Q&A: Questions in Education
Questions in Education
Question
A number of questions in education that people asked me, and I really have no handle on them:
So we would be very happy if our master and teacher, the true gaon, may he live long, would answer them….
A. A yeshiva student (high school / post-high-school yeshiva—not specified) who does not manage to behave at home the way he behaves in yeshiva. In yeshiva he relates to everyone, but when he gets home he closes himself off and does not relate to anyone. His parents are going crazy from this.
What should he do?
B. A yeshiva high school student who in his ninth-grade year studied only Torah, and thank God has a lot of knowledge and is destined for great things. Next year he begins his final year and is debating whether to take matriculation exams.
A. What will it help him with? He will most likely be a rabbi or something like that.
B. He is afraid it could hurt him in matchmaking if he does not do them.
C. If he does do them, how many? He said his rosh yeshiva (he is a student of Merkaz HaRav) suggested he do the minimum… D. He is afraid he will not have a livelihood…
We would be happy if your honor would resolve the doubt (we did not do matriculation exams—I do not think that is good for someone who studies a lot of Torah and whose aspirations are pure… but since your honor, may he live long, understands these matters better than I do, we would be happy if you would resolve the doubt..)
C. A young man who feels that his rosh yeshiva “hates” him—what should he do? [I did not understand the question]…
Answer
Hello.
I should begin by saying that I do not see myself as an expert in education, and it would be preferable to ask people with experience and knowledge. I will answer as best I can, and perhaps it will help.
A. Does he himself want to behave differently and is unable to? In other words, is he the one asking, or are his parents asking? If his parents are asking, it seems they need to speak with him and clarify what the problem is. If he himself is struggling with this, beyond making an effort I do not have much to say. It would be worthwhile to go to a psychologist.
B. I support doing matriculation exams in any case, for several reasons: 1. A boy at that age does not always know what he will want in the future, or whether he will need it for his livelihood. 2. Beyond that, a bit of general education is also helpful for Torah study and halakhic ruling. 3. Doing matriculation exams will not take him that much time, and it is not such a high price. Investing a few hours a day for one year is an entirely reasonable price and will not harm his Torah growth over the long term.
As a rule, I support matriculation exams that will open doors for him later on if he wants that, and not minimal matriculation exams which in any case will require him to make up material in the future if he needs them. I mean mathematics and English at the level of 4-5 units. It is possible that this will require a major investment from him during that year, so he should spread it out over two years.
C. It would be advisable to speak with the rosh yeshiva openly and clarify the matter with him. If he sees that things are not working out, it may be worthwhile to move to a different yeshiva.
Discussion on Answer
I did not understand the question. Do I praise those who mainly study Torah? Obviously. Is that the right path for everyone? No.
Greetings and blessings to my master and teacher.
Thank you.
Does your honor see it as praiseworthy when a young man sits and learns all day and on the side does only minimal matriculation exams with passing grades, or is that only praiseworthy for exceptional individuals, or perhaps not even for exceptional individuals?