The group also discussed what schools say are the most important educational goals for one’s “Jewishness” versus what students and parents say is most important for one's Judaism. We learned what the research says, too!
In “A Census of Jewish Supplementary Schools in the United States 2006–2007,” (Avi Chai Foundation 2008, see pages 5 and 21) Professor Jack Wertheimer reports that when schools were surveyed about their goals for education, the five top answers were:
31% giving students positive Jewish experiences
18% Hebrew reading for participation in prayer services
11% teaching about holidays and ritual
10% preparing children to live as decent people, i.e. to be menschen
9% inspiring children to observe rituals
Schools’ sixth top goal was:
7% preparing students for bar or
mitzvah.We also know from the research that, though not separately surveyed, it appears as if parents of supplementary school students place a very high priority on the bar and bat mitzvah since there is a precipitous decrease in student enrollment immediately following seventh grade (see page 10). Meeting in focus groups during the 2006-07 year of the Synagogue School Enhancement Initiative, parents were asked why they end their children to synagogue school. The predominant answer was: “I send my kids to synagogue school to learn Jewish values.” In addition to parent focus groups, 68 sixth grade students in three synagogue schools were asked to rate the most important ideas/aspects contributing to the strength of their “Jewishness” using this list of identity markers:
Being part of a Jewish community
Caring about Israel
Celebrating the holidays
Celebrating Shabbat
Making the world a better place
Going to synagogue
Believing in God
Learning about Jewish history and culture
Learning Hebrew
Giving Tzedakah
Going to Hebrew School
Having a Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Hanging out with other Jews
The students responded with the following markers as their top five choices:
86% belief in God
86% care for Israel
80% achieving a bar or bat mitzvah
80% making the world a better place
78% celebrating Jewish holidays
Our SSEI Think Tank is a positive, exciting community wide forum that is helping us discuss facts and issues related to synagogue education. It is the involvement and efforts of our lay leaders, clergy, and professionals who will create the Jewish education of the future for over 70% of our children. Be part of creating the change! Join us at our next Re-Imagine Tomorrow’s Synagogue Education Today session on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 when Professor Jack Wertheimer will be with us in person.
