You Get What You Pay For

I have worked with kids to what has seemed my whole life.  My mom has been a Sunday School Teacher for over 35 years and worked in the school system as I grew up, and my grandmother has been the children's minister in her church for the past 45 years, no joke.  So I have had hands on training my whole life.  I come from a family of teachers.  Its a gift to be able to not only obtain but to share knowledge.  I then started working with the Church of God state youth group and working a month in camps at age 14 yearly, then  I became a youth pastor upon graduation of high school.  I taught piano and voice for the next 13 years as well as work in the public school system as a choir and music director where I was the minority.  I say all that to also say this.  Not a single child I have ever taught has been of privilege.  Not ONE child had a private education from an elite school.  However, all of my students have succeeded.  WHY???  Because I'm a freakin' awesome teacher.  It's not that I know everything, it's that I know how to motivate kids and instill pride in them and make them feel good about themselves.  I truly love kids and everything about them, even things outside of my classroom.  I absolutely love all people and the potential God has put in them.  I especially care for those that are hurting and God purposely puts in my path.
    So I have something just burning in me from Friday afternoon.  I actually had a respected parent tell me that my expectations are too high.  They went on to say that I could not expect my choirs to do as well as the surrounding high schools in the district because we have minority students (23%), so naturally we have "less willing" students to pull into our choir program.  They also said that I could not expect the behavior that I have asked for in my hand book (aka. keep their mouth shut during instruction).  They also said that if I try to punish the students bad behavior that my program would dwindle down and I would have a job.  I just listened with the burning desire to tell her where to put her information, but I didn't.  That would not be Christ like.
    Maybe it's all the Joel Olsteen sermons I heard while going to Lakewood Church, but I truly believe in going beyond expectations.  To rise above who you are as a person and strive toward that goal.  I know that every child can do that.  To say that a child has too many problems in their own lives to focus on how they act or to better themselves is nothing but trash talk.  I will not listen to it, and in fact I pity the person that believes that you are destined for a straight path of what you are brought up with.  My path goes forward and higher every day and the longer I am at this school the students will see that through me.  God says that we lead by example and my hope is that I my passion for moving forward and higher will catch on to every student I not only teach but come in contact with in the halls.  I am doing what I am destined to do.  And for those of you who know me; could you imagine me doing anything else or expecting less?
Bottom Line:  People will give you what you not only expect but accept.