Navigating tricky topics: War
It’s been horrifying to watch the travesty in Ukraine unfold. The aggression and violence unleashed upon the country has been a terrible shock to us all, and a stark reminder of the brokenness of humanity. The groaning of the world around us and the anguish we see on our TV screens is an ever-present reminder of the horrible price of sin.
At ACT, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine, and the surrounding countries. We cry out to God to deliver Ukraine from evil and to restrain the hand of the oppressor.
With such massive events unfolding it is easy to feel scared, and disempowered. But teachers have the responsibility, and the privilege, of telling the truth. Last week, Russia's education ministry announced that schoolchildren throughout the nation will be given a virtual lesson on "why the liberation mission in Ukraine is a necessity", about the “danger NATO represents to our country" and how to “distinguish the truth from lies in the huge stream of information, photos and videos that are flooding the internet today". What an irony.
Christian teachers in the UK, like all colleagues working in schools, can and must tell the truth. Of course, this must be done with sensitivity and regard for children’s ability to understand. A helpful social media post from FaithinKids regarding the conflict gives some ideas about how we can talk to children age appropriately and ultimately point them to our Heavenly Father. Creating a safe, predictable learning space where questions are honestly, yet sensitively answered can help to minimise anxiety. If you can listen to your students non-judgmentally, not only will you get insight into what they are thinking and feeling, but they might, too. Answers to big questions aren’t always necessary. Simply listening with an open, prayerful heart and acknowledging their feelings of confusion can be helpful by itself.
Talking to Children about the war in Ukraine
(adapted for teachers by ACT- originally published by FaithinKids on their Facebook page)
4-8yr olds struggle to process abstract issues; war "far off" is beyond their ability to grasp. They are more likely to mirror others' feelings. Show them what depending on the Lord looks like, help them understand how to mirror that. Reassure them with what is true in uncertain times.
8-11yr olds can process death and war a little more. School history lessons have introduced this concept. They are already asking questions, and have started to process the issue. The questions they are asking reveals that they have already considered an answer, ask them what that is. Probe their understanding, ask about their feelings and share how you pour your worries out to the Lord. Share stories of individuals in Ukraine, tell them you pray big prayers and hold onto faith's glorious hope.
11yrs + can process the issues and have access to Social media. Keep listening and look for opportunities to open up a conversation to ask them what they think and feel, not to tell them what you do. Lean into the conversation, open it up, don't shut it down, ask with them what a wise response might be. Encourage them with what they already know that could help. Show them reliable sources of information and help them pull the truth in to this situation.
This awful situation provides an opportunity to share something of the hope that we have in Jesus. Hope that we cannot be separated from His love. And hope that evil and brutality WILL be met with justice. At a time like this, it is only that truth that can bring us a sense of comfort.
Romans 8:35, 37-39
“Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Please consider contributing to TeachBeyond’s Ukraine Relief Fund. Their team is currently supporting displaced citizens from conflict zones.
Sort Code: 40-27-02
Account number: 21807994
Account name: TeachBeyond UK
By donating this way, TeachBeyond get every penny that donors give. You can put “Ukraine” into the banking reference field. Please then email donate.uk@teachbeyond.org so that receipt can be confirmed.