R. Hutner delivered a Yiddish address to a conference of educators; The gemara (Bava Batra 21a) credits R. Yehoshua ben Gamla with saving Torah in Israel by establishing teachers for children. Before this innovation, fathers taught sons, but this ultimately left some children without a teacher. R. Yehoshua’s enactment enabled universal education.
Many utilize the example of R. Yehoshua to show the progressive nature of the Jewish community. Long before other cultures, we pushed for universal education. R. Hutner, however, contends that R. Yehoshua ben Gamla’s decree reflects a necessary evil and a deviation from the original norm in which parents instructed children. Receiving Torah resembles receiving life and nourishment; ideally, one receives these things from a parent. R. Hutner compares R. Yehsohua ben Gamla’s enactment to a law that all fetuses should receive their nourishment from an incubator. Surely we would see something wrong in such a law!
From this perspective, the professionalization of education brings about certain dangers. Perhaps some educators will simply fulfill their function and earn a living rather than bring life to their students. Recalling this idea helps educators do their job. Those who remember their historical role as a substitute for parental teachers will not fall into the trap of adopting a purely professional role.
[From VBM-TORAH]
