A workshop presented by the internationally renowned author and award-winning motivational speaker Rick Lavoie will be given Sunday, March 27, between 2 and 4 PM.
Entitled ‘The Motivation Breakthrough – Six Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child’, it is geared specifically for teachers and mechanchim. Rabbi Shea Hecht will be introducing him.
The workshop is organized by Nechama’s Closet, a 13 year-old organization that helps young brides and married women with clothing and more, and is part of their annual Chinese Auction.
It will take place at Campus Chomesh, 470 Lefferts Avenue in Brooklyn. Cost for the 2 hour workshop is $25 (Receive a free $10 ticket for use at the auction).
In response to a pashkevil handed out in Crown Heights shuls before Shabbos, Yehuda Adelist, a resident who holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Special Education, sent to COLlive.com the following op-ed to the community:
I write the following Op-Ed in response to the heated discussion that took place in many shuls this past shabbos. This was in reaction to a letter that was put out regarding the upcoming event with a renowned non-Jewish speaker on issues related to special education.
The letter was strongly opposed to an outsider (no matter how professional) coming in to our community and lecturing to us on issues related to chinuch when we have our own Torah based experts that can lecture to us from Torah sources.
As a person who has worked in remediation with boys in Crown Heights in most of the boys’ schools for 7 years and has earned a master’s degree in special education, I would like to give some insight on the issue.
I do not take a side whether it is good to go to this event or whether it is not. The content of the above mentioned letter does have some valid points, however, I challenge the people that published this letter to go and organize a similar forum to help the children in our community that sit in the classrooms of our schools that are failing due to issues of special education. They can do it with frum chassidisher speakers. It is easy to put down a peulah that is being done claiming that we have our own experts. If this is the case then go and do it!
Many of our youth grow up and are not what we would call successful products of our system. For some, their yiddishkeit is just a little bit watered down, others go off the derech completely. While there may be a variety of reasons why someone goes off the derech, it usually doesn’t begin at age 17. It may become noticeable by age 17 but it actually begins from much younger. Experiencing failure in school is a big factor.
WE HAVE A FIRE BURNING RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. There are many children sitting in the classrooms of our community that have certain weaknesses that make succeeding in school a big challenge. School related disabilities don’t just exist in public schools, they exist in our schools too! I am not blaming the schools. These children bring these challenges to school, the schools do not create them.
There are unfortunately many of our students that have reading disabilities. Reading is a prerequisite for most learning that we teach in school from Pre 1A until Zal. Imagine what it’s like for a child that just can’t crack the code who has to sit following along a text from 9 until 4 day in day out for years on end. What would we do if we had to stare at a page of Chinese for the next 12 years!
Children with high functioning autism (aka Aspergers) also attend our schools. They are the children that maybe just can’t get along with anyone, maybe they aren’t developing any friendships (they might not even be interested in making friends), or are maybe acting aggressive 24/7. They might look happy and then a short while later hit their friend because they didn’t like what the school cook served for lunch.
Children with processing difficulties are also a common occurrence. This is the child that sits in class apparently staring into outer space. He needs the Rebbi to repeat each question 3 times to process the question before he can remind himself of the answer.
Then there are the children that have been through trauma. It may be abuse, it may be divorced parents, or loss of a loved one G-d forbid (or something else). These children act out so often they just aren’t participating in class adequately.
We could elaborate in the many other school related disabilities. The point is we can be in denial and claim that this is all a myth invented by the goyim or we can try and help these children and acknowledge the reality that this is very prevalent. We are not just talking about a handful of children who are anyways in a separate program. We are talking about an estimated 1 in 5 and perhaps more.
I ask these educators who distributed this letter this past shabbos, how would you like to be in their shoes? How would you like your own children or grandchildren to be in their shoes? Would you want our mechanchim becoming educated to be better equipped to handle these children or would you want someone to bar these issues from being spoken about? Maybe we should or maybe we shouldn’t need to get a non Jew to come and speak. However, if we’re not going to listen to an outsider, then at least organize something similar with our own.
Last year, I asked a certain individual who was organizing workshops for educators if any of those workshops would be for issues related to special education. I stressed the importance to him that many of our top educators come across these children in their classrooms and feel helpless how to deal with them. They would be very grateful to become educated on such topics. His response was, “We have other priorities, we are dealing mainly with issues such as standards.”
