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| Spring 2002 | |
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As a sixth grader at Commack Jewish Center's religious school I was, well, a terror. I spent hours in Rabbi Berman's office, concocting explanations of why sneaking off to the youth lounge to play air hockey was appropriate religious school behavior. I was, in fact, the first student in the school's history to be "reassigned" to another class session altogether.
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Scott Blumenthal with members of his 6th-grade Hebrew class. | |
When Behrman House invited me to join its editorial staff this past summer, I thought that even though I love working with kids and teaching, it would mean a hiatus from the classroom (though, I thought, I might re-grow some hair). But during my first month here, Deborah Bravo, Director of Education at B'nai Jeshurun in nearby Short Hills, visited the office for lunch. She still needed, she said, a few teachers to complete her faculty. My new, dear colleagues, winked at her and pointed at me.
So now, every Monday afternoon, it's Northern New Jersey's seventeen most rambunctious sixth graders and me. And I must say, it's a joy. My students are bright, clever, quick to learn, sometimes even eager. But the greatest reward of keeping one foot in the classroom has been the privilege of simultaneously teaching children and helping to make their books. It's been a fascinating exercise to "breathe in" at Hebrew school (observing what motivates students, what intrigues them, what they're curious about Jewishly), then breathe out" at Behrman House (incorporating students' ideas, concerns, and experiences in our books).
And although my dramatic hair re-growth will have to wait, not one of my students has snuck off—yet—to play air hockey.
Prior to joining the Behrman House editorial staff, Scott Blumenthal served for three years as Director of Education at Temple Beth Or, Raleigh, NC, and for three years before that at B'nai Israel, St. Petersburg, FL.
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