98. When Students Do Not Understand

Talmud Torah 4:4

If the teacher taught something and the students didn’t understand it, the teacher should not get angry with them. Rather, he should repeat and review the material, even many times, until they understand. Similarly, a student should not say that he understands the material if he doesn’t. Rather, he should ask several times, even if the teacher must explain over and over. If the teacher gets upset with him, he should say, “My teacher, this is Torah. I have to learn it and my abilities are limited.”

Talmud Torah 4:5

A student should not be ashamed if his peer grasps the material on the first or second try, while it took him much longer to grasp it. If he becomes embarrassed by such things, he will find himself coming and going to the study hall without learning anything. Therefore, the earlier Sages said that a shy person cannot learn and a short-tempered person cannot teach.

The above only applies when the students do not understand the material because it is complicated or because they inherently lack the capacity. However, if the teacher feels that the students are not properly applying themselves, then he is obligated to display anger and to shame them with words in order to get them to focus. Regarding this, the Sages said “cast fear into the students.” It is therefore not appropriate for a teacher to behave in a frivolous manner in front of his students. He should not entertain himself in front of them, nor eat and drink with them. This is so the students should have reverence for him and study at a quick pace.