Keeping God's commandments is wisdom

I have to learn to let go.
Whenever I take up something, whether I am assigned to do so or I do it out of my own initiative, I invest a lot intellectually as well as emotionally. I enjoy teaching RS and spend a lot of time studying the Bible. I am assigned to be one of the class teachers of a Secondary Three mediocre class. I put my heart into the development of my students. Of course, my energy is limited and at times, I can be exhausted, both mentally as well as emotionally.

There are several repeaters in this class. One of them, let me call him SC, is a smart boy. He is lazy and has an attitude problem. His handwriting is illegible and often fails to hand in his assignments. Even if he hands them in, they are of low quality. Of course, he learns at his own pace and in his own way. He is able to answer questions in class. He is not tall and plays basketball to improve his height. He likes to date S3 girls and comes into conflicts with a boy in another class over girls. For me, it is understandable and tolerable. After all, he is still growing up and there are a lot of things he needs to explore.
He has given many teachers a lot of troubles in class. So, last month, Brenda and I paid him a home visit to meet his parents. The impression we got was that his personality is very much like his mother. Their relationship is not cozy and SC was rude and impolite towards his mother. Perhaps they are villagers and do not give due respect to women in general. I saw a family photo which they took some years ago in San Francisco. That cute little pleasant boy was the troublesome SC nowadays. Children before seven are really angels. As they grow up, they lose these angelic qualities.

Yesterday, SC ran into trouble in my hand. It was Day 1 and a day before, I had reminded the class to bring back their Listening Textbook. On Day 1, we do listening. SC forgot to bring his textbook. This is March, not early September. This is not his first time and will not be his last. So, I sent him out of the classroom, still within my sight. Some time later, he requested to get a book to read. Of course, it would be better to read than to do nothing. However, his behaviour was a bit stealthy for his slipped a book quickly inside his jacket. He was up to something but I had a whole class to take care of. I let him off hook for a while.
During the break, I asked him for his book. It turned out to be a translated Japanese novel called "My Compensation Dating Journal at 16"! He wore his usual sly grin on the face, showing no sign of remorse. Perhaps he was embarrassed but did not know how to express himself. I was infuriated by the title of the novel as well as his attitude. I decided to punish him harshly, sending him to the Discipline colleague to give him one major demerit. I prefer punishing my children harshly to their getting punished even more harshly by the society. It would be too late for them to reform by then.
An erotica is worse than a pornographic magazine because it stimulates their imagination more than nudity photographs. The harm is more long lasting on young people's mind than on adults. The distortion of sexuality and sexual relationships is more difficult to rectify. Punishment is not the best solution, but what better can we do? SC needs to be followed up by the Guidance team. I myself suffer as well.
Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children -- (Deuteronomy 4:9)
Make God's commandments known to my children and my children's children. Help them learn wisdom.

Dear Lord, You have entrusted these kids into my hands. Help me teach them not only how to score high marks in exams but also Your wisdom to lead an upright and happy life. Amen.