I have found the ongoing discussion, with its סכסוך, about whether/how to understand and perhaps use Tova Mirvis's memoir for good purpose to serve a practical purpose; I even recall triggering it a while ago.
However, the ongoing discussion exhibits part of the problem. To me the issue involves the following challenge:

Can we discuss, in a classroom setting, the forces and ideas that impact on the lives of our students both with respect and integrity? By respect I mean without demeaning, whether by assuming a superior attitude or by not taking the challenging point of view seriously. By integrity I mean representing the Orthodox point of view cogently and coherently, but not sugar coating it. It seems to me that when we fall short of these goals, we will lead some (not all) students to believe we want to indoctrinate, and not educate. This in turn makes many students think that we are not confident in our point of view, and that we are Orthodox simply because we have been socialized that way.

As an illustration - To many students, the desire to convert to Judaism is rarely a matter of conviction - but a matter of falling in with certain people at a certain time! Not a really rational process, but a socialization. This resembles the very attitudes of many secular people who look askance at converts... they aren't very rational.

By 'not all' I mean that there are students who prefer superficiality, who are happy not dealing with challenges, just like there are students in the secular world who prefer superficiality. I think we would be cheapening our classes if we address discussions as if they are the sole students in the room.

Can we actually educate without indoctrinating? I think that is impossible. But can't we indoctrinate intelligently, and with integrity! That is, as a teacher I can present a perspective I recommend and am devoted to, without denying thoughtfulness, humanity, and other desirable qualities to those with whom I am at odds. As a teacher I don't have to pretend I'm responding to Voltaire, Bertrand Russell, or Christopher Hitchens. But I am not going to get anywhere if I believe the person I am talking to is superficial if he/she doesn't agree with me.

And in order to do so, we can't hide our classrooms from challenges out there. We must confront the world as our students will - and we can, if we have the confidence born of an integrity of perspective deepened by reflection and appreciation that those who are at odds with us are not all alike. Many of our students won't incorporate our convictions if we are working on a lesser level.

MS.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2018 06:24PM by mlb.