The number of Jewish families choosing to give their children a Jewish education as opposed to a secular public or independent school has risen dramatically over the last twenty years. What are some of the characteristics Jewish families are looking for in a school?
Academics and an appreciation of Judaism combined
The beauty of a Jewish school is that it wraps up all the values both pedagogical and religious which parents want for their children into one neat convenient package. When I was growing up in Westmount, Quebec, Canada, I attended the Westmount public schools. They were good schools with solid academics and many enriched programs and extracurricular activities. Unfortunately my Jewish classmates who comprised 80% of my class could not find expression for their religion in that school setting. It was, after all, part of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. A Jewish child learned about his faith and history as a Jew in his home and at the after school classes the local temples and synagogues held. I can only imagine how parents must have felt back then as they yearned for an academic setting which would nurture Judaism in everything a child learned or did.
Realization that building Judaism requires Jewish education
The Jewish community for decades has supported all kinds of efforts and programs aimed at supporting and establishing Jewish values except in one area: K-12 education. The history of American private education is full of examples of various religious organizations which cared deeply enough about their religious values that they established day schools which would promulgate those values. Schools like St. Paul's, Concord and Kent School with their strong Episcopal roots and traditions come to mind. Look at the large number of Seventh Day Adventist and Christian schools which have sprung up in the last thirty years.
As the Chief Rabbi Professor Jonathan Sacks said:
"The critical test of the health of a community is - does it look forwards or backwards? Is it preoccupied with the memories of its distinguished past? Or does it look forward to yet a more creative future? For decades we have supported every Jewish cause except one - the Jewish future of our own children."
Characteristics of a Jewish school
The United Synagogue Agency For Jewish Education expresses it well:
"A growing number of parents choose Jewish day schools for their children. They find that:
- - the schools provide a warm and caring Jewish environment
children receive a firm grounding in Jewish knowledge and practice, together with a love of Israel
- the schools have nationally recognised high standards in secular education and all maintained schools teach the entire National Curriculum
- children have a full Jewish social life within a secure atmosphere
- the schools have wonderful modern facilities, providing outstanding surroundings and the best possible opportunities for learning
