The Responsibility of Higher Education

Maximizing Educational Impact

In Letter #6,166, the Rebbe addresses a female educator who was considering leaving her current position—likely in a high school or with older students—to take a post in a "Beis Yaakov Amami" (elementary/lower school) to ease her professional burden.

The Rebbe’s guidance focuses on the unique responsibility of those gifted with the ability to influence older youth:

Utilizing Unique Talents

The Rebbe expresses that he does not favor the change. He explains that individuals capable of educating older girls must utilize that capacity to its fullest extent. Moving to a position that requires less specialized knowledge or talent is seen as an inefficient use of one's Divine gifts, especially since there are many more educators available for younger grades than for advanced ones.

Preserving the Institution's Spirit

An additional concern raised by the Rebbe is the impact her departure would have on her current school. He notes that her leaving could cause a "descent in the spirit" (yerida b'ruach) of the institution and its students. Because these students are older and more mature, the stability of their environment and the quality of their leadership are even more critical.

Balancing Impact and Exhaustion

While the Rebbe insists she remain in her higher-level position, he acknowledges the difficulty of her workload. He clarifies that his advice does not negate the need to "ease the conditions of work." Rather than leaving, she should seek practical ways to reduce the pressure and burden of her role so that she can increase her overall effectiveness and impact as a teacher.

The letter concludes with a blessing for the upcoming holiday (Birchus HaChag).