Last month the Association of Headteachers of Orthodox Jewish
Schools held their Annual three-day Conference at the
Normandie Hotel in Bournemouth. Close to eighty participants,
representing 12,000 of the approximately 15,000
schoolchildren studying at Jewish schools in Britain,
gathered together to participate in a series of shiurim,
lectures and brainstorming sessions on various chinuch
topics.
The guests of honor were Rabbi Y. C. Horowitz (rov of Satmar
Manchester), Rabbi S. Saberski (maggid shiur at Ger
Yeshiva Ketana, London and mashgiach of Pardes House
Grammar School), and the world-renowned mechanech,
Rabbi Noach Orlowek (mashgiach of Yeshivas Torah
Ohr, Yerushalayim, author of books on chinuch and
parenting, and former cheder rebbe).
Rabbi Horowitz gave a series of shiurei halochoh
addressing specific shailos that had been
presented
to him before the Conference, and was also available to speak
to individuals throughout the Conference. Rabbi Saberski
presented divrei chizuk and addressed topical
chinuch issues. He also participated actively in many
of the sessions led by the various speakers. In a flying
visit, Rabbi Orlowek (who was in Bournemouth for 17 hours)
led two sessions which covered a number of fundamental topics
that are vital for all mechanchim.
Also attending the Conference were Rabbi Shimon Weingarten
(rov of Bridge Lane Beis Hamedrash, London), as well as MP
Ivan Lewis, the Jewish junior Education Minister, Dr. Roy
Long, HM Inspector of Independent Jewish schools, and Dr.
Clifford French. consultant in educational law.
The main sessions included discussions of issues such as:
"The increasing role of the Headteacher," "How to succeed in
an Educational Project," "Children at Risk," "Strategies for
Testing Pupils," "Training and Observing Teachers," "Making
Tefilloh Meaningful," "Developing Yiras Shomayim in Pupils."
These sessions were attended by all delegates.
There were also three sessions devoted to Open Forums, which
are round-the-table discussions between headteachers of
similar schools. Special-interest sessions were held for
governors, who attended the first day of the Conference, and
for female teachers.
Each major session was followed by an opportunity for
questions and answers, and there were also opportunities for
delegates to mingle and discuss issues of mutual interest.
Indeed there was a palpable atmosphere of purposeful unity,
as old and young, experienced and less experienced
mechanchim representing all shades of Orthodoxy
mingled
freely well into the night discussing their difficulties and
successes, garnering tips and dispensing advice.
The Association was actually set up in 1991, operating under
the auspices of Rabbi J Dunner, and the first Chairman was
Rabbi Meir Roberg. Upon Rabbi Roberg's emigration to Eretz
Yisroel, Mr. Chaim Wahrshawsky took over at the helm and
instituted the Annual Bournemouth Conference. The current
Chairman, Mr. D. Jacobson, praised Mr. Wahrshawsky's efforts
in raising funds for this Conference. Mr. Jacobson also
thanked his vice-chairmen, Rabbi Y. Yodaiken of Manchester
and Rabbi N. Lieberman of Gateshead, for their assistance in
the organizing and running of the Conference.
Over the years the Association has expanded to include London
and Manchester chadorim and European schools.
Representatives from Antwerp, Zurich, Amsterdam and Gibraltar
were present at this Conference. The Annual Conference itself
has grown in both size and stature over the years, and has
been described this year as `the best ever,' with all
participants returning to their pupils with renewed
enthusiasm for their avodas hakodesh.
We hope to have a fuller report in our expanded Pesach issue
next week.
