The Literary Circle
By: Aliza Polikevitz
A. Its Function
It is clear that school cannot offer the pupil all sorts of knowledge. It is also impossible to broaden and deepen the subjects of the curriculum. The pupil is supposed to connect the seeds of thought but is far from forming the whole picture. He must broaden his horizon and cultivate the seeds sowed in school. Then he will be able to process for himself a whole concept of all that is taught in school. This calls for some agent to fulfill two tasks:
1. Complement the information that he gets in school and broaden it.
2. Develop autonomous thinking.
The teacher tries to arouse love for the subject he teaches and encourages his pupils to express their views and feelings. However, in a certain sense he imposes his view on the pupils who regard him as his superior in knowledge.
We are surrounded by a universe full of news and books that have not been incorporated into the curriculum. There are new ideological currents, new movements, and the pupil needs to navigate.
The Literary Circle serves to delve into Hebrew – a fast developing language and has not reached yet crystallization. The Literary Circle must mirror this interesting and rich process taking place now in
Eretz Israel. The pupil should be given actual printed material to read and process. It will prepare him for his future life…
B. An Account [of Officers and Activities]
A few weeks into the term we renewed the activity of the Literary Circle. The council of this Circle is composed of elected representatives of the classes:
Tova Shapira, Aharon Gorin (of 5
th grade),
Hannah Bankholter, Zalman Zeligson (of 6
th grade)
Hannah Pitrushki, Grubshtein (7
th grade),
Aliza Polikevitz, Arieh Goldberg, Mordechai Vilinski (8
th grade).
The council elected its own chairman and a secretary. It meets weekly and draws a program. The program is based on the general Hebrew literature, the Israeli modern literature in particular and the world literature as well.
The meetings of the Circle take place on Friday nights and almost all the pupils of the high classes participate in then – about 50-60 participants.
The agenda is as follows: an account of the news of the week from the literary Hebrew press, a lecture and a discussion.
This year the lectures were about Berdichevski, Fireberg, Ahad Ha’am, Agudat Bney Moshe, A.D. Gordon, Levinski, Shoffman stories, etc. The next program will include subjects from the modern literature and the Bible. Sometimes, instead of a lecture, there is a read-out from the Israel press – (a novel, poem, literary criticism) followed by a discussion allowing the pupils free vent to their opinion and reactions. The discussion is summed up by the Hebrew teacher, our Principal Dr. Shteiner, who supervises our Circle.
One of the most interesting discussions engraved in my memory was of the article “Tradition and Innovation in Our Literature” by Prof. Klausner.
The council is organizing a literary analysis of
Baruch of Mainz by S. Tchernichovski.
The Circle has also initiated a reading room where the pupil can read news from all over the world in newspapers in various languages.
In addition, the Circle is preparing surprises for the teachers and pupils such as a printed newsletter “The Rattle” for Purim
Secretary: Aliza Polikevitz
