There are four types among those who sit
before the sages (wise scholars):
the sponge, the funnel, the strainer
and the sieve.
before the sages (wise scholars):
the sponge, the funnel, the strainer
and the sieve.
The sponge absorbs all.
The funnel takes in at one end
and lets it out the other.
and lets it out the other.
The strainer rejects the wine
and retains the sediment.
and retains the sediment.
The sieve rejects the coarse flour
and retains the fine flour.
and retains the fine flour.
~Pirke Avot 5:15
Questions to consider:
- Pirke Avot is intended to be a guide for moral and ethical behavior and not a psychological treatise. Why do you think the Rabbis use these particular metaphors to compare and contrast people’s styles?
- Do you think that these four ways of sitting at the feet of scholars transmits information about a person’s learning style? Attitude toward learning? Both?
- Which if any of the styles resonates most with you -- if not now as an adult, then when you were a child?
The first thought that comes to me is how much this approach is similar (at least in some respects) to the four sons we read about during our Seders. Just as we each have the attributes of all four sons, I think that we each have all of the learning styles described in this week's reading. In fact, at different times each of the learning styles is appropriate. Also, I don't view the learning styles as being independent. For example, what good is a spong that absorbs without releasing that which it has taken in, and when the spong does release, does it do so as a funnel, a strainer or a sieve (or some of each)?
ReplyDeleteI also immediately thought of the four sons of Pesach fame. But whereas we are clearly instructed how to respond to each of the four sons, it is not clear how to act on this information, or which type of student is preferable. At first I thought it was easy to order them: first the sieve, with discrimination choosing and retaining that which is most valuable; second the sponge, keeping both the valuable and the useless; third the funnel, keeping nothing (would we now say "in one ear and out the other"?); and last the strainer, keeping only that which is distasteful.
ReplyDeleteBut I am almost swayed by Ron's post (and my love of the kitchen) - each is valuable in its way: the sieve and the strainer actually serve the same function, one for liquids and the other for solids; anyone who has ever used a funnel understands how valuable it is for transferring from one vessel to another without loss; and the sponge, well, it is surely the most used of these utensils in any kitchen. So perhaps there is no one best type of student, or one ideal learning style, or even one type of intelligence.
Ron, interesting connection to the four sons and not one that I had thought of. I also can see that each of these styles can exist within us although I do think that most of us have a tendency to learn a certain way. Are we open minded to all ideas? Do we tend to grasp one thought and drill down to details? Some of us tend to be big picture and others choose one thread that is more meaningful. I think the part that resonated most was it doesn't matter how you learn, just that you do. You might grasp just a little and the rest flows through the sieve or you might boil it down through a funnel. As long as you are taking something away and expanding your mind, then you are successful. There is no judgement here about one style being better or worse than another one. And that I like very much.
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't comment on yours Dan. We were writing at the same time but my thoughts also fit with yours.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so smart and interesting!!! I don't have enough energy to tackle this today but it struck me that there is no catalyst for change in any of these. No metephotis from one to the other,,,, no baking soda or yeast which changes form.... Only what is left or remains.
ReplyDeleteFollowing up on my conversations with Carole and Jake, I am going to reply to a couple of the posts so that we continue to have the conversation. Carole, while I agree that most of us have a tendency to learn in a certain way, I think that we are better off using different approaches in different situations. Using Dan's analogy, one would not want to cook a variety of meals using just one of the utensils. Rather, one would want access to all of the utensils so that, depending on the need, the proper utensil will be available. Imagine if Pirke Avot included a statement about the types of shoes different people wear. We all would realize that it is better to have a variety of shoes for different occasions. I wouldn't want to plow the fields in the shoes that I was going to wear to the Temple to offer a sacrifice, nor would I want to wear my sacrificial shoes when going to the beach or on a boat.
ReplyDeletePost #1: Great comments on this week’s Mishnah, which is one in a series of “There are four types of ….” You have each elaborated in your commentaries about the differences between people with regard to learning and study, and also the differences within each of us. Indeed, part of understanding this part of Pirke Avot is realizing that this is a text for everyone. It is an “inclusive text” meant for each and every person; while we all have different ways and capabilities and preferences, the ethics of Pirke Avot were written with each person in mind and with the differences between people and the evolution of individuals that occur over the course of our lives. Traditional commentators point out that even those who do not go to learn at the feet of the Sages have full potential within them to do so at any point in their lives; and that any person may activate this potential and himself or herself become a “Sage.” We see a very democratic approach to learning in this Mishnah – at least in potential – reminding us that Pirke Avot is about doing and acting above all.
ReplyDeleteAnother theme of this perek may be found in the notion that in Judaism students actually “go” to the House of Study to learn and receive wisdom from the Sages. The 19th century modern Orthodox German scholar Samson Raphael Hirsch points out that it is important to recognize that at the time of Pirke Avot, the Mishnah (of which Pirke Avot is a part) was still in oral format – and not yet in writing. He points out that “private” Jewish study of any kind was limited in availability, and as such, all students – regardless of their level or capability or passion – sat together in the House of Study at the feet of the great Sages. This means that in order to be a great Sage, one had to be able to adeptly handle a diverse group of students with different needs. It was the job of the Sage to teach to the class, but be facile in individualizing study for each member of the group. This represents perhaps one of the earliest forms of educational inclusion and differentiation of instruction. With this was the opinion that every student – even the best and smartest – could always reach higher and become more expert and wise in Jewish study. Study was about growth for every single student; no one could sit idle and rest on his past achievements or studies. Study was dynamic and evolving just as students are dynamic and evolving.
Post #2: The four types of students described here (YES, reminiscent of the 4 Children of the Pesach Seder!!!) represent the widest variety of students in the House of Study. While implied in this Mishnah is a leveled or tiered “ranking,” commentators would agree with your comment that each utensil/personal style has value – and your metaphor to each being of use in the kitchen is spot-on! Moreover, Rashi comments that the mere fact that each of these four types actually travels to the House of Study makes even the “weakest” student (or, more correctly, the “least developed” student) worthy. For each of these four students GOES…he listens and is present, and that, in itself, raises him above those who may be talented but refuse to go to the House of Study. The goal of this particular perek is to motivate people to GO and DO and STUDY; that it is never too late to take action. We can always improve and enhance ourselves and wherever we might begin, we need to push ourselves to higher levels at all times.
ReplyDeleteGreat work, everyone!!! Chapter 6 will be posted tomorrow!
Lisa