[HANASHIR:13003] Re: Fw:Jewish Education, Jewish continuity...

[Joy Newman <joyzee...>]

I agree with Beth, on encorporating the outside world into our Jewish lives 
instead of separating the two.  I went through the entire public school 
system, from pre-kindergarten through graduation, and I loved it.  I feel as 
though I benefited from public school, because it allowed my life to be more 
open and interesting.  I was introduced to other students from all different 
backgrounds and religions, and through our friendships I was able to really 
learn about how other people believe and celebrate their heritage.  And that 
is so, so important.  All too often I find that my Jewish friends who went 
to day schools live in little bubbles.  Only exposed to Jewish people and 
Jewish thought, they are sheltered from the rest of the world.  Is that 
really what we want as a community?

My friends who went to Jewish day schools are wonderful wonderful people, 
who enjoyed their private school education.  They liked the fact that 
everybody was Jewish, it was a comfort zone, where everybody was like you 
(relatively speaking).  And that's fine.  But I think that until one has 
really learned about other cultures, and had been exposed to the amazingly 
diverse population of the US, it is difficult to truly appreciate Judaism.  
I have always been very proud to be Jewish.  My friends and I constantly 
share holidays, and I am always very excited when it comes to sharing mine.  
I feel as though the combination of Hebrew school, synagogue, family, and 
youth group taught me well.  Combined with my experiences at Jewish summer 
camp (specifically with music), I have been able to really learn and enjoy 
who I am.

Public school is so, so important.  It teaches kids how to function in the 
real world, where everybody comes from different backgrounds and beliefs.  
It allows kids to really see who they are in the big picture of reality, 
instead of just blending into the crowd.  Especially in the school district 
that I grew up in, it teaches kids how to advocate for themselves, whether 
it be with regards to holidays or weekend programs on Shabbat.  My 7th grade 
music trip was scheduled during Passover, but the Jewish parents got 
together and provided for their kids.  It teaches networking, and how to 
really keep ones Jewish identify no matter where you are, even if it's not 
so easy.

Private schools, as great as they may be, scare me, in that they foster a 
sense of isolation.  They prevent Jewish students from really living in the 
broader community, and I think that in the long run, that is a disservice to 
everybody.

~smile always~
-Joy Newman
Rochester, NY

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