Hadrakhah as a Subversive Activity

by Joel Lurie Grishaver

This weekend I was back east keynoting a beginning of the year teacher’s conference. My reward was a chance to spend an hour with the madrikhim (high school teaching aides) that were at the conference. A few observations before I tell you the story. We had the usual “Jewish” percentages, twenty or so girls, three boys. We had eighth graders but no seniors. I doubt that there were many juniors. Fourteen of the twenty-five came from one school, about six from another. About two thirds of these kids were tutors, not classroom assistants. Many of the remaining kids work as “shadows” for students with special needs.

Now, here is where the real learning comes in. Few of these kids have had “bad” experiences they could recall from Jewish education. The most interesting confession was Josh who admits that the problem was what he had missed by attending his congregational school. Likewise, there are few succinct good experiences in their Jewish education. When we look at what they have had to say, most of the good experiences and most of the bad experiences have been teachers. Sometimes groups of kids, but most of the time, teachers. The surprise answer, however, was that these kids who have given up chunks of their own limit free time to work as madrikhim, have no great memories of madrikhim. They have no bad memories of madrikhim, either. The madrikh, for them, was the guy who sat on the window still bored while the teacher taught. I suspect that is not unique.

All of a sudden, I threw out the rest of my workshop and begin talking about how their work as a madrikh or madrikhah can change the way their teacher teaches, and change the way their teachers work with them in the classroom. Here are the things I taught them.

The New Kid on the Block

by Laurie Bellet

This past summer, I worked at a different camp. This August, I began at a new school. Both experiences have impressed upon me the responsibilities inherent in being the new kid on the block. And so, it seems a natural way to start another year of “Stuff” columns, to consider what you must learn when the year is new and so are you.

First and in many ways foremost, find and complete all the paperwork necessary in order for you to be paid. You may have been a founding member of the organization you now staff but, if you have not properly submitted every deadly form, the first pay period will pass without an envelope for you. Be certain also that any necessary TB clearance is current and that you have complied with fingerprint screening (if required) as mandated. In California, that means that you have been “live scanned” in each school district(s) of employment. I guess your prints may change when you cross district lines!

Really make a point of knowing your way around the facility. The children will depend on you to know how to locate the restroom, drinking fountain and the office. Be aware of locations that are off limits to students. Actually examine the evacuation plan posted in your room and walk the route. Know how to use the phone in your room in the event of emergency and the cell phone policy for teachers during school hours.