Breaking the mold in Jewish Education

"It is critical that we recognize the wisdom of Shlomo Hamelech, “Chanoch le'naar al pi darko” – train a child according to his way. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch

Having a summer camp for girls, doesn't just last through the summer, and so recently I found myself driving some high school aged girls to a camp wedding. As the chatting began I heard my wife ask one of the girls how school was going. The girl’s response was overwhelmingly positive. She praised the teachers, praised the assignments; she had nothing negative to say. Impressed with what I was hearing, I turned to my wife and mentioned that in light of this incredible response, we know where our daughters will be attending school some day!

Rabbi Boruch Chait inspiring our teenagers with music.

When my wife questioned the second girl, the response was almost exactly the opposite. The teachers didn't know what they were talking about, the curriculum was stupid and so on. At that point I again looked at my wife and said, “...and that's one school our daughter won’t be attending.” My wife then shocked me by letting me know that they are both in the same school.  I responded how some teachers were just so much better than others. Again I was wrong when she informed me they were both in the same class!

So what was going on here? These were two great kids. Different personalities, yet both excel at what they do. What's seems so contradictory is really quite simple, in parsha's toldos Rav Hirsch enlightens us to a major malfunction in the educational system. Yes, the school and teachers were doing an excellent job, but only for one part of the students.