EDUCATION
needs to be dealt with accordingly. If a
team approach is taken, there is no reason
for children receiving modified programmes to be a disruption to other
learners. As educators, we are constantly
reading and quoting educational jargon
and phrases which talk about the “whole
child”. We as Jews have an even greater responsibility, as the Torah is our source of
life, and it is my belief that every effort
has to be made for the world of halacha
and Jewish heritage to be available to all
children.
YESHIVA
COLLEGE
HIGH
SCHOOL
Denese Bloch
It has been my
experience that
the children who
achieve the most
at school are those who choose to do everything. They excel at kodesh and general
studies, as well as sport and other extramural activities offered by the school.
Their secret is that they have mastered the
skill of time management. This ensures
they succeed at most of what they take on,
as well as allowing them leisure time. In
order to help our learners achieve this balance, it is imperative that we coach them
in time management skills and communicate the idea that if they are passionate
about the areas where they commit their
energy, not only will they succeed, but
they will have invaluable skills which will
enrich them for life.
UNITED
HERZLIA
SCHOOLS
Geoff Cohen
One of the challenges facing us
as a Jewish day
school is the simple aspect of
time. We spend approximately 30% of our
time on Jewish life and learning in all our
10 schools. This means we spend 30% less
time on the teaching of secular subjects.
54 JEWISH LIFE ■ ISSUE 85
I BELIEVE A CHILD’S YARDSTICK IS CALIBRATED,
MORE THAN BY ANYTHING ELSE, BY THE ATTITUDES
OF HIS PARENTS AND TEACHERS. Rabbi Shlomo Kolko
This may seem to be a massive disadvantage, yet as the raison d’être for our existence, we have learnt how to manage this
particular challenge and are able to educate our children both in secular and Judaic studies. It is our belief that handling
this supposed dilemma actually focuses
management on the structure and content of the curriculum – we have to make
the most of the time we have, balancing
all aspects of school life. There is no impact on our academic record, as our
school still manages a 100% pass rate at
matric level, and our pupils are exposed
to a vast array of sports, extra-curricular
activities, outreach programmes and outdoor education. We believe that busy pupils perform well, manage their time well
and end up being well-rounded, global citizens who are proud of their Jewish identity, culture and heritage.
SHAAREI
TORAH
PRIMARY
SCHOOL
RABBI SHLOMO
KOLKO
Torah education,
done properly, is
never merely a
‘curriculum’. “Ki heim chayenu.” T HܘZ