By Sara Loewenthal
Last week three incidents occurred in my kindergarten class.
First, I noticed a girl surrounded by a group of her peers. She began pointing to them, saying, “You are my friend, you are not my friend, you are my friend….and so on.”
Later on, during free play, I noticed one girl blocking the entrance to the drama center. When another girl tried to enter, the first girl said, “You can’t enter. There isn’t space.” There was in fact space, but since we limit the number of children who play in every center, she was saving the ‘spots’ for certain children.
Lastly, during snack time, one child slid into the chair which was next to another, and was promptly told to move, “You can’t sit here!”. I didn’t catch the reason.
After witnessing those three occurrences, I gathered the children to the circle time area and told them what I saw. I explained that it is important in kindergarten to be kind to others, and to be inclusive. “After all,” I said, “how would you feel if someone was not kind to you?” After much agreement, we decided to abide by a new classroom rule – You Can’t Say You Can’t Play – which I actually borrowed from Vivian Gussin Paley, one of my favorite authors and educators. Since then, with occasional reminders of our rule, peace has reigned in our classroom.
It felt anything but peaceful watching the 2020 Presidential Debate. In fact, I could not finish watching it. Both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden displayed debased and vulgar behavior. It was a painful scene.
VIDEO: Presidential Debate recap
If I was their kindergarten teacher, I would review these basic rules with them:
- You can’t make fun of someone and laugh in their face
- You can’t call someone names
- You can’t say bad words
- You can’t roll your eyes
- You can’t yell
The entire world was watching them, learning from their shocking performance. Have they normalized disrespectful, aggressive, and intimidating behaviors?
Before they go into their second debate, I want to invite them into my classroom. My 5-year-olds would be shining role models of good behavior for them. Since my classroom is a little far from where they live, I encourage them to visit any kindergarten classroom within close vicinity. There, they will be able to learn from and emulate kind, courteous, polite children.
It behooves them, as leaders of the world, with all eyes on them, to give it a try. Want to be a world leader? You owe it to the world to work on yourself!
Sara Loewenthal (nee Caytak) works as a kindergarten teacher in Toronto, Canada. A dual American and Canadian citizen, she has been involved in the field of earlier childhood education for the past 15 years in various capacities and believes that early years is where one can impact real change.
As a frum Jew, we vote based on policy. Since when did we allow liberals to influence our thinking that we turn to our president how to behave (Bill Clinton)? Trump is a winner in our circles because his policies are in line with what is important in our communities.
We turn to Torah and our Rebbeim for guidance how to behave.
Trump 2020!! Am yisroel Chai.
דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה
this applies to jews
Since when do we turn to Christian evangelicals and failed real estate con men to influence our thinking?
What Torah values does Trump espouse?
He’s a loser whose only skill is making you think he’s a winner.
… The millions of African Americans and Hispanics who were lifted from poverty because of Trump’s economic policies
… The hundreds of thousands of vets who finally get normal medical care at VA hospitals
…The thousands of woman and children who won’t be victims of Human Trafficking thanks to Trump’s border policies
Why don’t you ask them if Trump is indeed “a loser whose only skill is making you think he’s a winner” and educate yourself.
In the age of the internet and alternative media, the choice to remain ignorant is solely yours. I hope you choose wisely.
“Trump is a racist for saying… uh, you know the thing. And he’s responsible for the pandemic and all the 200 billion people that… Whatever, he’s just a bad bad orange man. My 180 years in the Senate prove that I can use a teleprom… whatever it’s called.”
How true. How truly sad.
It was simply embarrassing!
I would add another rule to your list: You can’t interrupt while the other person is talking.
אין לנו על מי לסמוך אלא על הקב״ה! So clear with “leaders” like this!
To: can’t interrupt
Even when someone is accusing you of the most vicious lies ever invented?
Especially when you are attacked, is when one has to shine
of murdering 200,000 people, how would we react?! I don’t know for sure if he could have done anything better than what he did regarding the virus, but being accused publicly for something he likely did not have control of, and is against his nature, is beyond difficult to tolerate.
Your governor killed 10,000 people by ordering nursing homes to take in infected patients.
search for Cuomo’s news conferences. You will see that none of the “nursing homes” are state run. They are to follow state rules. The Gov. stated more than once, If a Nursing home cannot handle a COVID-19 patient. they should NOT take them.
so who is really responsible . .. it goes all the way back to #45. He NEVER stopped flights in from Europe.
The president must be tough because their enemies would’ve squish them like a cockroach. It’s a big bad tough world out there and the nicey nice guys who don’t know how to fight all lose. I’m glad we have a warrior as a president who can thump the Chinese as well as he did. You can blame them for creating and sending over the china virus that killed so many of our own. God bless President Donald J. Trump!
Amein!!! Trump 2020!
I am very happy we’ve managed to zero in on what is truly important.
Trump absolutely should have behaved very nicely so that the moderator and Biden could create gorgeous soundbites for campaign advertisements.
Wait until the kindergartners get a whiff of Critical Race Theory.
