Cover Story Jewish Voices In Education S Preserving Public Education Jewish support is crucial —for the sake of society and for Jewish self-interest. ince 1999, the Jewish News has given voice to its readership on matters of Jewish education in each August's DAVID GAD-HARE Special to the Jewish News back-to-school issue. This year, the JN decided to take a different approach, devot- ing its "Voices" section to public school education. To lead off the special section, David Gad-Harf, executive director DIANA LIEBERMAN Staff Writer of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit and president of the West Bloomfield School District Board of Education, has written a thoughtful essay on some of the reasons why the Jewish community has a stake in America's public schools. Following, there are interviews with Steve Gaynor of Bloomfield Hills and Gary Faber of West Bloomfield, Oakland County's only two Jewish school superintendents; Lindy Buch, the top early-childhood executive of the Michigan Department of Education; and Neal Elyakin, supervisor of special education for Washtenaw County. But a single section can only begin to enu- merate the countless Jewish educators who work to maintain and improve Michigan's pub- lic schools — and the many issues they grapple with every day. So the JN has decided to offer periodic inter- views and articles throughout the year designed to keep readers informed about the institution that has successfully prepared millions of Jews and non-Jews, immigrants and citizens, for vocations, college, lifelong learning and the tasks of citizenship and public responsibility. It's the most successful anti-poverty program our nation has ever known — the public schools. 11 Related editorial: page 23 uring most of the 20th century, we took for granted Jewish community support for the public education system. Nearly all Jews attended public schools. In several school districts, a disproportion- ate number of teachers, principals and other admin- istrators were Jewish. Public education was part and parcel of the Jewish experience in America. Today, American Jews face a different reality, have different needs and have new opportunities. Most private schools are not only open to Jews — they eagerly welcome Jewish students. More Jewish families than ever before can afford the tuition costs of private education. Jewish schools have proliferat- ed in Detroit and elsewhere, offering a range of day school options, from preschool through high school. Public school teaching is not as popular as 50 years ago, as new professional opportunities have opened up, particularly for young women. So, more and more I hear the question: Why should the Jewish community continue to support public education? is important for the interests of the Jewish community, as it leads to a more unified, tolerant nation. • Fourth, the Jewish community must remain vig- ilant about efforts by other groups to bring Christian religious doctrine into the public schools. We believe that this leads to inter-religious conflict, is unconstitutional and is harmful for Jews and other religious minorities. To be effective guardians of religious liberty, the Jewish community must be actively involved in the public school system. What To Do How should Jews demonstrate their concern for public education? • If you have school-age children, I urge you to become activists in parent-teacher organizations and find other ways to be supportive of the schools your children attend. Why Act? I firmly believe that Jews will continue to be strong public school advocates, and that it's in the best interests of the Jewish community for this to remain so. Here are my reasons: • First, the reality is that, despite growing num- bers of Jewish students attending private schools, including Jewish day schools, the overwhelming majority of Jewish students attend, and will contin- ue to attend, public schools. As long as this is the case, Jewish families and the Jewish community as a whole will feel a stake in the future of public educa- tion and will therefore work to keep it strong. • Second, the public education system is a corner- stone of American democracy. Its mission is to pro- duce an educated citizenry. If our nation does not make a serious commitment to educating all of its children, we will likely become a society of "haves" and "have nots." It is in the best interests of the Jewish community to avoid such a situation, for soci- eties with deep divisions usually spell trouble for us. • Third, the public education system has been and continues to be the entry point into American society for immigrant groups. It played this role for Jews in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Today, with our society becoming more and more ethnically diverse, the acculturating role played by public schools David Gad-Harf is executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit and president of the West Bloomfield Board of Education. David Gad-Half chairs a meeting of the West Bloomfield Board of Education. • Whether or not you have school-age children, I urge you to be knowledgeable voters in school board elections, and seek opportunities, such as through school district foundations, to support your commu- nity's schools. • Finally, I urge you to become a school volunteer, thereby signaling your commitment to public edu- cation and to the children it serves. One such volun- teer project is the Jewish Community Council's Detroit Jewish Coalition for Literacy, which coordi- nates school-based tutoring programs for K-3rd grade students, in conjunction with scores of syna- gogues and Jewish organizations. Education has always been a primary Jewish value. Public education has been a gateway for Jewish advancement and for Jewish interests. We cannot afford to stand by as that system comes under attack. 8/15 2003 65