They were sitting outside her classroom, waiting for their
turn to speak to the teacher. After the initial desultory
remarks, as the time passed, the exchange of views became
quite animated.
Mrs. A. I really can't understand them. Just look at the
peeling paint on the walls. Couldn't they have gotten
someone to paint the place? After all, our girls spend more
than half their day here. Why should they have to be in an
environment which looks so neglected? How much can it cost
to give it a new coat of paint? It doesn't have to be
anything special, just a cover- up, though a professional
decorator wouldn't hurt to give the school a new, dignified
look.
Mrs. B. Have you noticed how beautifully the walls are
decorated? You can see how much effort has gone into it.
Look how they have managed to center it all around one theme
and yet, they've put a different slant on each project. It
is really lovely to see that every grade has participated,
as is evident by the different levels of work. And how
refreshing it is to note that each girl has taken part, not
only the talented artists. This way, every girl feels she
has contributed to the decoration of the school.
Mrs. A. You know, it isn't all that easy to climb all those
stairs to the third floor. Just imagine how exhausted our
daughters must be, having to go down and then up again at
recess. I'm sure they would prefer to stay in the classroom.
Who has the energy to do all those stairs in one ten minute
break? But it isn't good for them to be cooped up here all
the time, either.
I've been having a look around, and I don't know why they
haven't installed lifts. There is room for five of them.
Believe me, the staff would also welcome the opportunity not
to have to use the stairs during stampede hour. Of course,
we have to economize, but there are plenty of people who
don't know what to do with all their money and spend it on
all sorts of frivolities and not on necessities.
Mrs. B. Have you seen the beautiful view from up here? It's
absolutely fantastic. Even the bars over the windows are
part of the scenery. Although they are really strong and
safe, they are also decorative and they don't give you that
prison feeling and also the color they chose is delightful.
Don't you agree? And the air is so refreshing.
Mrs. A. Why is she keeping us waiting for so long? It shows
no consideration for others. What is she doing in there all
the time? If she has to settle something in particular, she
shouldn't be doing it at our expense. We are all busy
mothers with homes to run. Anyway, the most annoying thing
about these meetings is that they don't even discuss the
child. They talk about everything else under the sun like
mutual acquaintances, the home or the neighborhood.
Mrs. B. Isn't it thoughtful of the secretary to provide us
with drinks? She knew that we might have to wait a while, so
she made sure we wouldn't get dehydrated. And this
particular teacher is something special. She is so caring,
even about small details. She gets involved in the girls'
talk of events at home, and knows everyone's background. She
observes each girl's development with motherly devotion. I
feel I can always talk to her, and she really listens. She
invests far more hours in her work than she gets paid for,
that's for sure. A really dedicated teacher and not a career
woman.
Mrs. A. I don't know what the world is coming to. Have you
seen the assignments the girls get? They give them a topic,
and the girls have to find out all about it by themselves.
That's all I need, that my daughter should start research
work. We never have the right books or the latest edition,
and she has to run around half the neighborhood to borrow
them. Then, of course, she has to read up the material,
summarize it and type it out. They've really gone overboard
these days. What's wrong with the regular ten review
questions about what they learned at school, which they just
have to answer? Who needs all this? What do they get out of
it?
Mrs. B. My daughter has really blossomed. She is discovering
worlds which she didn't know existed and this has widened
her horizons considerably. I feel the school has had a great
influence on her and her general development. She thinks
deeply and I thoroughly enjoy talking to her and discussing
things with her. She has become mature and independent and
has learned to study and do research on her own, analyzing,
comparing, settling down to do her homework without any
pushing from me. In fact, she enjoys the effort she puts
into the work which she does on her own initiative.
Mrs. A. What do you think about the latest indignity? Our
daughters are expected to be responsible for the cleanliness
of the school. They only take in a professional firm once a
week to give the school a more thorough cleaning. But every
day there is a rota, and the girls have to sweep and wash
the classroom themselves! I wonder what the Ministry of
Education would have to say about all this. I'm sure there
must be a law against it. After all, our girls aren't
domestics, and should not be given menial tasks. I only
wonder if these fastidious workers would also do such
servile work or do they leave that to our daughters?
Mrs. B. I am always amazed at the way the directors of the
school think up these original ideas which no one else would
envision. For two months they had a drive for cleanliness in
the school, but to no avail. Now that they are obliged to
clean up after themselves, the level of dirt has gone down
amazingly. Every girl thinks twice before she throws
something on the floor, as she knows full well that the girl
on duty will have something to say. In every classroom each
girl knows that if she litters the place, it will boomerang
on her, as her turn to clean up will come. Thus, they act
accordingly.
The nicest part about all this is the money which they save
on cleaners. Each class is allowed to vote on what they
should do with it. One class decided to acquire some new
books. Another class asked for extra excursion days free of
charge. A third class bought some new instrument for the
laboratory and a fourth class decided to redecorate their
class room with new curtains etc. The benefits are twofold.
They learn how to save, and they learn how to clean. Besides
being taught about saving money, they learn to be house-
proud and not to throw all their rubbish around with
abandon. I am always amazed at the creative ideas in this
school.
Mrs. A. was summoned into the classroom. She went in, ready
to hear what the home room teacher had to say. The teacher
glanced at her notes, cleared her throat, and began:
"Your daughter is a clever girl. She grasps things easily
and is doing well scholastically. But there is a problem
which seems to crop up again in every subject. All the
teachers complain that she disrupts their lessons. She is
always protesting about something and finds it hard to get
on with the others. Whoever we put next to her isn't quite
right for her. About one, her objection is that she takes up
more than her share of the desk. Another, according to her,
scratches her head. Still another chats to her and passes
notes and a fourth neighbor borrows too much of her writing
equipment.
"She is perpetually grumbling about her surroundings. She
doesn't only criticize her peers, but even the teachers and
the school administration do not go unscathed from her
tongue. She complains about the amount of work, about the
exams, not to mention the marks she gets. She hotly disputes
every single mark which is less than 100%, which gives rise
to chutzpa. Actually, it's a great pity, because she
has many good traits and a very good head. I watch her, and
notice that when a girl is in trouble, she is always there
to help. Or when there is some problem, she is ready to
volunteer. She is basically a kind-hearted girl. But her
perpetual complaining is her undoing and it bothers girls
who would like to be her friends."
Mrs. A. went home with her mind in a turmoil. How was it
possible for there to be so many complaints about her
talented, wonderful daughter?
Then it was Mrs. B.'s turn for an interview with the
teacher. Before she could even open her mouth, the mother
smiled and said, "Please allow ME to give you a report on
your work, first. I have no words to thank you for your
dedication. My daughter is so happy; every school day is
like a yom tov for her. I realize that this is a
result of all the effort you put into your work, for the
benefit of each child and I just wanted to thank you for
that."
When she had finished speaking, the teacher began her
report, "What can I tell you? Your daughter is a ray of
sunshine, a pure pleasure to teach. All the staff agree that
when she is in a class, they enjoy being there. Besides
being a gifted girl, she radiates such a positive attitude
amongst the other girls. I'll let you into a secret: in the
past month I have received five notes from different
parents, asking if their daughter could be placed next to
yours. She is not bossy or snobbish, despite her
superiority. She is just a very popular girl who makes
everyone around her feel good. May you continue to have a
great deal of nachas from her!"
Mrs. B. went home, thanking Hashem for His goodness to
her.
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
