Getting On Track

Beth Shalom says its two-tiered structure allows for more personal attention.

JULIE WIENER
Writer
Staff

t's no secret that on Shoshana
Ben-Ozer's balance sheets,
expenses far outweigh revenue.
But as Beth Shalom's direc-
tor of education, she's more con-
cerned with turning out committed
school graduates than turning a prof-
it.
"Education is not a profit center,"
said Ben-Ozer. "When I raised my
own children I didn't expect to make
a profit."
That's why three years ago, the
220-student school beefed up its
teaching staff and reduced class size.
The extra teachers enable Beth
Shalom to offer a tracking system so
that children can study Hebrew at
the most appropriate level.
Separated for Hebrew and prayer
instruction, the classes come together
for music, Jewish history and prayer.
The extra teacher then goes around
the classroom, providing assistance
where needed.
Class assignments are based on
ongoing evaluations by the teachers,
but are flexible, says Madalyn
Rabinowitz, who teaches the acceler-
ated sixth grade class.
"I have some students who on
their exams don't do well but are in
this class because they are enthusias-
tic and always want to do more
work," she said. "I also had one
student who felt the class was too
hard and requested she go to the
other class. There's no strict rule.
We leave it up to the students."
Although there have been occa-
sional complaints from parents
who feel their children should be
in a different track, most parents
have been pleased, says Ben-Ozer,
who reports an improvement in
her students' abilities and atti-
tudes.
"Before, there would be more
than 20 kids together in a class,
and it was very frustrating," she
said. "Now we can attend to every
student." Class size is generally
10-12 students now.

11/7
1997

14

Mark Littman has experienced
both tracks, with his older son,
Benjamin in the regular track and his
younger son, Sean, in the accelerated
one.
"Benjamin is delightful and won-
derful but he's not your classic stu-
dent," said Littman. "His teachers
there have gone out of their way to
push him and the results are mar-
velous. He likes going, and the

teacher calls us, tells us how he's blos-
soming. For a kid from whom we're
not used to hearing wonderful things
about his school, it's glorious."
Littman is pleased that Sean is not
bored in Hebrew school and that
both sons appear to be enjoying their
religious school experience more than
he did. '
Like Littman, Allen Goodman is
pleasantly surprised with Hebrew

school and likes the tracking system.
His daughter Sara, a fourth grader in
the accelerated track, loves Hebrew
school.
"Having gone through afternoon
school myself, the notion of someone
loving Hebrew school is profound to
me," said Goodman. "There seems to
be a real attempt to tailor the things
they're doing to her skills." El

Right: The two fourth
grade classes come to eth-
er for a discussion o
Shabbat led by teacher
Barbara Eisenberg.

.

01 ■ ..gtig.

Below left: Sixth grader
Leonid Shamban goes
over a question with
teacher Madalyn
Rabinowitz.

Below right: Dana
Kapitany gives Benjamin
Littman extra help while
the fourth grade classes
meet together.