12 THE DETROIT JEW ISH NEWS — Friday, Sep t. 18, 1959 — Dr. Drachler States Views on Education School Bell's Ring Echoes Crucial Tasks Facing Educator in Secular, Jewish School By FRANK SIMONS programs; 2. Encouragement of The excited yells of tens of scientific research that would thousands of youngsters filled make better use of present the air last week as school classroom time and provide re-opened after the customary better texts; and 3. Creation, summer break. through the family, of a cli- How long • this youthful en- mate to make children under- thusiasm for the opening bell stand the need for a Jewish educational program. will remain is a question not easily answered. But one sta- At present, Dr. Dr a c h l e r claims that the "holding power" tistic pointed to by educator of the Jewish school is usually Norman Drachler - is frighten- ing in its overall implication. good between the ages of 8 and 13, but, after Bar Mitzvah, Dr. Drachler, an expert in surveys point to the sharp de- both the fields of secular and cline in enrollment. Jewish education, claims that Lack of "holding power" is fully 44 percent of all Detroit a major criticism particularly children who enter the ninth of the afternoon school, and grade will quit high school before they graduate. the all-day school has yet to pr o v e itself, Dr. Drachler This same problem—leaving states. the Jewish school after Bar DR. NORMAN DRACHLER On the other hand, the Sun- Mitzvah instead of continuing through high school — is one Union of American Hebrew day school, which is now ex- that must be squarely faced Congregations (R e f or m), in panding into what might best by the Jewish community, just Miami. His subject will be be termed a religious school, as the g e n e r al community "A Board of Education and the now offers mid-week classes, as must attempt to keep young- School Education Committee— well as Saturday and Sunday sters in school at least through How" They Are Alike and sessions, and is demonstrating Where They Differ," an out- a greater ability to keep young high school graduation. Dr. Drachler is not an line of the responsibilities of people in attendance through the high school years. alarmist. He is merely point- the synagogue school board. Referring to the recent edu- Speaking as - principal of the ing to studies made recently in both Jewish and general cational survey made by the Beth El School, Dr. Drachler areas of education, which American Association for Jew- noted that "it is striking that bare the fact that the schools ish Education — the first real since we instituted the Bar do not have the "holding attempt at studying Jewish Mitzvah-Bas Mitzvah program power" on our children that education in many years—Dr. five years ago, every boy and we would wish them to have. Drachler said that the impor- girl but two has continued with For many years principal of tance of the report is not so the educational program." Where the high school num- the Temple Beth El Religious much what it reveals, but that School, Dr. Drachler has been there has now been made an bered some 55 students only with the Detroit Board of Edu- appraisal of Jewish education. six years ago, he continued, "What we need most," he today there are over 200, and, cation for 23 years. He has served as principal of the King said, "is to evaluate, to take at graduation last June, some and Metatal Schools, and, dur- inventory, to take stock of our 46 students r e c e i v e d high school diplomas. ing the last year, he served as needs." The Jewish educator faces The importance of the day coordinator of research for the Citizens Advisory Committee on many discouragements—not the school cannot be minimized, School Needs, the group which least being - the basic question Dr.. Drachler asserted, for outlined and recommended as proposed by Dr. Ira Eisen- here is the basis for the vital changes in our local edu- stein and others: "Can Jewish future scholars and leaders Life Survive - Under Freedom?" in Jewish life. However, he cational machinery. does not believe that the "The Jew's belief that This year, Dr. Drachler is broad Jewish community re- to be found in the Phillips study and le'rning are not gards the day school with Bldg., next door to the Board for the elite but for the great approval. of Education building on broad masses is certainly in "In terms of the b -r o a d Broadway, where he occupies keeping with the American the post of executive adminis- belief that in a democracy masses of Jewish youngsters," trative assistant in charge of people must be educated to Dr. Drachler concluded, "it is the Board's newly-created di- govern themselves. That is not how intense a program vision on school-community re- why Jewish education is not they are exposed to between just for children, but calls ages 8 and 13, but, more im- lations. Much of his work deals with for • intensive adult study as portant, whether they continue their Jewish education to col- parent-teacher relationships, well." Dr. Drachler said. human relations, school pro- The barriers to obtaining a lege, and whether, at the same motional work and administra- good education are the same time, they. have been imbued tive research. Among his basic for the Jewish and general with the idea of 'Jewish cul- tasks is a tremendous educa- communities, he added. !It is ture and the spirit of Jewish tional campaign among parents easier to stay at home and values." to show them the importance watch television than to attend of educating their children and a meeting, or to read a quickie to involve them in programs magazine 'rather than a book." that will mean better educa- "When one pinks up a Jewish tional opportunities for their magazine, I am concerned that youngsters. so many articles are written ALGIERS (JTA) — Morroc- Even as secular education by rabbis and professionals in can Jewish leaders expressed is demanding- close parent disproportion to laymen; it is fears that a suspension by Mor- participation with teachers discouraging that there are so occo of postal relations with Is- and administrators, so much few Jewish books in the Jew- rael may lead to an unofficial more does Jewish education ish home; it also_ is unfortunate censorship of mail received or require lay involvement, Dr. that national Jewish magazines sent by Moroccan Jews. Drachler stressed. are not read nearly as widely The goal of such a censor- "There is -a great need," he as they should," Dr. Drachler ship, it was felt, would be to said, "for the formation of continued. prevent mailing to Israel citizen study groups in the field Yet, on the positive side of through emissaries or contacts of Jewish education. While se- the ledger, there has been some in third countries. cular studies are compulsory, awakening as to the need for A spokesman for the Moroc- Jewish education is voluntary. adult lay involvement in Jew- can Ministry of Posts in Rabat Hence, it is even more impor- ish education. said that postal ties had been tant to establish involvement Dr. Drachler pointed to suspended indefinitely and that in planning and close participa- signs—right here in Detroit residents of MoroCco would tion with laymen. —that are indicative of a hereafter be unable to receive "Only when the layman is new interest. These, he out- either mail or parcels from Is- convinced of the need for his lined as the annual Jewish rael. participation in Jewish school Book Fair, participation in Because nearly all Moroccan , problems will these problems the Midrasha program, the Jewish families have members be solved," Dr. Drachler added. Center adult education pro- living in Israel, the effect of He went so far as to propose gram and other study groups the decision is to abruptly sever a "Little White House Confer- offered by synagogues and or- family ties. ence," similar to that called by ganizations. Jewish leaders also have ex- the President of the United What problems do adult pressed anxiety about a ban on States, at which lay leaders leaders have to consider in the a large section of the Jewish and Jewish educators would overall complexity of the Jew- pr e s s following the A r a b plot the future of Jewish edu- ish education pi c t u r e? Dr. League meeting in Casablanca. cation. Drachler says: The measure was described as Toward that end, Dr. Drach- 1. Greater priority to educa- adding further to the feelings ler will speak, in November, at tional programs, both finan- of anxiety and. insecurity of convention of the cially and in involvement in Moroccan Jews. • Morocco Drops Israel Postal Ties Release of Israeli Mail No Sign UAR Hostility Has Abated LONDON, (JTA) — The Un- ited Arab Republic has agreed to return to Australia eight sacks -of mail addressed to Is- rael which they seized last month from the Norwegian freighter Tarn in the Suez Canal, according to reports froth Cairo. An agreement for return of the Mail, seizure of . which had been protested by Israel, was worked out by the Canadian Poujade Breaks Silence with Fascist Threats PARIS, (JTA)—Pierre Pouj- ade, the leader of- France's fas- cist party, broke an extended silence with sharp attack on "Jews and foreigners." - Addressing a gathering of a few hundred followers, Poujade assailed "stateless gangs': and "all those Jews and foreigners who ruin Frenchmen and sell our national wealth." He prom- ised to "sweep away" the Fifth Republic as had been done with the Fourth. Ambassador i-n Cairo who rep- resents Australian interests in the United Arab Republic. A UAR - Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as de- claring that . return of the mail did not mean any departure from the principle of the UAR's belligerency . toward Israel. 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