“One bruised peach can spoil many more.” I learned that lesson years ago when a box of fresh fruit was delivered to our front door. The problem started when the well-intentioned teenagers from our church fundraiser enthusiastically packed the box too tightly. Shortly after a handful of peaches were bruised, the rot quickly spread to many more inside the crammed container. By the time I opened it, I wouldn’t say the whole box was ruined, but many more of those delicious peaches were destroyed than I wanted.
For the most part, problems in difficult classes start with the attitudes of a few.
Upon further reflection, this truth translates to Christian education. “One bad attitude can spoil many more.” We’ve all been there. We remember those difficult classes. In a fraction of an instant, the faces of some students flood your mind, right? We can pinpoint the issue. For the most part, problems in difficult classes start with the attitudes of a few. Rotten attitudes come with bad behavior. And when those spread, they tend to spoil classes. Maybe it will not destroy an entire school, but the influence becomes greater than we would ever want.
Mature Christian educators, not the attitudes of closed-minded students, should set the climate control in our classrooms and schools. If we understand the environment, we can change it. But as the saying goes, to do so we must “be the thermostat, not the thermometer.” Whether we are novice educators, veteran teachers, or school administrators, we can all grow in our ability to effectively lead students who have bad attitudes.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio is a touching and thoughtful book. It is a New York Times best seller, with over 15 million copies sold worldwide. Wonder is also a successful movie. The 2017 film stars Hollywood greats Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Mandy Patinkin, along with newcomer Jacob Trembly, who convincingly plays the lead role of August “Auggie” Pullman.
Wonder is about bright, ten-year-old Auggie who struggles to fit in to the fifth grade at a new school. Several students relentlessly harass Auggie because of his disfigured face, which underwent several surgeries. The school bully, Julian, spreads the rumor that he started having nightmares after seeing Auggie. He calls him “Zombie boy” and “freak.” Even Auggie’s best friend, Jack Will, is cajoled into mistreating him.
In their not-so-great moments, Julian and Jack Will displayed mocking behavior. In his book Scorners and Mockers: How to Dampen Their Influence in Your School (2015), Rick Horne identifies several indicators of a mocking spirit.
Nonverbal Styles
- rolling eyes
- a smirk or patronizing smile
- an angry glare
- a sigh of disgust or contempt
- avoidance of eye contact when being spoken to
- the silent treatment when being addressed
- stubbornness
- slouching defiance
- disruptive, annoying noises
Verbal Styles
- nasty, sneering, or derisive speech
- belittling, rude name calling, or labeling
- patronizing or derogatory speech
- the disrespectful “why” that is not really a question but a statement about how stupid or unreasonable you are
- arrogant tone of voice
- uncooperativeness
- contempt
- lies
- defiance (15–16)
The situation in Wonder greatly improves when the school administrator, Mr. Tushman, courageously addresses the mocking behavior of the bully in the presence of his parents. Because he has a plan with procedures in place, including the support of the school board and the teachers, Mr. Tushman effectively leads all people involved toward a constructive resolution.
We know that this kind of change doesn’t happen by chance. Someone must put forth purposeful effort when he or she chooses a course of corrective action.
We know that this kind of change doesn’t happen by chance. Someone must put forth purposeful effort when he or she chooses a course of corrective action. It takes courage, and it takes kindness. Whether conscious of this verse or not, Mr. Tushman carefully applies the truth found in Proverbs 22:10, which instructs us, “Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease” (ESV). From this verse we infer that mocking travels with a bunch of grubby sidekicks—strife, quarreling, and abuse. So, when the mocker and/or the mocking behavior is removed, those pesky problems stomp out the door with it.
Eventually, Auggie triumphs over all the hurdles set before him. But what is truly remarkable about Wonder is not just the victory claimed by this young boy, but the retooling of an entire community. Not only does Auggie win, but so do his parents, sister, teachers, administrator, peers, and friends. The complete reshaping of an ecosystem of relationships is on spectacular display.
We want a vibrant learning environment for all our students. We want everyone to grow in wisdom. But when mocking and foolish behavior rule unchecked, they spoil an otherwise healthy learning atmosphere. This is an abridged version of this article. To read more, subscribe to the print or digital edition of Christian Educators Journal.
Works Cited
Barna, George. Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind, and Soul. Fedd Books, 2023.
Horne, Rick. Scorners and Mockers: How to Dampen Their Influence in Your School. Purposeful Design, 2015.
Adam Rasmussen, PhD, joyfully serves as the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Arizona Christian University, where he inspires students to seek connections between faith, reason, and culture as they flourish under the Lordship of Christ in all of life.