Prayer Chapter 1 / The Order of Beginning Education 1

The Order of Bringing a Child into the Talmud Torah
From the Sefer HaRokeach (by the Kabbalist Rabbi Elazar Rokeach of Worms), Siman 296:
The hint (reason) that we cover the boy so that he does not see a non-Jew or a dog on the day he is initiated into the holy letters, is based on the verse: "Even the flocks and the herds shall not graze facing that mountain" (Shemos 34:3). At the break of dawn... they bring the boy, based on: "When morning came, there were thunders and lightnings" (ibid. 19:16). And they cover him under a cloak (coat) from their home to the synagogue or to the Rav's house, based on: "And they stood at the bottom of the mountain" (ibid. 17).
And they place him in the bosom of the Rav who sits them down to learn, based on: "As a nurse carries an infant" (Bamidbar 11:12), and "I led Ephraim, taking them by their arms" (Hoshea 11:3).
And they bring the board upon which is written the Aleph-Beis, Tashrak (the Aleph-Beis in reverse order), "Torah tzivah lanu" (The Torah that Moshe commanded us), "Torah tehei emunasi" (May the Torah be my faith), and "Vayikra el Moshe" (And He called to Moshe).
And the Rav reads each and every letter of the Aleph-Beis, and the child repeats after him. And every letter of Tashrak, and the child repeats after him. And similarly "Torah tzivah," and similarly "Torah tehei," and similarly "Vayikra." And he places a little honey on the board, and the boy licks the honey that is on the letters with his tongue. Afterward, they bring the cake that was kneaded with honey, upon which is written: "Hashem God has given me a tongue for teaching, to know how to sustain the weary with a word; He awakens morning..."