Dear Readers, These columns began on my area of America Online, called:  Judaism Today:  Where Do I Fit?   People anonymously sent me E-Mail, and I began to choose one for a public response in my Jewish E-Mail of the Week column. The column has become quite popular and is now syndicated internationally in many Jewish papers and websites.  I hope you find they help you as you think about the Ethics, Spirituality and Peoplehood components of the Jewish way of Life.  I welcome your comments... see the end of the column. Gil PS  Teachers and others, feel free to copy my columns and forward them or use them as you see fit.  Please see the friendly copyright notice at the end.

HEBREW SCHOOL TEACHER BLUES

So you hated Hebrew School...will your kids too? We don't often think of this problem from a teacher's perspective, but after this week, perhaps you will. This E-mail that I received came in under the subject: Hebrew School Teacher Blues......

Dear Gil:

I have been involved in Jewish education for over 15 years. Both my husband & I are in the Jewish communal field and while it has not been financially lucrative, it has been rewarding.

I am dealing however with parents who just don't care about what we are trying to do in the Hebrew school & I ask, is it worth it? I've networked with other Jewish teachers, but it is minimal to the parent responses that we get daily...I hated Hebrew school so why shouldn't my child? Many parents allow their children to quit after their B'nai Mitzvah year. How do you fight an uphill battle? Even many on the board seem that they are powerless against these parents.

What's a teacher to do?

P

Dear P:

When it comes to Jewish education, parents are often a huge problem but I hesitate to point fingers just at parents. The issues go beyond parents and beyond what I can write about in a column. In fact, I give full presentation on the subject around the country called: 4 Ways to Fix Jewish Education...and They Do Not Cost More Money!

Still, I will endeavor here to address your E-mail in a few words. I'll start with parents. If you were to ask a parent: When your child is an adult what do you hope he/she will be: A. an athlete, B. a musician, C. an artist, D. a mentch? I think most parents would choose D, desiring their child who to become a decent, giving, kind and ethical person and Jew. But when there is a conflict between Hebrew School or Little League what do parents let their child skip? What message does this give?

Or how about the message you cite?: "I hated Hebrew school, but you have to go anyway." This is a self fulfilling prophecy. Would a parent ever say that about studying math or science to their child...I would hope not. But to say this about Hebrew school is far too common. How absurd.

But, I can hear the parent protest: my kid does not learn anything of value at Hebrew School. So given the few hours of extra time my children have, I'd rather have them in soccer, piano, gymnastics, etc.

And here I point a finger at our schools. What exactly are we trying to teach? Too often the curriculum consists of Hebrew instruction and preparations to perform or chant for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Are these skills that will produce ethical, giving and kind people? I am not even sure these skills produce Jews.

As far as I am concerned, schools that spend their time teaching these skills have not given adequate thought to a curriculum for Jewish Literacy. By that I mean a written curriculum that imparts by grade level, the values, relevance and importance of Judaism. Has your school's administration articulated such a curriculum? Do the parents know what it is?

Successful Jewish education requires a partnership between school administrators, teachers, parents and students. I asked a principal of a Jewish school about your complaint and she reacted in part by saying you sound like you are in a rut and that your disillusionment could easily spill over into class and conversations with parents.

Her critique may be a bit harsh. Still I will say the best Jewish educators I have seen have an enthusiasm for their material, their students and even their parents that is infectious. They believe in their kids and are passionate about what they are teaching. Parents and students both feel this positive energy.

I'd suggest you invest as much of your educational energies as you can on the parents who are willing to partner with you. I would look for every excuse under the sun to get parents involved in learning. Here I must say a word about school leadership and rabbinic support. Parents should hear directly from principals and rabbis with clear expectations of what parental partnering with the school means. For example, if I were a rabbi, I would make parent learning a requirement for any child to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at my synagogue.

This should not be viewed as an onerous obligation...it should be viewed as a wonderful opportunity. The best Jewish learning I have done in my life has been as an adult. Studying Jewish topics with good teachers has been a pleasure and most rewarding.

In sum, what's a teacher to do? Demonstratively show your love for Judaism to your students and their parents. Make sure that what you are teaching is applicable to everyday life and that parents and students understand why and how. Work to insure that your school has a relevant Jewish literacy curriculum. Finally, Hang in there we need you! Draw inspiration from knowing that as a teacher, you are fulfilling one of the loftiest roles in Judaism.

Gil

A FRIENDLY COPYRIGHT NOTICE © Copyright Gil Mann These columns can be found at www.beingjewish.org.  Not only do I give you permissions to copy these Jewish Email columns...I HOPE YOU WILL and that you share them with others!  All I ask is that you never charge anyone for them and that you also include this little copyright notice.  Thank You!

Thanks,
Gil