Every teacher and principal knows that the amount of children that have hardships that make them struggle can sometimes be half the class or more. These children are not part of our priority!? Unfortunately, the attitude in our community has to change. When I saw the advertisements for this speaker, and I heard that all the schools were sending their mechanchim, I thought, “Wow! The schools are really opening themselves to learn more about the subject.”
Then someone had to try and knock it down.
Having watched a few of his videos as part of my course, I agree that not everything he says will be from Har Sinai. To say we should never ever punish children is not really in line with our chinuch. Chesed has to be greater than gevurah, but a child has to see some sort of a consequence after committing something wrong. Nevertheless he has many valid points and knows how to bring them out very well.
Contrary to the assertations mentioned in the paper circulated on Shabbos he is not a missionary and does not preach his bible. If he quoted the bible in one of his videos it was to a Christian crowd. When he spoke to the Jewish community in New Jersey two years ago, he did not preach his bible.
Those that do attend should know that not everything he says will be in line with our Torah as he is a non Jew and we should pay careful attention to filter what he says. Those that are not attending for the reasons mentioned above, should try to find a replacement from a good Torah source to become educated on the school related challenges that many of our children have on a daily basis in our schools.
I don’t think your comments of defense show much sensitivity to the power of words, or the subtlety of language. I don’t think Rabbi Burston’s punchline was appropriate, either. Yes, I do think he should not make fun of gas station workers. Furthermore, I don’t think what bus drivers make has anything to do with the issue of demeaning a general group of workers. I don’t consider the level of education having anything to do with the butt of a joke, either. A neshuma is a neshuma. I think you have missed the point. NO HUMAN BEING DESERVES TO BE… Read more »
aizeh hu chocham?
I feel this authors frustration and can understand why he has this perspective. However, it is possible to accomplish our desired goal through frum practitioners and educators perhaps your circles need to be widended? I would also like to point out a fundamental flaw in the academic focus. In his presentation Rick Lavoie dramatically holds up a watch and asks the audience, “What is this?” The audience appropriately responds, “a watch.” Mr. Lavoie then changes orientation of the watch and asks again, “What is it now?” Yet again the audience responds, “a watch.” Mr. Lavoie then proceeds to demonstrate that… Read more »
Why don’t you ask the editors of collive for the author’s contact details?!
I presume that #54 and #68 are one and the same person. A bunch of Rabbi Burston’s stories end off with the King’s advisors being sent off to work in the gas station. Should we explain to him not to make fun of gas station workers? How would we be able to drive from place to place without these critically needed members of society? As you write you have a right to your thoughts. Still I think you need to chill a bit. Notwithstanding that bus drivers where I live get paid plenty (way more than they should IMHO) they… Read more »
Rick Lavoie gave an amazing speech. If one would just listen to his tips and theory of how to handle kids he can learn a lot. The fact that he is not Jewish doesn’t make him less valuable than anyone else. Why can people just not fargin and learn from such a beautiful event and always have to come up with stupid fights?
im so glad i attended the workshop it was really amazing!
To the parent who inquired about R’ Ginsburgh.. I was wondering the same thing.. OT had us hopeful and once again let us down.. Did the hanhalah not get that we need change and he was the guy to take us through the step needed to incorparate them?? This just goes to show that it doesnt matter who they bring in.. Rick Lavoie, Binyomin Ginsburgh.. its all the same.. they aren’t going to change
Yehuda, well said! You certainly appear to be the expert among us. How can you be contacted for a private consultation?
for a mother whose children went through the system with trying to remedy thier learning disabilities when there was practically nothing in terms of remediation at that time i say
YASHA CO ACH !! Go for it yehuda!! i was a lone voice in the wind . i tried so hard but no one would listen. now some of my children are no longer shomer shabbos………chaval so many have fallen by the wayside . for what? your letter is what we need to hear and those who oppose positive change should hang their heads in shame!!!!
