We can no longer ignore the data showing that there is little to no correlation between homework and achievement in the elementary grades. Prof. Harris Cooper of Duke University has done extensive research on homework. Cooper compiled 120 studies in … Read More
Blog Archives
Why Jewish Education Cannot Fade Away
By Robert Victor, 8th grade student at Hillel Day School I bet at one point you have been asked, “What are the necessities of life?” Your response most likely sounded like this: “Food, water, and shelter.” Yet you have never … Read More
ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVICE
By Michael Schostak, Hillel graduate (1993), husband of Alexis, and father of current Hillel students, Hayley (K) and Benji (ECC-2). When we retell the Passover story at our Seders this year, we will no doubt talk about Moses and his … Read More
From Public School to Hillel: Why I Made the Switch, and Where it Got Me
By Julie Tigay, first and second grade general studies co-teacher In the summer of 2012, I was an exhausted public school teacher. I had 30 kids in my class, not enough space and the pressure of the Common Core curriculum. … Read More
My Encounters with an Incredible Man: Bill Farber
On a sunny day in October, 2013, Rabbi Harold Loss of Temple Israel came to visit me with an essential question. I remember it clearly: “I have a potential donor who would like to know what transformational dream do you … Read More
“Change or Die”
This New Yorker cartoon puts it plainly: change, or be left behind; change, or become irrelevant! In the world of education, more than ever, many parents, politicians and educators need to “wake up” to the changes that are essential for … Read More
Does a “Loyalty” Tuition Grant Program Work?
Jewish day schools across the country share a mission to educate as many Jewish children in their community as they can. They also share the challenge of finding creative ways to address affordability, reducing barriers to entry, while staying fiscally … Read More
Why We Need Free Preschools
This past Sunday reminded me why the Detroit Jewish community is special. In the morning, my wife, Joan, and I attended an AIPAC breakfast featuring Dennis Ross and James Woolsey. Both speakers were amazing – and so was the turnout. … Read More
Insane Day School Tuition?
This week the Jewish Forward* published an opinion piece, written by a parent, about the high cost of Jewish day school tuition. The op-ed responds to a spreadsheet created by a father in Massachusetts that has gone viral – it … Read More
Do We Really Still Need Teachers?
Much has been written about how technology is changing the face of education and will continue to do so at an increasingly rapid rate. There are those who believe that online learning and advanced educational software will push the current … Read More