday, you are not only educating and preparing your students for the world they will encounter, but it seems that you are fostering a love of Truth and the ability to explain and defend it. Thank you for your witness, and if you find out who the girls were, please congratulate them once again!
Peace,
Rebecca Pine
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