I seem to remember something about “don’t judge your friend until you get to his place”… was that just some arbitrary line from Hillel? When was the last time you were accused by your political opponents of colluding with the enemy of your people and gotten slandered for issues those opponents were actually responsible for? Go on, we’re waiting.
Exactly!!
Every Jew must vote for trump if Biden wins we jews will have to flee this country all the jew haters like AOC Ilan omer etc will take control so stop acting like a baby about the debate
What Mrs Loewenthal wrote was well thought out, inspiring and she made some really good points
Mrs Loewenthal is also very humble, she is an accomplished author of two children’s books and was the director of a large preschool with over 250 children
…5 years of lying, smearing and attempting to overthrow a duly elected President of the US, then YOU are part of the problem.
Sleepy Joe doesn’t deserve any respect. He’s an evil person who’s ruined countless lives (The Flynn family among countless others).
How did did Biden hurt Flynn? Flynn was working at the time for #45.Comey was a Republican. What we see now is a Republican party that is no longer the Republican party of the past. I understand he has done wonderful things for Israel. How would like it if you were from Puerto Ricco. Hurricane Maria, two earthquakes and repairs and the Mitzvah of helping one another. By throwing paper towels at you? hearing the POTUS state he would like to sell your native land for exchange for Greenland? less than 3 months before the vote, he has a plan… Read more »
Such neutrality including a video from a commie leftist fake news source
The way I view the President is as one of the best Presidents our country has ever had and at the same time the worst. From being bold and getting policies accomplished Eretz Yisroel, Trade Deals, Standing with Law Inforcement, Etc….. on the other hand he is an embarrassment to our country he is imature, Bully, acts like he is in 6th Grade and worse. He would have better numbers in support if he just acts like a mentch treat people with respect.
If you watch, Biden was the FIRST to interrupt Trump. He did it three times. Then Trump started interrupting him a lot more after. Another thing I’ve noticed was that Trump was not using insults as many times as Biden was.
In terms of content, Trump clearly won.
Still appalling behavior by both men.
Hopefully the next debate will improve.
I would ask a ,if voting for biden is considered serving avodas zara, since they don’t believe in G-D,and they worship climate change.
They are so radical, its evil.
This sounds like the criticism that Eretz Yisroel always gets when responding to terrorists. Yes, that was not good behavior, but he was being attacked by both his opponent and the moderator and how do you respond to accusations not based on fact and other falsehoods? Like a good little Tate’le? It was a gutter fight. Not sure how else it could have been responded to. We are living in a time when the evil forces of darkness are very nasty and you have to respond strongly.
Im also an eductor for many years and I was taught to behave politely and respectfully and teach my students to be nice to each other and “use kind words”. However, living life in the real world has taught me. My kids are very gentle and kind and now I am watching them get bulldozed by other, stronger kids in their classes. Ive learned that sometime “using words” and “being polite” is not enough of a solution that will get another kid to stop bothering them. Self confidence and sometimes aggression or intimidation is also needed to have another child… Read more »
Kudos!
The People’s Cube web site says the party of JFK has become the party of Lee Harvey Oswald.
The Democrat party has is being influenced by the hard left – socialists/communists.
Chabad, how did that work out for you in the Soviet Union?
Trump has stated the America will never become a socialist country.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/08/04/top-american-rabbinical-leader-unequivocally-endorses-trump/
I’m a student and within the first 8-10 minutes I felt like I was watching a kindergarten fight. It was the most unproductive and vile debate I’ve ever seen and gave a bad image to both candidates. It truly is a shame that as a nation at whole, we are so intolerant.
a jew’s life is dictated by the word and command of g-d not his emotion and feeling, period!! when he/she vote they must vote the person and party who are more inclined with true Torah values and sheva mitzvos benei noach. it is therefore undoubtful that a jew and for that matter l’havdil gentiles as well must vote for president trump, may g-d send him a speedy recovery, and the republican’s. as for being disrespectful, it was joe biden who had the chutzpah to call the president of the US at the debate in front of his face: “clown” “racist”… Read more »
Kudos to you for for this excellent Op-Ed! It really highlights the contrast between kindergarten children who don’t know better and that’s why we teach them, versus adults who should know better! While I was watching the debate, I was struck with the feeling that they’re overgrown babies. A mensch should know a thing or two about plain manners. It makes me wonder why any of them are qualified as candidates…
There are times when Kindergarten teachers will appease a bully because they know the softer child is more flexible and will easily be distracted with another toy. That way the teacher can keep her room peaceful and she can give attention to her class, not just the bully. For years the peace negotiations with Arabs in Yesha, were formulated in a way to appease the Arabs because they were the bullies. Jewish and Americans leaders alike wanted to appease the bullies. Thousands of Jews have died because of the efforts to be kind to the cruel. And that’s just one… Read more »
Canadian Media is not kind to the US and particularly not kind to Republican Presidents.
I think it is a way to keep the Canadians focused on a side show so they don’t ruminate about their own problems.
I have a sister in Canada who is not well. I started to read her local newspaper online to keep up with what is happening with the virus. As expected, every day their is an article criticizing the US and in particular finding something bad to say about Trump.
My point is… I think this article is a Canadian perspective.