[HANASHIR:8672] Re: A dilemma teaching Chad Gadya

[LBerkson <LBerkson...>]

The issues regarding the lesson contents are being thoughtfully addressed 
here.  I'd like to add my own thoughts on the incident itself --- one teacher 
confronting another in the presence of the students.  I have run into this 
problem more than once, in different schools and settings.  The whole topic 
of how teachers who have different views and approaches should voice or act 
on those differences is a good topic for a faculty meeting or a faculty 
inservice.  Sensitizing staff as to how to support one another as educators 
while respecting differences and promoting dialogue is an important matter 
which too often is forgotten while attention is placed on day-to-day 
classroom matters, planning, etc.   

I even ran into the problem once when I was an artist in residence at a 
secular school, doing a songwriting residency.  The students were very 
excitedly involved in contributing their ideas to the lyrics.  The teacher, 
who, I later learned, maintained a "fold your hands on the top of the desk" 
attitude, walked into the room in the midst of this creative energy.  Without 
asking me if everything was ok, she yelled at the kids, not only about their 
behavior but also about what they were creating!  (I found out later that she 
had hoped her little dears would write the school song for posterity.)  It 
taught me that even in settings of informal education or artist residencies 
it was a good idea for me to include in my initial meeting with the faculty 
or staff a description of my process, and my request that if they had 
problems or questions they were welcome to address them privately with me.  
It was a matter of setting up a sense of trust and a venue for communication. 
 I never encountered that problem again.

Laura Berkson

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