Insight
Remember
When • •
New Strategy
Fellowships aimed at spurring more interest in Jewish education as a career.
27,000 jobs available in Jewish education this year, 3,000
went unfilled.
Why the crisis in Jewish personnel? Paul A. Flexner, asso-
ciate
vice president for human resources development at
etroit Jewry will be among the ultimate benefi-
the
New
York City-based JESNA (Jewish Education
ciaries of a new initiative announced last week
Service
of
North America), said compensation levels for
by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
those in Jewish education "provide little to encourage
someone to join or stay in the field."
Seeking to attract the best and the brightest to the
Although JESNA has very few studies of teacher salaries,
William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education,
the
limited data from both independent schools and Jewish
the New York City-based JTS will designate $1.5 million
day
schools indicates that compensation packages for
for merit-based fellowships to all qualified applicants to the
teachers
in the private sector begin minimally 20 percent
school's two-year master's program in Jewish education.
below
those
of public school teachers.
Local industrialist and philanthropist William Davidson
Flexner
pointed
out that, in many cases, teachers in
endowed the school in 1994. It offers the most comprehen-
Jewish
day
schools do not receive either health or
sive program of graduate study in Jewish educa-
pension coverage, which reduces their actual com-
tion in North America.
pensation even further in comparison with the
Davidson, who lives in Bloomfield Hills, is the
public sector.
president of the Auburn Hills-based Guardian
He said the situation for early childhood teachers is
Industries Corp, and owns the Detroit Pistons,
even
worse. Average pay, he said, is about the same
the Palace of Auburn Hills and the National
level as "an entry-level worker in a fast-food chain."
Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning.
How will the JTS initiative impact the Detroit
"I think it (the initiative) represents a new
area?
Harlene Appelman, director of the Jewish
strategy," said Dr. Aryeh Davidson, dean of the
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's Alliance for
Davidson School.
William Davidson Jewish Education, has been active in trying to
"We feel there are a lot of people out there
recruit more, better-qualified and better-paid
who, at this time, would consider careers in
teachers
in
day and congregational schools.
Jewish education. And we don't want the money it takes
"I
think
it
[the Davidson School fellowship program] is
for schooling to be a barrier for their education," said Dr.
an
exciting
opportunity
to have money available if you
Davidson, who is not related to the school's donor.
could
get
people
to
take
advantage of it," said Appelman.
Dr. Davidson said the allocation is "not all coming from
She
pointed
out
that
the
Davidson School already has a
William Davidson's endowment. We are just putting togeth-
presence
in
Detroit
by
having
helped train preschool teach-
er existing funds with some funds that had previously been
ers
in
partnership
with
the
Jewish
Early Education
used for other things. There is no new money involved.
Enhancement
Project.
re
hoping
that,
through
a
rigorous
outreach
public
- We
"However, these people are not likely to go back to
relations campaign, people who perhaps have been sitting
school,"
said Appelman.
on the fence would now seriously think about a career in
"But
they
have friends and families whom they can tell
Jewish education," added Dr. Davidson.
about
their
positive
experience with the Davidson School.
"People who perhaps are recent college graduates or are
They
will
encourage
others to apply there."
considering a second career — or are involved in the
However,
Appelman
concurred with Flexner's concerns.
Jewish world, but do not have a higher degree — should
"The
bottom
line
is
that
most Jewish teachers feel underval-
consider these fellowships," said Dr. Davidson.
ued.
They
generally
wind
up being the low person on the
JTS has already made contact in Israel with American
totem
pole.
They
work
long
hours and are rewarded with
students who are in other programs and advised them of
low pay and no benefits. If they work part-time, they are
the fellowships.
not taken seriously. They are not valued in the community."
The crisis even extends to Jewish camp workers. We
know we can't get Jewish counselors for camps," said
Many Jobs Unfilled
Appelman.
According to the JTS, there is a severe shortage of teachers.
She cautioned that scholarships depend upon recruit-
Current record-high enrollment in Jewish day schools,
The JTS "will need to have a community presence to
ment.
summer camps, synagogue-based religious schools, Jewish
speak
at
job fairs and other places where young adults
Community Centers and adult education programs have
make
their
job decisions. There are lots of avenues through
caused a high demand for teachers and many of the avail-
which
they
can market this, including our very excellent
able jobs have gone unfilled.
Hillel
network,"
said Appelman. Ii
of
Nov.
16,
2001
stares
that,
of
the
The Jewish Chronicle
ALAN ABRAMS
Special to the Jewish News
1/4
2002
20
From the pages of the Jewish. News _for
this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.
1992
Ariel Sharon announced a challenge
of Yitzhak Shamir for leadership of
Likud and the office of prime minis-
ter in the upcoming Israeli elections.
Kenneth Weine was awarded a
scholarship grant of $15,000 at
Yeshiva University's Benjamin
Cardozo School of Law in New York.
Chutzpah by Alan Dershowitz hit
the bestseller list for the 23rd week.
1982
Anew instrument to aid doctors in
operations to cure chronic ear
infections has been developed at
Technion-Israel Institute of
Technology in Hairfax.
Israel received assurance from
Egypt that annexation of the Golan
Heights will not affect relations
between the two countries.
Detroiter Max Kushner was elect-
ed president of the Crescent Shrine
Club.
The four-story mansion once
belonging to Baron Edmund de
Rothschild in Paris became the offi-
cial residence of the new U.S.
Ambassador to France.
Gerald Arthur Gorelick of Oak Park
is spending his junior college year at
the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Arnold I. Feuerman of
Birmingham was elected to the
board of trustees of the Michigan
Cancer Foundation.
1962
,
Samuel L. Kastner ofu fie
was elected president of the Walsh
Institute Alumni Association.
Irving Weisberg of Oak Park was
named Man of the Year by the
Continental Assurance Company.
1
Detroiter Allan Roth, Central High
senior, was chosen chairman of the tal-
ent committee of the Junior Red Cross.
Bert Ruby, professional wrestling
champion, was scheduled to speak to
the B'nai Moshe Bar Mitzvah Club.
— Compiled by Sy Mandl°,
editorial assistant