Jewish Day School Wounds and What We Can Do About Them

ABSTRACT

This article is based upon a qualitative research study that examined 95 school stories written by Jewish female teacher candidates in an undergraduate education course. Many candidates wrote inspirational or humorous stories about growth and development or a special teacher. However, over one third of the narratives described painful Jewish day schooling episodes with insensitive teachers, stinging rebukes, or public shaming. The findings argue for the enhancement of Jewish educator preparation with attention to professionalization of classroom management and interrogation of assumptions from schooling biographies. This study challenges teacher educators in the liminal space of educator preparation as teacher candidates shift from personal lived schooling experience into professional practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Preservice teacher education
• school stories
• wounding

Acknowledment

The author would like to acknowledge the contribution of Ms. Daniella Lejtman who served as research assistant on this project.