Two Testimonials for Teaching RE

Teaching RE – I Believe 

My name is Carolyn Semedo-Strauss and I have been coming to UUCA for the past two and a half years with my three children who are 8, 6, and 4.

     What led us to UUCA was not a search for a church or spiritual home, but a search for a great RE program.  You see, when our daughter was about six years old, she began to use the terms Hanukah and Halloween interchangeably. The time had come.

    There were a few factors that drew us here in particular. The playground was a big selling point for the kids. For me, it was the large congregation: I could get lost in the crowd and be a wall flower while we figured out if it worked for us. Clearly it works, as we are still here and I'm teaching the 4th grade RE class.

     But, I must confess, I was a reluctant teacher. I'd like to share with you the reasons why I was reluctant and why I'm glad I got over it. First, the resistance, and then the resonance.

 I was a reluctant RE teacher because:

• With three young kids, I didn’t have time to commit to another thing.

• I would have to choose to teach one of my three kids classes and two of them would be really disappointed. So, I ended up teaching a class that none of my children attend so that all three would be equally disappointed.

• I wouldn't have time to be a snack parent in my own kids classes, a time I treasure.

• I knew only one family in the fourth grade class. I didn't know most of them and they didn't know me.

• I know the third grade set and younger. 4th graders were a foreign species, which was a little bit intimidating.

• I wasn't ready to give up my wall-flower status.

• I don't like being front and center (and yet, here I find myself!)

• I didn't know my bible stories well enough to teach them to my own kids, never mind teach them to a class

But, I took the leap and signed up. I'm glad that I teach the 4th grade RE class because:

• I've been part of a really collaborative teaching team who were really supportive, especially when I was learning the ropes.

• Teaching is a great way to learn, understand and share the Unitarian way.                           

• I've gotten to know a wonderful, energetic group of young people and their parents.
• I've gotten insights on what my oldest will be learning next year when she enters 4th grade.
• I did something that was initially very uncomfortable for me that I've actually grown to enjoy.
• I'm setting a positive example for my kids by stretching myself beyond my comfort zone.
• I've been able to give back to UUCA and the RE program, both of which have given so much to my family.

• I'm finally learning my bible stories!

So, whatever is on your list of reasons why you can't or don't want to teach an RE class, I believe that once you do, you'll grow an equally long list of the things you've gained as a result.

Teaching RE – I Believe 

My name is Ann Ulmschneider. I have been coming to UUCA since 1988. My three daughters, who are now in their 20’s, participated in the religious education program here. During that time, my husband and I faithfully fulfilled our duty to teach an RE class every other year. When the youngest went off to college, I figured we were done with RE.

As the years went by, I would listen to Rev. Linda’s pleas for RE teachers, but I had my excuses firmly in place:

#1) I had already fulfilled my obligation to the RE program.

#2) I was too busy with other work in the church.

#3) I needed to be gone for weeks at a time helping my elderly parents and my sister who had cancer.

       But other thoughts eventually entered my head:

• The gap between upstairs church and downstairs church was too big.
• Our children needed the support of all the adults in the church, not just the parents.
• I could get to know new people in the church.

So—the “Yes, I can” and No, I can’t” voices in my head kept arguing right on through spring and summer of last year.  The new church year began in September, and there was Rev. Linda still recruiting teachers to fill holes.

The class lists were posted on a board in the fellowship hall, and I noticed that the 9:15 first grade class still needed two teachers. I saw four parents I knew who had kids in that class, standing near the board. I started talking to them about how maybe I could teach this year….and I ended up signing my name on the blank line.

 The rewards have been great.

• I love the enthusiasm of first graders.
• I love listening to their ideas.
• My old skills as a parent and a teacher came back. I had more time and energy than parents of young children to give to class preparation.
• I could come to class refreshed and ready to teach since I had not spent the morning getting my kids ready for church.
• I could teach RE and still attend second service.

 So—if your kids are grown up or you don’t have kids, I encourage you to think about what you can offer to RE. A new door will open and an exciting adventure just might begin.