As we sit for
the sedarim, we reflect on where we were last year, where we're headed.
We are bnay chorin, free people, with the ability to choose to some degree how
we would like the coming year to look. Where will our priorities
be? What will be prominent? What will we emphasize? How will
our new year shape up?
One would think
at this time of year I would write about Pesach being a new year, starting with
Rosh Chodesh Nisan and our jam-packed weeks: interviews for kindergarten
admissions, 5th grade family life, kindergarten's celebration of the golden
chain, sharsheret hazahav, the celebration of the continuity of family ties,
our connection to our roots, a time of increased prePesach fervor, with
students proudly showing off their Haggadot and other projects, happily filling
the hallways with their joyous singing, a portent of things to come!
However, I find
that I am compelled to write about report cards which will be sent home next
week. I am trying to put onto paper, into words, how so many children
have grown. Going along with "freedom" is choice. Slaves have
no choice; they have to do what they're told. Children (even though
schools are not democracies), have choices. They can choose to do their
work, or not; they can put in the time and effort needed, or not; they can
accept the challenge...or not. For some, school is easy, the learning,
the skills, the communication are second nature; for these children, even
though they have to put in varying amounts of time and effort, the results usually
are visible. I marvel at the determination of some other students, of
those for whom school doesn't come so easily, of those who put in hours of
extra time, practice their reading, reviewing and re reviewing, doing math
problems, while their friends might be just hanging out. They might not
always see the results; for some it might take years (truly) until the letters
really fit together and start making sense, until Rashi becomes clear. It
is so refreshing to read about progress, about children who rise to the
challenge, about parents who work with their children...not to do their work
for them, but who help them find their niche, who listen to them read and
reread, who encourage them to learn, even if it doesn't come so easily.
They have made the choice to put in the effort and dedicate themselves to this.
As you sit at the Seder and each child brings his
or her own strengths, it's so important to remember that for many, it's a
beginning, that each child's contribution should be taken for its own value, that
each child is appreciated for who s/he is. We can applaud and appreciate
each child's strengths, we can encourage them to strive for more, to
learn from our past and our present, to appreciate each child's efforts and to
let our children know that each of them is worthy and valued. That's a
choice we have as parents. "Let all who are hungry come and
eat"...not just those who can whiz thru the Haggadah, not only those who
can sit obediently, not only those who can remember all their teachers
have taught them....everyone, each child. Shabbat Shalom