kriah al pi Darko
[email protected]
I am simply saying that the three comments made by Mr. Lavoie in his public presentation were inappropriate , and rather ignorant. A professional should not make fat jokes and demean a bus driver! I think it says something about his character, or maybe his desire to getn a laugh at others’ expense.I did not respect him for those reasons , in that workshop, and it made me wonder about him, That’s all I’m saying. And, by the way, I am NOT ashamed of my reaction! I am ME, and I have a right to my thoughts. Thank you. Do… Read more »
Good job for bringing in professionals to add to the tools and skills we need as mechanchim and parents. I believe or hope that most people and especially teachers will take what they need from the lecture and leave the rest behind if necessary. Just want to mention there is a new ongoing workshop here in CH designed for parents to gain practical skills from a frum therapist – Chana Cohen, a frum Certified School Psychologist, M.A., M.S.Ed every Wednesday…for more info contact 212-433-0945. Also, Committed to Family, run by Rivka Rothman offers many types of supports, parenting classes, volunteers,… Read more »
The G-d honest truth is that our mechanchim were never trained in the Art – yes art – of teaching. There are multitudes of issues when it comes to teaching. Teaching DOES NOT MEAN OPENING A BOOK AND READING. THAT’S PREACHING! I went to mesivta’s and zal’s in lubavitch where you had 15 guys in tune with the magid shiur and 30-50 sleeping their way through the shiur. Rick Lavoir teaches you HOW to teach and reach the most challenged kids – SO THAT YOU CAN TEACH THEM TORAH. Dont tell me he said a joke about yoshke, you were… Read more »
I was at a chinuch convention out of town in which princials from all type of chareidishe mosdos participated. As part of the program, a video was of Rick Lavoie was shown. At the ned of the video, a renown Litvishe Rosh Yeshiva exclaimed: “If it would be shayach for a Goy to be a Godol, he would be a godol!”
I guess that for them, that is as close as you’ll get to “Daas Torah”. But for us, we can take him with a grain of salt (and some pepper too).
Is there a DVD we can buy if we couldn’t go?
thank you. we all need to be aware of the danger of focusing on the wrong issues. children need our help not negativity.
YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG. He speaks completely professionally. He is the one speaker I have ever heard in my 30 years of education that does not waste one minute of your time. He fills his talks, from beginning to end with toichen and truth. And that is how he inspires. There is neither grubkeit, nor religious content. Here’s a very ancient Jewish thought: Chochma Bagoyim Ta’amin. Rick Lavoie is a man of immense Chochma; a speaker who is caring and sensitive to his audiences; and a truly fine human being. I have heard him speak, and I have met… Read more »
the answer is not to look for tools to fix the problem look in the mirror you are the tool we cant demand we have to be an example. p.s what do theis guy know about being a frum yid and tell me how to bring up my holy neshama
718-774-1111
Lavoie is the expert in this field
A MUST HEAR TO ALL PARENTS AND ALL TEACHERS
BH we are focusing on ALL children in Crown Heights!!!! A Master like Rick Lavoie can definately teach the mechanchim in crown heights a tremendous amount. He is not a Mashpia or a Rav, you have got to filter out what you feel is not for you. The education and experience he has and the research he has done can only be tremendously beneficial to every MECHANECH. KOL HAKOVOD Nechamas Closet for bringing him in.
it was absolutely amazing!! bh we went! it was a packed house thankyou nechamas closet
This guy is not speaking from a professional point of view.
Rather his speeches are “inspirational”.
We don’t need inspiration from a goy who follows yoshke.
We have our own sources…
“I ask these educators who distributed this letter this past shabbos, how would you like to be in their shoes? How would you like your own children or grandchildren to be in their shoes?” That has nothing to do with the point that was raised which is we should have Lubavitcher educators addressing us on matters of chinuch! Simple as that. How would a signed letter make this point any different? You write an emotional response which does not address the point. Telling them to organize something themselves is also not a response. The ones who organize an event should… Read more »
During one presentation in a public education forum, Mr. Lavoie referred to “Yoshke” as the greatest teacher. This was the punchline to a joke, though, not a religious oration. Still, I was offended and felt it was inappropriate . Sdecondly, He referred to a student who would just end up beind a bus driver, I guess thet would be if the student didn’t receive the appropriate teaching methods. I was offended by that, too. A bus driver, a teacher, whatever….why use that as an insult? Thirdly, Mr.Lavoie used a fat joke in his presentation. Very offensive! This was many years… Read more »
When I taught the “difficult” kids in ULY mesivta for two years, 13 year olds that could not read ivre properly, mamash, one of the parents gave me Rick Lavoie’s video “when the chips are down”. It was amazing to hear and it completely changed my perspective on these kids and how to approach teaching them. You MUST listen to this guy if you care about the chinuch of kids.
