Thursday, October 18, 2007
Channeling the Satmar energy in a positive constructive way
First, let me start by saying that there is no such thing as a bad child. Every single child is inherently good and wants to be good, be it Satmar, Lubavitch, Belz, Bobov, Vizhnitz, Ger and even Mushelo. It is the adults, that have full control over the child and their entire world, that are responsible for children and how they turn out.
It is true, all kids fight. Some fighting between kids is a natural and healthy expression of life and is a very important learning experience for them. However, what was going on at this Satmar Yeshivah with these children was above and beyond any measure of sanity. These kids weren't just fighting, they were only fighting. There was not a minute during that lunch recess that there wasn't at least three simultaneous vicious fights going on. The fights weren't even fair fights, most of the time it was ten kids beating the living daylights out of one poor nebechdike looking kid.
Why are these kids fighting so much? Why are they so destructive?
Why? Because they have nothing else to do. Kids have a lot of pent-up energy from sitting in class all day. They need to do activities to get it out of their system. That's normal and healthy. However, when the adults in charge don't let them do anything constructive, such as playing ball, the energy turns into a destructive force. A force which gets carried on into later life and gets translated into fighting with others.
First, let me start by saying that there is no such thing as a bad child. Every single child is inherently good and wants to be good, be it Satmar, Lubavitch, Belz, Bobov, Vizhnitz, Ger and even Mushelo. It is the adults, that have full control over the child and their entire world, that are responsible for children and how they turn out.
It is true, all kids fight. Some fighting between kids is a natural and healthy expression of life and is a very important learning experience for them. However, what was going on at this Satmar Yeshivah with these children was above and beyond any measure of sanity. These kids weren't just fighting, they were only fighting. There was not a minute during that lunch recess that there wasn't at least three simultaneous vicious fights going on. The fights weren't even fair fights, most of the time it was ten kids beating the living daylights out of one poor nebechdike looking kid.
Why are these kids fighting so much? Why are they so destructive?
Why? Because they have nothing else to do. Kids have a lot of pent-up energy from sitting in class all day. They need to do activities to get it out of their system. That's normal and healthy. However, when the adults in charge don't let them do anything constructive, such as playing ball, the energy turns into a destructive force. A force which gets carried on into later life and gets translated into fighting with others.
Comments:
You're absolutely right. I'm a teacher and a parent, and it's obvious to anyone who spends time around children that they need a chance during the day to burn off physical energy. I have no idea why any educator in their right mind would prohibit children from playing ball in the schoolyard during recess.
well written
the teachers should play ball with them and show them and be on top instead of watching from the side as they kil each other
the teachers should play ball with them and show them and be on top instead of watching from the side as they kil each other
Were the children supervised during their lunch break? If so what were the teachers doing about the fighting? While I think uncontrolled fighting and bullying is bad, there is something to be said for learning self-defense. Just look at Crown Heights. Seems like every time someone has been attacked or mugged.
were you there to see this unmitigated violence? did you see what that one nebecdige kid did to the ten others inside while Rebbe wasn't looking? Is this Dan L'Kaf Zachus towards the Rebbes and the children?
The bullying of nebech kids happens everywhere else too. But it's very hurtful when it happens in a religious school because the kids haven't been taught about giving another kid kovod. It's more important to know this and that Ba'al Peh than having derech eretz and/or hurting another human being.
Another problem is that in SOME Chasidishe yeshivos , SOME Rebbes talk to the kids like they're the worst and lowest garbage. So, now the kids turn around and do it to others. You know the rule,,,, if you get abused , you'll abuse others.
And let them stop calling others 'Tzaddikel". This is a particularly Chasidishe disease. It's demeaning and insulting. I'm a middle aged man, and once in a while these low class chevra still call me Tzaddikel.
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Another problem is that in SOME Chasidishe yeshivos , SOME Rebbes talk to the kids like they're the worst and lowest garbage. So, now the kids turn around and do it to others. You know the rule,,,, if you get abused , you'll abuse others.
And let them stop calling others 'Tzaddikel". This is a particularly Chasidishe disease. It's demeaning and insulting. I'm a middle aged man, and once in a while these low class chevra still call me Tzaddikel.