Teacher

Twinning Problem in Your Classroom?

January 24, 2025 by editor

Several years ago, I discovered something that was never taught in Teacher Training. This is the possible twinning problem in your classroom? We all of course, learn a lot about the tragedy of child abuse and the signs to watch out for in such cases. Nevertheless, we were never informed of all instances in which childhood behaviour can often mimic child abuse, and that you can be seriously caught out and embarrassed.

Fortunately, on this occasion I asked some questions first before reporting anything formally. It was then I discovered the unique phenomenon which I came to know as the “twinning problem”. I found a rare few knew of the problem, because it is not common.

Background to the Twinning Problem

This story begins with being called down to do some urgent supply work in a Home Economics class. This was not my forte at all, but the Vice Principal was confident in my troubleshooting abilities, or perhaps there was just no-one else available.

In any case, I found myself taking a “sewing class” for two 45-minute lessons. I had some work already set, but it was not quite enough for that full length of time. Before the students scurried around, I asked if they had learnt to hand sew buttons.

The vast majority in this all-female class had yet to learn how to hand sew a button. All were fairly competent with machinery sewing though. I breathed a big sigh of relief, for this was the one piece of sewing I actually knew. My mother made sure I was capable of sewing my own shirt and trouser buttons, and doing basic patchwork on clothes.

Twinning Problem Surfaces

Whilst I supervised the class, I noticed one small girl by herself, sitting dead still and staring into the distance. She didn’t make a move. The withdrawn, dazed look on her face gave me the chills. The other girls simply ignored her. I tried communicating, but she made no answer nor eye contact, though I knew she was listening, having saw her tense her body, just ever so slightly. Sensing anger was pointless and would do far more damage, I thought I saw a very clear case of possible child abuse. All the signs were present. Deciding to be proactive, I found a jar of coloured buttons and cloth from the back room to sew some practice buttons.

Still getting no eye contact or verbal answer to my questions, I put the coloured jar in front of her and gently asked if she would choose her own coloured buttons to sew, and I would show her how to sew them on. To my utter relief a small hand reached out and picked a button from the jar. She still did not look at me, or respond, maintaining her staring ahead, with head slightly inclined down to avoid eye contact.

I proceeded to demonstrate sewing a button in front of her eyes, and the young girl picked up a needle and followed my instructions and proceeded with her own work. She managed to complete the work pretty well, though it was clearly her first attempt.

Success and Satisfaction

At the end, a very worthy piece of sewing cloth with buttons was produced. Then something wonderful happened, she looked up at me for a brief moment, and gave the most beautiful genuine smile I had ever seen. My heart almost melted. Breakthrough! They tell you in teaching there are small moments which make the vocation worthwhile and leave you on “cloud nine” for a few weeks, which eases all the pain you receive. This was one such moment. That small smile healed a lot of teaching wounds.

Completing the rest of the lesson was somewhat of a triumph with successful buttons finished all around. Years later, I can still remember one student coming up and remarking: “Sir, remember how you taught me to sew my first button?”

So how does this relate to “twinning”. Well, I went to immediately check that child’s background, worried about abuse. After discussions, I found she had a twin sister. Apparently, they both talked like chatterboxes together, but displayed the same behaviour when apart. They had not been socialised properly outside their twin sister relationship. This was the “twinning problem”. A relation of mine who was a Vice Principal at another school, pinpointed it straight away, when I queried this behaviour.

Oh, that’s the “twinning thing”. She knew it instantly from long experience.

Just Remember Twinning!

So, if you ever come across a possible case of possible child abuse, matching all the signs, first check whether the child has a “twin”. It may save you a lot of embarrassment! It is a problem which may be encountered even within high schools.

Masterful Trinity Teaching

January 23, 2025 by editor

Masterful Trinity Teaching can be very difficult unless you have a solid philosophical and theological foundation in the content. Even then, you need to carefully think about what you are doing. Here is a time-tested approach to teaching the Trinity which has been used in dozens of High School classes in many different demographics.

This form of teaching can be done from Grade 8 up to Grade 12, but adults can benefit greatly from it as well, if they have never learnt it. The lack of foundational religious learning in society today is sadly quite common.

The ideal year for deeper concept introduction is in early Grade 10, when abstract thinking is more highly developed in children, particularly in some demographic areas, where delays in childhood development are common, and which may render theological content understanding problematic. However Grades 8 and 9 are possible.

Masterfully Teaching the Trinity Audience

My standard hook involves starting with a prayer using the “Sign of the Cross” visibly and expressly. After which, I then rhetorically ask: “Ever considered why you bless yourself with a Sign of the Cross. It’s the sign of the Trinity”.

Then I say: Ever consider why we say in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit? We do not say in the Names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Today we will find out the reasons why this is the case.

You call yourself Christian. You at least want to explain something about the God in which you actually believe, and with whom you wish to spend all eternity, don’t you?