They should take notes and either on the spot or better later on the day or a different day arrange for them to explain anything that was said that is not in accordance to yidishkeit or chaSsidishkeit and give the right solution accordingly. Make sure as a precondition to attend the original speech that the same people would attend the second one and take attendance. In any case if possible get one of our own experts If we don’t have experts let some educators, principals, mashpiim to take the course and then adapt them for our community and invite everybody… Read more »
Do you have data to back that up? “Not every” can mean 1 out of 10 are functioning well. Do we ignore the 9 children who are struggling.
As someone involved in chinuch I can tell you that children of divorced parents by and large have issues that effect them negatively. Whether it is socially, behaviorally or academically they are coming to school with a deficiency, to deny this or to try try to minimize these effects is disingenuous.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS COMMUNITY IS BLESSED WITH SOME EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS THAN TO CREATE FIRE WHERE EVER THEY CAN. BUT DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING POSITIVE TOWARDS ACTUALLY BETTERING ANY SINGLE SITUATION. TO ALL OF THEM I SAY GO HOME AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR MARRIAGE OR PROBLEM CHILDREN, OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS BUGGING YOU AND BECOME A HAPPIER PERSON SO THAT YOU WON’T FEEL THIS CRA\ZY NEED TO LET OUT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS EVERYWHERE YOU GO.
by the way one of the rebbes doctors wasent jewish i believe his name is dr.more. if the lecture is purely about special ed or medical issues i dont see the problem having a non jew address the crowd.
He brought up important points, but he didn’t respond to the issues raised in the letter.
The rabbi in the sicha probably couldn’t have come up with a good speech on his own, but that doesn’t validate the fact the he used a galach’s speech in shul.
As i am currently doing a masters in education, i would like to show the basic facts of the problems here in crown heights. We all want to go on shlichus, it never happend for whatever reason, so where do we live? crown heights. What is crown heights lacking, educated people who understand the other side of education! Understanding childrens problems help the parents and the teacher with dealing with his problems.
We are using the internet… something from the “outside”. We use Facebook. …Matisyahu and much of the melodies used in today’s frum music – where did you think they get their style from? THE REBBE advocated we use technology (which includes media and material tools) and transform them for use towards a G-dly purpose. Well done Yehuda Adelist – you get it!
Please continue to have koach gadol to advocate for our children. It takes a very big heart and great courage from Hakadosh Baruch Hu to go beyond the status quo and demand better for our community and people as a whole. It seems like you really see the big picture (the forest) beyond what dissenters may see (only the trees immediately in front of them). May the fear we have be that our children not be stuck “in the rear,” and never forget that we are all responsible for those who are disconnected in the rear. Thank you for looking… Read more »
I urge all of you our there to go to at least one of the classes today. I am an educator as well as a mother. I have seen many of his videos for my classes. I have also attended a workshop of his in the past, and I can only say that I have learned so much from him. If you are a parent or teacher, please go. You will not regret…
Yes we do have many problems in our educational system that are just not being addressed, and any input is helpful. I’ve had children in our neighborhood schools for 15 years and will have for quite a few years to come, I really want change!!! I’ve seen some changes, but at a very slow pace and in very few areas. It just shocks me that just about every time I overhear parents talk about school they are complaining. This is the most important issue in our shchuna! The only revolutionary and foresighted menahel I know is Rabbi Plotkin, who brought… Read more »
I didn’t b”h see the letter but my response would be simpler.The Rebbe said. many times in cases of Refuah etc. Consult or ask A Mumcheh If your child was Ch”v physically ill would you not consult a Mumcheh because of something he said to someone else? Chinuch is not limited to Yeshiva Parents have a obligation to be Mechanech their children & in many cases the parents themselves are at fault & refuse to admit it Talk to your children be involved in their lives 24/7 on everything treat them right.Yes they need to be disciplined & taught right… Read more »
I would recommend EVERYONE go listen to him. The Pashkvill was written by someone with no brains attached…he himself should go too.
