Dear Shuli readers:
Od pam: oy! (Once more, oh my!) The level of high-intensity news out of the Twin Cities Jewish community this week is incredible. So, once again I’m straying from question-answer format for this column. In fact, I do want to let you know that this, most likely, will be my last Ask Shuli column. Unless you, loyal and nosy reader, would like to take over. We can do it all anonymous-like, you know… like when Westley takes over as the Dread Pirate Roberts in Princess Bride. Don’t even pretend you don’t have that whole part memorized! (“Good night Wesley, good work, I’ll most likely kill you in the morning…”) But I digress.
I’ve loved answering your questions — kinky, stressful and more — these past seven months. I’ve been talking with our esteemed publishers/web mavens, Leora and Emily, about shifting my efforts to our upcoming Jewish arts blog on this site. Trying to think of a name for Jewish Arts … Jarts? Nu Art? People of the Arts? In the meantime, if you’d like to take over this advice column, please contact Leora.
So. For this, my last bully-pulpit column, I’d like to have the latest word (certainly not the last!) on this Talmud Torah business. This past Thursday, the day school announced that it will remain open, with grades K-4. I’m very relieved for that, but also sad for the loss of the “Upper School” (grades 5-8), after so many wonderful years and so many families served.
However, it seems to me that the Talmud Torah board has some very serious issues to address: the very high subsidy from the United Jewish Fund and Council of St. Paul; the costs of running a large, beautiful building that no longer fits the enrollment; the lack of endowments or firm financial footing for the future; and the declining enrollment for the afternoon school as well. Oy vey.
I’ve never served on the TTSP board (though I have served on others in our community), and I know that these fine volunteers have their work cut out for them in a major way. Not to mention the administration and faculty!
Mainly, I’m just sad and disappointed. Sad that the enrollment plummeted before I even gave birth to my two little Jewish gals. Sad that so many fine teachers and families have left. Sad for the teachers who remain, trying to hold the school together. Sad that recruitment and retention efforts (many Herculean) went for naught for so many years. What happened, Talmud Torah board? Where did it all go wrong?
Tempting as it is to continue to wring my hands, that’s Monday-morning quarterbacking. This is 2010, and TTSP certainly needs our help this year and next. Personally, I hope to help support the afternoon school and Midrasha most of all, because that’s very close to my heart (I was fortunate to receive a great afternoon-school and Midrasha education in my youth, in a different state). This Mother’s Day, I’ve already called my momala to thank her for giving me that opportunity for a great Jewish education. Have you??
I think the larger points of discussion here should be:
– Does the Twin Cities need a new Agency for Jewish Education to sort out this mess?
– Can our fractured Minneapolis-St. Paul Jewish community of 40,000 even support this many day schools (HMJDS, TTSP, Torah Academy, Lubavitch Cheder)?
– Why is our community so fractured anyway?
– Is the era of the community afternoon school (Talmud Torah) over in the Twin Cities? Do synagogues do this better?
I, Shuli, have been asked these questions (and many more on these topics), by readers, family and friends this year. They are hot topics, and very central to our identities, pride and success as American Jews.
So let’s hear it, TC Jewfolk readers: What do you think?
Photo: rogerbarnette
Menu
Thank you for being evenhanded and discussing these important issues.
Wonderful use of Goldman reference, Shuli, and more wonderful placement of the challenges of our WHOLE community’s Jewish education as a major concern.
A private school has more to concern itself than providing an excellent education. It is an entity that needs a vision, as well as administration and faculty who connect, in addition to the mission, to the ongoing process of fundraising as well. The whole idea of fundraising for private schools is that even those who pay full tuition do not cover the total cost to educate their child/children. Add to that the need for financial aid, and you see the need.
A private school needs, as does a business, (and, for my money, as do public schools) a solid idea of the desires and needs of the community it serves. Some of your questions resonate with me, as I wonder about my family’s future in the Twin Cities. Why do we as a Jewish community buy into this garbage of the cross-river Hatfields and McCoys? I didn’t grow up here, but what did these two cities DO to each other back in the day to foster so much antipathy, if not animosity? Are there not people on both sides who are concerned enough with the future to get beyond this odd fractionation?
The question of support of multiple day schools is not cut and dry. School-age population is cyclical; the administration at the college where I work is talking of the hit in enrollment we are expecting as the decrease in school-aged students progresses past secondary school. To know that we are not alone, look at the number of other school closing or closed in the past year or two.
Location is an issue, as what is available is not always accessible. (My family has no one near us to ride share, etc. If we are not in the position to drive the kids to Highland Park or Minneapolis, they cannot go to school in Highland Park or Minneapolis.) Feelings about the ‘other’ aside, many are not in the position to get to one school or the other. Lose one option, and you lose Jewish education for those who were utilizing their only option.
What’s next? That will depend. Do we know what Jews around the area want for their children? Not really, no. How do schools connect with unaffiliated (not associated with a synagogue) families? I wish I knew, because from all reports, there are no successful ways so far. A Jewish day school was not even on our radar until one of the kids came home from pre-school and asked, “Why can’t we love Jesus?” (Please understand that if you, dear reader, happen to, I support that relationship you have to the fullest. It just isn’t right for us.) Looking back, if living so far from other Jews on a daily basis had not included an incident to shock us into action, we would have missed, our children would have missed out on an amazing advantage they have gained in going to a day school. (Last night they read aloud from a children’s book about Moses, which was great. But when we ended the chapter and said it was time for bed, they regaled us with the full-throated (and fully-accurate) rendition of Mi Chamocha! Get THAT from public school!)
Finally, might our kids become ‘Good Jews’, that is, informed, passionate, leaders connected to Torah and the community, without TTSP? Could be, but WITH TTSP it is has already begun to happen. Would we be better off with one fewer institution producing this type of future for the Twin Cities Jewish community?
I have been reading this post for days waiting for more people to weigh in on this very important issue. But maybe that is the problem- too few of us see Jewish education as an important issue! I think Michael asks the important question- What do Jews in this area want for their children. Do we want “quality”? Do we want “quantity”? We are so busy trying to create balanced children that we are completely out of balance. It will be very interesting (somewhat freightening) to watch the future leaders (our children) who only know or want to participate in activities that have something in it for them. What about attending Talmud Torah because that is what we do as Jews. Day school is a wonderful option but that to has become about avoiding afternoon school, or not being able to get into a different private school or other reasons that have less to do with Jewish education. I think that we need to put a serious effort into marketing Jewish education. We do not need another Jewish agency created, we need serious discussion about the strengths of Jewish education through high school. Maybe combining Minneapolis-St. Paul, maybe offering kids options where they can attend both places. With better choices of classes and teachers. Effort needs to be made by all parties- parents, kids, teachers, administrators and of course our synagogue Rabbis who need to really get behind the effort. It is time to let go of the history and start putting the future first. This kind of discussion is a good first step. A pledge by families to make every effort to attend and support their community program would also help! We have a wonderful Jewish community in Minneapolis and St. Paul. People in other states say that our Community school system (Talmud Torah of Minneapolis and Midrasha) are so rare and unique that they have become cutting edge again. Let’s make sure that the Twin Cities stays on the cutting edge of Jewish Education!