In my youth, teachers were venerated. In our eyes, they were
super mortals, far above us. We used to watch them going into
their sanctum, the staff room, with awe. What lessons did
they bestow on us? What impact did they have on us which
would influence and perhaps shape, the rest of our lives?
This article is not really about teachers in general, it is
more a digest, partly based on an article about interviews
which M. Chevroni conducted (in Bayit Ne'eman) about
teachers. Many had a positive influence on their pupils, many
left little impression on the minds and in the thoughts of
their hundreds of students, and some unfortunately left sad
and negative impressions.
There are teachers whose pupils hang on every word and
syllable which they utter. A girl of ten or eleven might
quote this teacher morning, noon and night till her mother is
ready to explode. However, the quotations are wise and not
banal. The girl changes for the better very rapidly. She
davens with great concentration because the teacher
said it was important. Her clothes and books are neat, once
again because this teacher whom she adores has stressed the
signifcance of order and organization. One woman who was
interviewed claimed that a teacher of this caliber had left a
lasting impression on her and made her a better wife and
mother.
Some teachers are strict disciplinarians. Punctuality is
essential and tardiness is not tolerated. Many parents
strongly object to this attitude. "What does it matter to her
if my child is five minutes late? Why should I have tension
in the house first thing in the morning just because one
autocratic creature dictates punctuality? Besides, she has
never had to get ten children ready for school all at once,
so she has no understanding of the difficulties, etc." There
are always strict, inflexible people who cannnot abide those
who do not keep to their standards and follow their rules.
Moreover, without a doubt, the easy-going people cannot abide
the strict ones! Nevertheless, it is unwise for a parent to
antagonize this exacting teacher, as s/he probably has very
good vaules to convey to her charges. Values which will stand
them in good stead for life.
One young man remembers a teacher who had a smile. A constant
habitual smile full of warmth and compassion. He does not
think he learned too much in that one year, nor does he
remember that the class was well disciplined. But they were
happy and they loved this teacher because of that smile.
Another teacher's lessons were well prepared. He had all the
materials and books on hand which he needed, and photo-copied
worksheets for children to take home as homework. He should
have been an excellent teacher but he was boring. "One of my
brothers who is ten years younger than I repeated something
this teacher had said. I laughed because he had said the
exact same thing at the same time of year ten years earlier.
Then we boys compared notes. It seems that there had never
been any new material prepared. As a young teacher, this man
had prepared well, but that was it. There was no spark of
life. No enthusiasm to make us want to learn. This teacher
looked out of the window frequently during lessons; he was
not concentrating on what he was saying. He taught us for
three years and the only thing I remember about his lessons
is that they were monotonous and uninteresting." This man
reports that nowadays, the teacher has added a mobile
telephone to distract himself during boring lessons.
What makes a good teacher whose pupils thrive on the
knowledge they gain from him and also from his personal
example? A teacher who can instill a love of learning and a
thirst for knowledge into children's inquiring minds; a
teacher whose homework is not a chore but rather, a
continuation of an interesting lesson; one who has done
his/her work well. As with all other subjects, it is
impossible to generalize. A teacher of mathematics is
fighting a losing battle with someone who has not yet
mastered basic numeracy and who seems to have a mental block
as far as numbers are concerned. This article is really more
about Torah subjects and how teachers of chumash,
gemora and dinim etc. can implant a lasting love
for their subjects into the minds of their pupils.
If a teacher can inculcate not only the knowledge of the
dinim but also the wish to observe them in their
minutiae because we wish to please our Maker, that teacher
has succeeded. If this teacher would manage to teach these
same laws by dint of hard slogging and constant repetition,
he has done his work but is not a teacher who will be
remembered.
I personally was given a broad knowledge and lasting love of
plants and flowers by a non-Jewish teacher who certainly had
no Jewish values, and would not have known our reverence
towards the great works of Hashem. This was in the olden days
when children were often educated in non-Jewish schools
because there were no others. It is unthinkable how many
false values were implanted into our thoughts and minds by
excellent teachers.
Teachers have an enormous responsibility to their charges.
They can make a child or break him. They can be thoroughly
cruel to a child without touching him. The tongue can wound
cruelly and kind children cringe when they hear barbs
directed at classmates. Others revel in the jibes and
faithfully emulate their teacher, making the unfortunate
victim's life a misery. These teachers are also well
remembered in later life but have done far more harm than the
thousands of unremembered teachers who have done their job to
the best of their ability.
Whether they are young or old, teachers should remember that
there are always new things for themselves to learn as well.
Teachers who prepare anew each year although they have taught
the same subject matter for over twenty years or more, and
teachers who can still impart the same enthusiasm as they did
when they began teaching, are the teachers we want for our
children. Children appreciate sincerity and honest personal
example. They see through those teachers who preach one thing
and practice another in their own homes.
In conclusion, I have been told of a certain Seminary
chumash teacher who has been teaching for fifty years!
He teaches with such enthusiasm that he imbues the girls with
a love of Torah and with wonderful hashkofos. That is
the sort of teacher we want for our children. A teacher who
loves the work and loves people, especially young people,
with all their failings and idiosyncrasies, one who is young
enough to enjoy the challenge of the really hard work
involved in teaching.
This is the kind of teacher who will be remembered by the
fortunate children taught by him/her.
