Unique collaboration in education: OISE and Orthodox Jewish Community

By Jennifer Sipos-Smith

May 24, 2011

The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto recently recognized 28 members from the Greater Toronto Area’s Orthodox Jewish Community as part of a unique and rare collaboration in education that supports the learning of children with special needs.

OISE is a leader in the teaching and learning of special education and in special education research, and recently designed a successful custom course: “Special Education Instruction in Jewish Schools: Part 1.” The course is offered by the Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology and provides training to educators teaching in schools that serve the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community where there are challenges in addressing learning and behavioural issues that impact on classrooms.

“This special course is the first of its kind in the world, and continues OISE’s long-standing record of developing education programs that respond directly to community needs,” said OISE Dean Julia O’Sullivan.

“The course takes traditional Jewish text and customs and integrates them with contemporary approaches to teaching children with special learning needs,” said course instructor Marcus Benayon (at right with Joseph Lebovic).

Rabbi Engel, a course participant and spokesperson for the Orthodox Jewish Community/ORT, said “The OISE-ORT initiative was a huge success! Our Rabbeim (religious teachers) now feel empowered; they have amassed many excellent strategies to help each and every one of their wonderful students.”

Rabbi Engel also spoke of both the course instructor and a special champion of the course, Joseph Lebovic (above left with Marcus Benayon): “Marcus Benayon did a masterful job in presenting the material in a clear, concise manner. The Rabbeim freely participated in each of Mr. Benayon’s classes; they felt listened to and greatly appreciated the sensitivity of the professor in not compromising their religious values. The real winners of this course are the many hundreds of students who will benefit in having Rabbeim who are now aware of the many different issues that can arise in every classroom. A tremendous thank you to Mr. Joseph Lebovic for having the vision to conceptualize this wonderful program.”

Another section of the course is planned for the summer session and part two of the course is in design.