Now quietly ask yourself this question: “Is Jesus a Human Person? Yes or No? [Pause briefly]. Don’t call out and don’t tell anyone your answer. There is only one right answer if you do not want to be a Arian heretic from the 4th century, whom St Nicholas of Symna, the original Santa Claus railed against, at the Council of Nicaea.

Today we will learn what the correct doctrinal answer is and why.

If someone asks you to explain the Trinity after today, ask them that question first. Their response will tell you a lot about their intellectual life.

Masterful Trinity Teaching – Building Blocks

Then I say: “How shall we do all this for you today? The secret is in teaching you the building blocks of the Trinity.

You must know the definitions of Person and Nature. They are a philosophical key to a deeper understanding, along with words like Spirit, Intellect and Free Will etc…

One last thing before we start. If anyone says they understand the Trinity at the end of this course, I will fail you outright.

God is Infinite. We are finite. We cannot totally understand God. We see Him very faintly as though a brief vague glimpse through a very foggy window pane. The doctrine of Trinity is a truly brilliant achievement. It gives us a brief glimpse. Know it well!

Use a Trinity PowerPoint and Kahoot Quiz

To help you do all this training, we recommend you shop for our Trinity PowerPoint.

It gives you a very good baseline on which to customise your Trinity presentation. Symballousa Kahoot Quizzes on the Trinity are also one of our most popular quizzes.

Nose Needling Dilemma

January 22, 2025 by editor

Whaddya, you think Sir?

It was the Nose Needling Dilemma!

You know the drill. I mean both literally and metaphorically.

How many times did this happen to you as a pastoral teacher?

Background Story

You know. There was that young troubled teenage girl who looked like a supermodel. She had lost her father in some form or manner and family and societal life was difficult. Her friendships at school, sometimes had issues as well. But you did the best you could to protect her in pastoral class under the circumstances. Giving regular encouragement, you felt like you had made some solid headway.

The long-term effects though were always a little problematic, because of the loss of an affirming father. You would not always be there either. So much for the vocational support of permanency in teaching. The contract teacher educational system where permanence is hardly ever conferred exists, because you might influence the children!

Meanwhile, teenage body self-esteem, particularly with girls suffers with every passing comment and dispatched Instagram or Snapchat picture.

Incident Brewing…

By happenstance, you run into that same child two years later in a supply class, having heard some sad back stories. In this next unexpected encounter you reap a very raucous late class appearance and a questioning face shoved in your face, breaking school rules, with a “Whaddya you think, Sir?”. Actually daring you to get angry and make a scene over the telling new nose needling incision. Just to catch more attention and notoriety.

Well, what do you do? I mean no little sermon was going to help. Well for me, this time was extra hard. I was caught napping after a long six-period day with full lunch duty. I was really tired. I was also really cranky for another reason. I was not at all prepared for the occasion, and yet then again, maybe I was actually fully prepared. However, I didn’t explode, I did not want to make a scene. At least I got that right.

Unfortunate Piercing Conversation?

Looking up quizzically, trying to appear unconcerned, closer inspection led me to react with a totally spontaneous natural reaction. I just could not help it, and so blurted out:

“What’s that on your nose? It looks like a big fat “zit”? My goodness it really did. Kind of creamy coloured if anything. Sometimes the Holy Spirit works wonders.

The whole class burst out laughing, and she was deflated, but she took it on the nose, literally. Not my best moment at all, but what are you to do? Quickly trying to pour oil on troubled waters, I quickly followed up with:

“Why would you do that to such a beautiful face as yours?”

Then a response came which totally stunned me:

“Why does everyone say that about me? I don’t believe it. Maybe I ought to get a few more of them.”

Yes. I did a complete double take with that. There was stunned silence from everyone!

Shaking my head in utter disbelief, I fortunately did not mention getting a “zit cluster” which would have make it so much better. But that did cross my mind later on.

Final Thoughts on Nose Needling Dilemma

Yep. It’s the teenage supermodels that are often the most totally affected by the loss of male fatherhood affirmation.

There is just no easy solution to this one, but fatherhood affirmation is so important to all children throughout their younger years, particularly in both affirming and properly protecting the physical appearance of their daughters.

You do the best you can as a male teacher, but you know we really cannot! Society actively limits us, and yes that’s another reason why male teachers leave in droves. You cannot act as a proper fatherhood role model. That’s not the job actually. Why should we be telling girls how and when to wear ear rings etc.. The nuns were right, ban the lot until they leave school! Female teachers certainly cannot model correctly in most cases.

So ponder the importance of this quote:

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”

One could have finished the conversation with that quote. Not that it would have any immediate effect, but at least it should be taught, and yes we should “ban the lot!”

Body piercings of whatever type do not promote self worth. Like untucked shirts on boys, they are a give away to deeper problems. In this case, problems with self image. How this effects future marriages is a big issue as well.

Reverse pride is perhaps the key to understanding tattoos/piercings. I am “badder than bad”, “bad to the bone”, and worse looking than anyone else etc… I control my pain by uniquely marking myself somehow. It’s overt pride in a poor self image. Reverse vanity.

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