Part
II
Family finds in Rhema what they’re
looking for
Wednesday, November
8, 2006 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
They had come to the school looking
for a fresh start and a supportive,
nurturing environment. The Birrells
say they have found all that.
“It has been a
place of great healing for our family,”
says Pam.
She notes that in the
pubic school which her children attended
previously, there was not enough support
for them, especially in light of their
situation.
“We did have amazing
support from family and staff in the
public school system,” she adds.
“But just day to day there were
not enough resources for the needs
of the children.”
In fact, it had come
to the point where her children were
often the ones playing “social
worker” to the other children
on the playground. “That your
child has to in some ways take on
that role is inappropriate, especially
when they need nurturing themselves.”
In contrast, at Rhema,
Pam says she feels that every day
her child is “loved and cared
for and nurtured by the staff.”
Syd says they have found
more friends in other parents at Rhema
than they had during their five years
at the old school. He attributes it
partly to the fact that there are
plenty of opportunities to get together
at the school with its various community
events.
“Even cleaning
at the school, you meet people,”
he says. All the families are required
to pitch in and help with a certain
amount of cleaning throughout the
year. Syd says they have met some
“wonderful” people and
had some deep conversations during
those cleaning sessions.
The freedom to talk
about the Christian faith, a subject
that is basically taboo in public
schools, has also been a drawing card
for the Birrells.
Syd says that he appreciates
that Rhema has room for different
faith perspectives within the main
Christian paradigm.
“It’s not
a dogmatic situation. It’s broad
enough so that you can use your mind.
You’re allowed to ask questions.”
The Birrells also
depend on the school to equip their
children, especially mentally and
spiritually, to survive and succeed
in the larger community.
Read
Part I
Family
finds in Rhema what they’re
looking for
|
