A Bigger Picture of God’s Kingdom Education Practicum in Prague
This May, I had the opportunity to teach in the Czech Republic for my practicum in education. I and seven other students went with Dr. Sarah Donaldson to teach at the Christian International School of Prague. We did a lot for just a three-week trip!
Each of the Covenant students was paired with a mentor-teacher in either high school or grade school. None of the teachers there were on salary. To work there, the teachers raise funds and then rely on those funds for food and rent. I was amazed that the system actually works. It's a pretty lean lifestyle, but the teachers love Christ and are content with what they have.
I had the opportunity to teach eighth grade earth science and eleventh grade chemistry. The caliber of the kids there was really impressive. The eighth graders would ask me hard questions that made me pause. I especially loved seeing their smiles and how excited they got about things.
A New Experience
The school I taught at was very different from the norm in the Czech Republic. Most Czechs are atheists and don't see a church as anything more than a museum. However, despite the school being Christian, students are not obligated to be Christian to enroll. To apply to the school, interested parents come in for an interview during which they are told about the school’s Christian beliefs, that their child is made in the image of God and will be treated with love and respect. Even if the parents aren't Christian, they typically say, “Yeah, I absolutely want that for my kid. I want them to be treated well, I want them to be loved, and I want them to be in a nurturing academic environment.”
A New Appreciation
My main takeaway from the trip is the whole new appreciation I have for how large the kingdom of God is. You get used to your own area and lifestyle, but when you go to an unfamiliar place where they speak a different language, it changes your perspective. I had several moments where I just looked around and thought, “Wow. This is so much bigger than I thought.”