The Power of Teachers

One of the beautiful realities of life as a human being is that we have been made by God for relationships. Our own personal experience tells us that when we are in healthy relationships we flourish. But when our relationships are strained, difficult, unhealthy, and even broken, our well-being is undermined. Bad relationships take a toll. We shouldn’t be surprised that new research is telling us that teenagers who have strong relationships with their teachers have better overall mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood. The study collected data on twenty thousand American students, tracking them from seventh grade into early adulthood. This research should spur us to support our teachers, providing them with training opportunities for learning how to better connect with students. In addition, we should be praying for our teachers as they have to navigate so many difficult issues in today’s world. And teachers, realize the powerful life-shaping you role in your student’s lives.