What was a truly joyful occasion in your classroom and what do you think were the successful elements that led to that joy?
(א) בן זומא אומר:איזהו חכם? הלומד מכל אדם, שנאמר: (תהלים קיט צט): "מכל מלמדי השכלתי כי עדותיך שיחה לי"...
(1) Ben Zoma says: Who is the wise one? The one who learns from all people, as it says, "I have acquired understanding from all my teachers" (Psalms 119:99)...
1. What is the first step in creating a culture of kavod between students towards shalom and joy?
2. What is the first step in establishing kavod between students and teachers and vica versa?
(יב) רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ אוֹמֵר, יְהִי כְבוֹד תַּלְמִידְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלְּךָ, וּכְבוֹד חֲבֵרְךָ כְּמוֹרָא רַבְּךָ, וּמוֹרָא רַבְּךָ כְּמוֹרָא שָׁמָיִם:
(12) Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua says: Let the honor of your student be dear to you as your own, and the honor of your colleague like the reverence of your teacher, and the reverence of your teacher like the reverence of Heaven.
1. How attainable are these kavod expectations?
2. What are your classroom expectations and do you think they are generally attainable?
3. Are you rethinking how attainable they are in light of acknowledging our different learners?
(ב) כשם שחייב אדם ללמד את בנו כך הוא חייב ללמד את בן בנו שנאמר והודעתם לבניך ולבני בניך ולא בנו ובן בנו בלבד אלא מצוה על כל חכם וחכם מישראל ללמד את כל התלמידים אף על פי שאינן בניו שנאמר ושננתם לבניך מפי השמועה למדו בניך אלו תלמידיך שהתלמידים קרויין בנים שנאמר ויצאו בני הנביאים אם כן למה נצטוה על בנו ועל בן בנו להקדים בנו לבן בנו ובן בנו לבן חבירו.
Maimonides (12th-13th c.)
(2) And not just their child and their grandchild: rather, there is a command upon each and every wise person in Israel to teach all students, even though they are not his children. As it says, "And you shall tutor them to your children" (Deut 6:7) - from an [Oral] Tradition they learned that "your children" [here] refers to your students, for students can be called children, as in "And the children of the prophets left" (I Kings 2:3).
If you had/have children, what would make you feel that your child was being treated as beloved by their teacher?
But wait! There's so much we didn't discuss about knowing ourselves as learners, knowing our students, towards bringing peace, wholeness and joy to our classroom community!
What questions remain?
And as new questions arise do not hesitate to call on your chevrutot here or me: [email protected]