The sound of a baby’s sobs suddenly filled the classroom while Professor Sydney Engelberg was giving an impassioned lecture. The noise originated from a student who started getting up to leave because they were so embarrassed. Unfazed, however, Professor Engelberg moved forward to quickly take the youngster into his arms and start soothing him—all without missing a beat in his instruction.
Sydney Engelberg, a psychology professor in Jerusalem, has been the talk of the Internet for the past week. Parents of young children all over the world have come to admire him for his kindness in holding a student’s fussy baby while he continued to teach.
Last week, a former student posted a picture of Engelberg, 67, carrying a baby in star-covered footie pajamas in front of a white board during a lecture on an Israeli social networking platform, causing the professor to go viral.
After seeing the picture, Sarit Fishbaine, Engelberg’s daughter, enthusiastically posted it on Facebook along with the Hebrew-language statement, “My father is the best in the world.”
The lecturer, who teaches organizational behavior graduate courses at Hebrew University and Ono Academic College, was unaware of the photographer’s identity or the exact time the picture was taken.
He doesn’t remember this specific instance because it occurs frequently. Engelberg claimed that just last week, a different mother had wanted to bring her infant, “who wasn’t feeling 100%,” and that when the youngster got unruly, he took him up and went around so that everyone could keep learning. There would be no detrimental effects on the remainder of the class if the student carried on with a group exercise.
He remarked, “I would estimate that there are one or more babies in one or more classes every single week.” Not that he manages a nursery, but his students are aware that he will be accommodating in case something goes wrong.
Parents everywhere praised Engelberg for the notion that a professor would be so compassionate of a young mother.
The professor skillfully incorporated the occasion into his presentation, leaving the students in wonder. Reassuring the mother that her child was welcome, he urged her to stay. It was evident to Professor Engelberg that family and education could live together.
According to Engelberg, Israeli society places a high value on families and truly believes the adage that it takes a village to raise a child. Second, Israeli students are more likely to have small children and start school later due to mandatory military service.
“Just for that demographic reason, one has to be understanding.”
He strongly encourages mothers to bring their kids to class, and he even advocates nursing during lectures. His position is straightforward but impactful: no mother should have to decide between providing for her child and going to school.
“You have to do more than just talk about these issues; you have to take action. In the academic setting, one way I can take action is by empathizing with the mothers and helping students who are unable to find other childcare arrangements in a way that respects their circumstances and keeps them engaged.”
That day, as he tenderly rocked the infant, he showed that empathy and understanding are acceptable in the classroom. His deeds conveyed to all of his students a powerful message: education ought to be inclusive and supportive of the various realities of life.
The lesson learned is that inclusive and empathetic environments are ideal for true education. We enable everyone to achieve when we establish environments where people may value both their personal and professional lives. It serves as a reminder that empathy and compassion have the power to change education and give everyone a voice.
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