From last week’s Parsha, we learned that the chazir is very dangerous because he has the external feature of Kashrus. It’s not because he may have good points that it is Kosher to listen to that guy.
A chazir iz a chiazir (it’s not intended, Chass V’Chalila, as an insult to that goyish man, just to remind you of that truth).
Thank you for this piece, some sense in this jungle of pathetic babel.
How sad it is that there are people in our community that want to hinder help for OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN who need it!! Why send out an unsigned pashkvil?? Put your name on it and show us who you are, so when our children are suffering and need help we can turn to YOU for your brilliant ideas!! Open your minds…see the suffering of parents and their children with learning difficulties. Realize that many of our children who are lost and have left yiddishkeit behind is because they didnt get the help they needed from our educational institutes!! Here we… Read more »
you have a good point there, that not every child of divorced parents are “messed-up”. If I understood the author correctly, what he was trying to say is that in many cases when a child is doing poorly either socially or academicaly, after just a bit of research we find that he/she comes from a home that “isn`t the most peaceful”.
any anonymous pashkeval is as worthless and chicken as an anonymous post online. These people have nothing to do but put down the hard work and positive influences of others. it boggles the mind! I will be there tonight supporting Nechama’s Closet, as I do every year, and grateful that they had the vision to bring such an interesting speaker. Thank you to the organizers. And thank you to the author for pointing out how small minded the critique of the event is. The current educational and chinuch crisis should make very clear that we are not too good, too… Read more »
The problem wasn’t really to bring in a non jew which has different views on chinuch the the jewish world even tho his things are great the problem was forcing the melamdim to participate fine bring him in it take is needed but to force! melamdim with the jewish way of teaching, to go and listen to this goieshe chinuch guru? i mean comon!
please answer-
is sunday nights talk addressing special needs? or teachers and parents of mainstream typical students?
You are right on! Would like to see more articles written by you!
I would encourage both educators and parents to go to this talk if I lived in town or close by and would for sure be going.
I was shown “When the chips are down” as part of my Chabad seminary teachers education and have recommended the video to others. The video really changed my way I related to my students and to my children.
arent the words “we have a fire burning right here in our community” the mrs lermans words on tznius ? 🙂
Very well written ! You hit it right on the mark ! O.T tried to get help in the beginning of the year from a very well known and respected educator . Parents were welcome to give their comments ( in a very respectful way ) and after that , I guess O.T. realized they didn’t want parental pressure and put this well known educator on the back burner , leaving us parents back to square 1 . Was Oholei Torah afraid that we can actually change for the good ? Was Oholei Torah afraid to take down their “wall”… Read more »
I agree. My son’s already 11 and reading is a real nightmare.
Any help would be so appreciated.
How do I get a hold of master-mind?
well said, extremest dont belong in lubavitch. we need the best chinuch, we need to address chinuch problems from the bottom up, whatever it takes. we cant ignore core issues with excuses. we need to focus on the positive. keep up the chinuch top notch.
Thank you for sharing your success story. I have had to pull out my child from the “system” in 4th grade because he was being humiliated by veteran educators. He is learning at his own pace, doing very well. He is happier and more confident. He has a new found love for learning. I no longer worry about his future. I don’t have to deal with constant judgement by teachers.
I didn’t see the letter but if it was unsigned aka a pashkviel then in my opinion it has NO VALIDITY at all (much like the posters in BP and willy) if you send out a pashkvile it means that you think you have the answers yourself and deep down are offended that no one asked you but you wouldn’t want to ruin someone else’s event which of course is baloney cuz you should have said something a long time ago or put your name where your mouth is to be the pinchos of our community!
Very very well said!
