Last night Jean and I went with our friends Alan and Denise to Paper Mill Playhouse to see THE CHOSEN, with Theodore Bikel doing a fine job as Reb Saunders. If I had his voice I would be an even more commanding teacher! ☺

Among the play’s strengths it raised important questions about the inflexibility of parents who truly believe they are doing the best raising their children, when in fact they are totally botching the job! Obviously this is not merely an academic issue since I have seen numerous students who are totally miserable as a result of their parents’ narrowmindedness. Because the parents were raised in a similar harsh manner, they falsely believe that since they survived their childhoods and are successful because of the values instilled in them, it is proper to raise their own children in the same manner. Thus future success is the desired "end" that justifies the "means" of a cold, comfortless childhood. Apparently it does not even occur to such parents that their children are as miserable growing up as they were themselves when they were young.

Obviously I believe discipline and values are NOT in conflict with love and happiness, and I hope Jean and I learned that lesson well enough through our own students to have put it into practice with Andy and Mark. They seem happy and well-adjusted, and the values we see in them appear strong and positive, but I guess it will take until they are full adults for us to know for sure.