He never taught a lesson in a classroom.
He never used an interactive white board.
Not once did he use PowerPoint to make His case.
He did not have internet access … or a computer … or even electricity.

He was not trained by a university education department.
He never gained qualified teacher status.
He was never inspected by Ofsted.
He never crossed the teacher pay threshold.

He never spent time photocopying and laminating resources,
or putting up classroom displays.
He never handed out gold stars, house points or certificates.
He never wrote end of year reports.

He never referred to the National Curriculum
or followed QCA guidelines.
He kept no records, gave no grades,
and His only text was ancient and well-worn.

His lessons were socially inclusive.
He taught the economically deprived as well as the wealthy;
He taught the physically disabled and the mentally ill
as well as those healthy in body and mind.

His teaching method was the same with all who came to hear and learn.
He opened eyes with faith,
He opened ears with simple truth,
and He opened hearts with love … a love born of forgiveness.

He challenged, inspired and healed those He taught.
He changed individuals and transformed communities.
Even so, He was never nominated for a Teacher of the Year Award
or knighted for His services to education.

And yet this quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee continues to feed the needs,
fulfil the hopes, and change the lives of many millions around the world,
for what He teaches brings heaven to earth
and reveals God's heart to all peoples everywhere.

© 2004 Association of Christian Teachers

This item was printed in full in the following publication:
The House Magazine (13 December 2004)

The Best Teacher

(Original version - Anon)

He never taught a lesson in a classroom....He had no tools to work with, no blackboards, maps or charts....He used no subject outlines, kept no records, gave no grades, and His only text was ancient and well-worn....His students were the poor, the lame, the deaf, the blind, the outcast -- and His method was the same for all who came to hear and learn....He opened eyes with faith....He opened ears with simple truth, and opened hearts with love, a love born of forgiveness....a gentle man, a humble man, He asked and won no honours, no gold awards of tribute to His expertise or wisdom....and yet this quiet Teacher from the hills of Galilee has fed the needs, fulfilled the hopes and changed the lives of many millions....for what He taught brought heaven to earth and God's heart to all.