The Cry of the Teacher's Soul

Teaching is hard. External pressures are steadily increasing leading to high rates of attrition and burnout. Unlike other resources that attempt to address those external factors The Cry of the Teachers Soul offers hope by focusing on the key factor of good education: the teacher. It does so by examining the teachers inner life--mental emotional and spiritual. For the Christian teacher paradoxes in teaching such as idealism/reality and performance/authenticity often parallel similar paradoxes in the Christian faith. By embracing these paradoxes that probe the depths of issues around identity and purpose the teacher can sustain the difficult vocation of teaching even thriving instead of just surviving. Each chapter focuses on a cry of the teachers soul features a teachers story that illustrates that cry and then explores the paradoxes embedded in teaching and in Christianity. Matthias has written a thoughtful reflective and instructive guide for Christian teachers. While this book has wide-ranging application for educators and Christians in other fields of service the carefully-designed chapters in this volume provide wise counsel particularly and especially for those struggling with the very real tensions antinomies and challenges of carrying out ones calling in the classroom each and every day semester after semester. --David S. Dockery President Trinity International University I get tired of reading that this book or that book is a must-read but Matthias has definitely written a must-read for teachers. It is theologically rich readily accessible and eminently practical. It has encouraged this teachers soul. I intend to give it to as many teacher friends as I can. --Steven D. Mathewson Adjunct Professor Moody Bible Institute and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Matthias grounds her approach to educator burnout in both theology and in her long personal familiarity with teaching. In a world where educators often have little control over the external circumstances of teaching that lead to burnout she offers resources to help teachers address the interior and spiritual dimensions of burnout. This book offers real help and real hope for educators whether burnt-out or not. --Ken Badley Professor of Education George Fox University Matthias offers wise guidance to teachers by examining the tensions they face in the midst of the challenging vocation of teaching. She writes To sustain our teaching vocation as Christians we must address the heart as well as the mind. Matthias masterfully addresses both from the perspective of a skillful teacher and teacher mentor. She pastorally reminds Christian teachers that their security in Gods love empowers them to confidently embrace their high calling. --Donald C. Guthrie Professor of Educational Ministries Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Laurie Matthias is Associate Professor of Education and Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education at Trinity International University in Deerfield IL.