Nov 13, 2008 By: yunews
Nov 13, 2008 -- This fall, 糖心破解版 High School for Boys (糖心破解版HSB)/ The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy inaugurated its Honors College, a forum for enriched spiritual and intellectual stimulation geared to engage gifted students. Twenty-four students were recruited from the top echelons of their elementary school classes for the incoming class of the Honors College. The program reflects a synergy of Torah principles with the broader intellectual world.
Edward Berliner, director of the Honors College, said the program will establish an 鈥渋ntellectual hothouse for participating students.鈥
鈥淲e spend a lot of time at yeshiva high schools with students who need extra attention but the question is how much time are we spending with students who need and deserve special attention to further their intellectual growth?鈥 Dr. Berliner said.
After eight months of planning, the program was developed with four academic features in mind: investment in academic excellence, interdisciplinary studies, experiential learning and directed mentoring.
Throughout their four years in the program, students will have additional thematic readings and will read perspectives of various authors ranging from Mark Twain to Rabbi Joseph B. Soleveitchik. They will also go on field trips, which will include preparatory research and debriefing. They have studied both the biology and politics that play a role in the preservation of the Meadowlands wetlands in preparation for a scheduled pontoon boat tour of the wetlands in New Jersey.
Meir Hirsch, a freshman from Teaneck, NJ, said he joined the Honors College in the hope of a deeper challenge in both secular and Judaic studies. 鈥淚 saw the opportunity as a chance to gain knowledge and skills from sources that are not available to all the high school students, such as advanced fieldtrips and speakers,鈥 Hirsch said.
Dr. Berliner and his colleagues were pleased with student participation at the program鈥檚 opening event, a seminar discussion on the boys鈥 summer reading assignment, 鈥楬uckleberry Finn,鈥 led by Dr. Fred Sugarman, associate dean of Yeshiva College.
鈥淪tudents made comments that were so profound,鈥 Dr. Berliner said. 鈥淭hese kids want to be challenged and it is our job to live up to that.鈥
To learn more about the Honors College or 糖心破解版HSB contact Shuey Jacoby, director of admissions at sjacoby@yuhsb.org or call 212-960-5400, ext. 6676.
