What the Dickens! Let's treat our children with respect

Readers of the stories of Charles Dickens will be instantly aware of his depictions of schools and institutions for orphaned children in 19^th century England. They are places of unremitting misery and degradation, where education of the young and the provision of moral guidance are of little or no significance. Children are processed and commoditized, their only worth being in the fees which are paid for their lessons and upkeep. His representation of Dotheboys Hall, run by the loathsome Wackford Squeers, makes uncomfortable reading for anyone attempting Nicholas Nickleby, as does the plight of the hungry children in the workhouse in Oliver Twist.

Pirkei Avot makes it plain that the relationship between child and teacher should be predicated on mutual respect. As Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua teaches (Avot 4:15):

The dignity of your student should be as precious to you as your own; the dignity of your colleague [should be to you] as your awe of your teacher; and your awe of your teacher [should be to you] as your awe of Heaven.

Human nature being what it is, Jewish education spans both institutions that apply this guidance at all levels and those which do not.  I would dearly like to believe that there are no longer any Jewish schools and chadarim in which children are struck by their teachers—whether for misbehaviour or for failing to learn to the required standard—and that teachers and pupils treat each other with an appropriate degree of respect. Sadly this is not the case, particularly with regard to private and informal institutions that exist below the level of public scrutiny.  For my part, I fail to see how hitting or abusing a child improves comprehension or instils a love of Torah and Jewish values. Writing two hundred years ago the Pele Yo’etz said much the same: if hitting children ever did work in earlier generations, it was no longer efficacious in his time.

Via a Google Alert I’ve just discovered that Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua’s mishnah has been put to music and turned into a video clip by Shea and Avrumi Berko. According to COLLive:

These inspiring words of the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos … portray the love and dedication that Rebbeim and Mechanchim have for their precious Talmidim day in day out, which leads to the awesome respect and admiration that parents and Talmidim alike, give in return to their beloved Rebbeim and Mechanchim.

Even if you are not an ardent admirer of simchah music and turn up at weddings equipped with three sets of earplugs, you can at least take comfort that one of the easiest ways to internalise a message is to turn it into an earworm. Let’s hope our teachers take the hint!