Life is choice- the ad tells us. When we stop to think about it, making decisions is one of the hardest things we have to do, teachers especially. Teachers are faced with a continuous stream of decisions all day. How shall I introduce this lesson? What am I going to do about Jonno? Who am I going to pick to answer this question? Teaching seems to be more intensely about decision making than many professions.

Many decisions are easy to make, we just follow our habits. Some decisions are hard to make, though, sometimes because there are simply so many alternatives to choose from, sometimes because there doesn't seem to be even one way forward. There are also times when we just don't want to do what we know has to be done. This also makes decision making hard.

As Christians we understand that decision making is hard because we're fallen creatures. Sin corrupts our ability to make decisions either because we don't:

a) know how to decide and act for the best- a lack of wisdom; or, because we don't

b) want to face the consequences of deciding and acting this way- a lack of love.

Where does the Bible take us after showing us our dilemma? How does this affect the way we think about teaching?

The Bible encourages us to grow in wisdom and love. God promises wisdom to those who ask. God also works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose. As we pray and read the Bible, alone and with others, Christian and not-yet-Christian, we will see God's faithfulness in bringing us growth. Making some specific decisions seems to become easier as we grow but there just seem to be more hard decisions to take their place.

What's struck me, over the last year in particular, is how students struggle with decision making too. There also seem to be great opportunities for teachers, in particular, to help students not only in making specific decisions but in becoming decision makers.

The idea I'd like to put forward is this- should we see teaching as more about helping students to become decision makers than about our own decision making?

Of course, the reality will always be that we'll still continue to work at growing in responsible decision making ourselves. However, I suspect that our students and our teaching would benefit from placing a priority on consciously seeking to promote independent, enthusiastic, responsible decision making in our students.

How do we do it? We want students to behave well, contribute to discussion, do assignments, anyway. Are there ways in which we can use these opportunities to encourage students to be responsible decision makers?

I think this is the key. I trust I'm not alone in being unsatisfied with myself when I simply expect students to do as they're told or face consequences. However, when I've got more energy, I try to help them find pleasure in pursuing understanding. As I do so I hope I'm encouraging them to see themselves as active agents in their learning- decision makers!

What I'm suggesting, of course, is not new. Experienced teachers seem to succeed in creating an environment where students are challenged. They create an environment where students are encouraged to take initiative in pursuing their subject.

Why do I want to raise this idea? I want to consider it because I think it has consequences for the way we pursue the Gospel with students, Christian or not-yet-Christian. Christian growth can be seen in terms of developing good habits and by a positive, responsible and sometimes courageous approach to decision making.

If we are challenging students to be responsible decision makers in our subject areas, we'll be doing it in sharing the Bible and our Christian lives with them. How often I find myself moving in the other direction, simply expecting Christian students to attend Bible study or feel guilty. Persevering in encouraging people and fostering the best they can be is as hard as praying for them!

May I encourage all who read these thoughts to persevere once again this year in spurring your students on to love and good deeds, you are in my prayers...

Alastair Haines