When I was in High School we had to learn the etymology of words. I found this as interesting as the knowledge of what color socks the President of Zimbabwe wears. But as I grow older I see how much can be learned from the etymology of words.
Take "education" for example. The word comes from educare. In Roman culture the verb educare was constructed meaning “to bring up, rear, train, raise, support, etc." Education is NOT the conveying of information. It is so much more. So too the word chinuch. See what the Rebbe says at the beginning of Chovas Hatalmidim.
Many teachers think that their job is to make sure that the students master the material.
Mistake.
"The root CH-N-CH implies the initial entry of a person or object into a trade or a path that is his destiny. Thus we find the root CH-N-CH referring to the education of a child the consecration of the altar in the holy temple, and the dedication of a house...
ReplyDelete...therefore, chinuch means stimulating the growth and development of what each child is suited for by his very nature...
...this, then, is the command of King Solomon: 'Educate the child' - penetrate to his inner being and reveal the holiness of Israel that is hidden there." - Introduction to Chovat HaTalmidim (translation by Micha Odenheimer)
In some schools, even imparting mastery of the material would be a step up. Of course, to do that would require some knowledge of and proper interaction with the students.
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