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Dear Shalom and list readers,
In my earlier post I suggested that students need to be firmly grounded
with a sense of awe of the Avot before learning of their failings. This
position was criticized as potentially leading to "cognitive dissonance".
My suggestion is based on my observation that most younger children do not
have the sophistication to distinguish between shades of gray; to them
everything is black and white. Recognizing that with the vast majority of
younger children I will be unable to teach them to grapple with these
difficulties, I choose to give them a narrow perspective, but one that will
serve them well when they reach the maturity to deal with more complex
ideas.
Researchers like Piaget in the field of cognitive development and Kohlberg
in the field of moral development point to growth and development that take
place over a period of time in children. I don't believe that we can expect
our students in elementary school to accept the Avot as models of behavior
while devoting time to discussing their failings. Nevertheless, it is
essential that they be given the tools to deal with those questions as they
grow.
Yitz</HTML>
