Assessment, Achievement & Attitude

I’m reading the book of Joshua. Moses has died; Joshua is leading Israel. This morning I read: ‘When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, The Lord said to him, ‘You are old and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.’’

It’s a time of reflection, taking stock…

Assessment… God looks at Joshua and assesses the situation… Joshua’s ‘old and well advanced in years.’

When I was working in schools, regular assessment was important. Assessment told us what individual children knew and what they didn’t know, what they could do and what they couldn’t do.

Last night a few of us were reading about Jesus’ assessment of those around him… calling the religious leaders hypocrites’. There are times when I need to undertake a personal assessment, honestly acknowledge where I am, physically, mentally, spiritually…

Achievement… God says that Joshua’s not finished yet. There’s more to do, more to achieve.

Part of our school assessments listed children’s achievements – reading challenging books, learning their tables, writing an original song. Having described what they’d achieved we then set targets… what they should aim to achieve next.

Some achievements are easy to describe – passing the driving test, giving up smoking, learning to play the flute. Others are harder to measure – growing in confidence, developing patience, raising a child… I must keep achieving!

Attitude… To move forward Joshua needed the right attitude. The repeated phrase throughout the Joshua narrative is, ‘Be strong and courageous’.

The children’s attitude to learning, to each other, and to adults in the school community was a vital part of their education. We weren’t just teaching science, history and French; by word and example we were teaching children positive attitudes.

Having assessed my advancing years, my achievements and potential achievements, I move forward with the right attitude… Yesterday I reflected on Richard of Chichester’s attitude-setting prayer that ends:

‘O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day.’