You’ve tried positive reinforcement, sticker charts, prizes. Take a peek at what mechanchim are doing in the classroom to inculcate good middos in our children
“It’s important to be more cognizant of recognizing the many good things that children do” says Rabbi Moshe Margolese principal of Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA) in Baltimore (Photos: Shutterstock)
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few students raised their hands hoping to be picked as a volunteer. It was a typical day in a typical gym class at Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA) inBaltimore. When the P.E. teacher finally picked a student the rest of the class gave a round of applause.
“That’s not because they naturally feel happy that someone else was picked” says Rabbi Moshe Margolese principal of OCA who had been observing the scene. “We taught them that this is the expectation of what we do of how we treat others to be happy for one another and share in the happiness.”
How exactly did Rabbi Margolese create a culture of derech eretz in his school? The simple answer is that like many Torah schools around the country OCA has a schoolwide middos program. But coming up with a program is relatively easy; seeing it bear real fruits is far more challenging.
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