Good Erev Shabbat to all!
This week in our Summer Learning Center, we learned a Gemara that contains an important and valuable insight into interpersonal relationships, and, in particular, the teacher-student dynamic in the classroom. The Gemara is found in Berachot 36a. The Gemara there is discussing a dispute over the proper Bracha recited before eating palm shoots. The dialogue is between Shmuel and his disciple Rav Yehuda, to whom he lovingly refers as "Sharp One" (Shinina). After bringing arguments back and forth the Gemara concludes that "even though Shmuel praised Rav Yehuda for his position on this matter, the Halacha accords with Shmuel." What a tremendous lesson! Even when a child (or for that matter any person) gives a wrong answer, it is an opportunity to build him up. It is chance to validate his thought process and to make him feel that his opinion is taken seriously and, indeed, has contributed to us arriving at the correct conclusion in the end.
It is often quoted in the name of Rav Pam, Tzatzal, that there are two ways to "acquire" a student. Through two Kinyanim (means of acquiring). First there is"Meshicha", bringing him close, and then "Hagbaah", lifting him up.
As the new school year approaches, let us all try to remember the lesson of Shmuel in the Gemara in Brachot. Let us search for every avenue to raise our students’ self-esteem and self-confidence, so they can reach new heights in learning and character development in the coming year!
Shabbat Shalom!
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