Sometimes it takes someone from the outside….to make us aware of what yiddishkeit and chassidus has. Everything is in the Torah. We know to approach things with chesed and joy. He is putting the accent on the right syllable.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a well thought out coherent and thorough response to this event.
everything in life,
any book you read
any article you read
you always have to use your “filter”
if what he has to offer is 95% fantastic….
what is the question.
thank you again
your article says it succinctly
It’s time to take our head out of the sand. These learning issues exist in all our communities and we must do WHATEVER we can to save our precious children. If we deal with it when they are 7 or 8 we may not have to deal with what come when they are 17 or 18.
Well said editorial!
My son was humiliated & all but destroyed by “educators” in our system because he had to deal with 2 learning disabilities that made success very very hard. B”H he has professional parents who used all our resources (make that money & time) to get him the support he needed. Result: he was the only one in his class of “losers” who stayed frum. If I give any details his privacy will be compromised, but we are very proud of him & where he is today. Everyone would be thrilled to have a frum, successful son like this who is… Read more »
Very well said!!!
And to those who sent out the letter
Is that the Torah way??? Did you speak your opinion to the organizers as soon as you saw the first advertisement??
If someone has lung cancer (r’l) will you allow him to go to the top doctor (Jewish or not) who has a secular education on medicine? If someone has clinical depression will you allow him to go to a doctor who has studied secular theories of psychology? If you open a Jewish printing press, would you learn about the newest equipment and methods that have been developed by secular education? If you want to become an accountant will you learn how to do so with secular education? If someone can help our community educate our children with our values and… Read more »
Very well written, and every word is true!
I wasted my time trying a bunch of tutors and programs to get my kid to read. You name it, I tried it. The Master-Mind program was the only one that actually made a difference. They really know what they’re doing. I had such Nachas finally hearing my son read his Bar-Mitzvah Maamar so smoothly and beautifully.
It’s no joke. Lots of kids, and even Bochurim, have such a hard time reading.
So well put – thank you for your balanced and caring perspective – hopefully it will open some hearts and minds…
Wow. I really can’t believe there were Paskvillin written against this. What a sad day for CH.
The quote “We have other priorities, we are dealing with other issues such as standards.” pretty much sums things up. Standards are great for achieving goals, but having one standard leaves many kids behind. Not only is little attention put to kids with special educational needs, but little is done to address the larege group of kids in the middle who are just getting bye. Anyone who has issues with learning anything from any non jew should perhaps find themselves a frum yid to be there cleaning lady, or fix their car, or give them stock market advice, or any… Read more »
Whoever is trying to bring him down is ignorant of special-needs kids. I know because I gave birth to one and deal with him every day. Rick taught me how to parent him successfully. I would run to hear Rick speak every day if I could. Even if I already knew everything he had to say!
You’re 100% on the Mark! Would love to see you write more often….we need more professionals like you
In our communiTy. Hatzlacha in all you do
Sending out anonymous criticism is both weak and hypocritical. If you believe an injustice is being done, stand up and say so. If this inservice is so wrong that it warrants a community boycott then stand up and take charge. Printing anonymous flyers is simply rebel rousing!!!
As I do not live in Crown Heights, I did not see the “pashkvil” referenced in this article. However, I will assume that it was an unsigned letter written by a cowardly individual or individuals (although it seems you are under the assumptio that it was written by educatirs in the community, and I’m not sure why). It is a simple matter of fact that to become an “educator” in many of our yeshivos and girl’s schools, one needs no qualifications relevant to the job. I can easily name a dozen current Rebbes in Crown Heights schools whom I personally… Read more »
100% agreed!
Well written article. However, I think it is important to point out (while I know this was not at all the intended implication), that not every child that is a product of divorce is “traumatized.” Depending on the circumstances and the support they receive etc. some children who come from a divorce can do very well and behave and perform excellent in school and otherwise (like my own BH”.) In general it is important that people do not assume that a child of a divorce will automatically have problems or difficulties that make them harder to handle.
Why do you think that the people who put out these paper are educators?
keep it up yehuda
for all those worried
nechamas closet is working with the mechanchim on what their needs are.
we have given strict guide lines to Lavoie abt what he is not to speak about and being sensitive to our community>
to have someone deliberately send out a letter without dicussing these issues with us is disturbing!!!
we are working with all the mechanchim from all the schools and have received only a positive reaction.
its so sad that when people don’t know the facts are destroying all the positive that can be done.
Well Said!!!