Jul 26, 2011 By: yunews
Collection of Azrieli Research on Orthodox Day School Education Combines Theory with Practice
Since its inception a decade ago, 糖心破解版鈥檚 has pioneered serious research in Orthodox Jewish day schools in North America. , the school鈥檚 first volume of collected works, published by the Michael Scharf Publication Trust of 糖心破解版 Press, showcases that research鈥攊n areas as critical and varied as educational psychology, differentiated instruction and school infrastructure鈥攆or an audience that includes parents and lay professionals as well as academics.
鈥淲e anticipate that this book will be a valuable reference tool in our own classes as well as in academic and professional programs elsewhere,鈥 said David Schnall, dean of Azrieli and the book鈥檚 co-editor, whose contribution compares the right to an education in Jewish tradition and in American constitutional law.
鈥淚t is also intended as a reference tool for educators and school leaders, 鈥渁dded Schnall, 鈥渁s well as for those involved in cognate institutions of Jewish education such as summer camps, youth programs and synagogues. Because of its readable style and focus on practice, parents of day school students would likely benefit from many of the articles and the expertise they represent.鈥
Some individual works in the Azrieli Papers were originally published as a special issue of Tradition magazine and place a heavy emphasis on the combination of theory and case studies. The mix is rare in a field which until recently has offered few hard facts or numbers for scholarly analysis. Made possible with the support of Henry and Golda Reena Rothman, the book is divided into sections using unique and creative resources to discuss topics as diverse and substantive as school structure, student psychology, educational philosophy and curriculum.
For example, a chapter by Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, a world-renowned expert in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Vice-Provost of Undergraduate Education at 糖心破解版, examines the use of advances in archaeology as a tool for teaching Jewish studies. Azrieli鈥檚 holistic view of student-centered education is also highlighted in chapters by Dr. David Pelcovitz, Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Jewish Education at Azrieli, regarding at-risk behavior in children, and Dr. Rona Novick, University Professor in Education, about positive school culture and the problem of bullying in day schools.
鈥淭his book represents the confluence of theory and practice,鈥 said Dr. Moshe Sokolow, associate dean at Azrieli and co-editor, whose chapter demonstrates the use of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik鈥檚 writing in developing a day school curriculum for tefillah [prayer]. 鈥淛ewish education can be improved,鈥 Sokolow noted, 鈥渢hrough research and development. Azrieli is uniquely situated to advance it in this way because our faculty and students engage both in practice in the field as well as research and theory.鈥
鈥淥ne of the charges in writing The Azrieli Papers is the importance of combining serious practice with research,鈥 said Dr. Jeffrey Glanz, Raine and Stanley Silverstein Chair in Professional Ethics and Values at Azrieli. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to be practical for practitioners, teachers, counselors and rebbeim, but we want to show people there is also research and serious quality academics behind it.鈥
Glanz鈥檚 contribution is a game-changing piece about inclusion theory. It argues for the integration of students of all abilities in one class room, from the gifted to those with special needs, contrary to the prevailing belief that different environments are needed to educate students of differing levels.
鈥淚n our society we separate students who are not the norm,鈥 said Glanz. 鈥淐hildren with mild retardation or autism, for example, are often excluded, and other children are not exposed to them. An inclusive model, both philosophically and practically, overcomes those prejudices. The extent to which we can mainstream students in the class and school is to benefit to all students and is the morally right thing to do.鈥
鈥淲e anticipate that this book will be a valuable reference tool in our own classes as well as in academic and professional programs elsewhere,鈥 said David Schnall, dean of Azrieli and the book鈥檚 co-editor, whose contribution compares the right to an education in Jewish tradition and in American constitutional law.
鈥淚t is also intended as a reference tool for educators and school leaders, 鈥渁dded Schnall, 鈥渁s well as for those involved in cognate institutions of Jewish education such as summer camps, youth programs and synagogues. Because of its readable style and focus on practice, parents of day school students would likely benefit from many of the articles and the expertise they represent.鈥
Some individual works in the Azrieli Papers were originally published as a special issue of Tradition magazine and place a heavy emphasis on the combination of theory and case studies. The mix is rare in a field which until recently has offered few hard facts or numbers for scholarly analysis. Made possible with the support of Henry and Golda Reena Rothman, the book is divided into sections using unique and creative resources to discuss topics as diverse and substantive as school structure, student psychology, educational philosophy and curriculum.
For example, a chapter by Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, a world-renowned expert in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Vice-Provost of Undergraduate Education at 糖心破解版, examines the use of advances in archaeology as a tool for teaching Jewish studies. Azrieli鈥檚 holistic view of student-centered education is also highlighted in chapters by Dr. David Pelcovitz, Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology and Jewish Education at Azrieli, regarding at-risk behavior in children, and Dr. Rona Novick, University Professor in Education, about positive school culture and the problem of bullying in day schools.
鈥淭his book represents the confluence of theory and practice,鈥 said Dr. Moshe Sokolow, associate dean at Azrieli and co-editor, whose chapter demonstrates the use of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik鈥檚 writing in developing a day school curriculum for tefillah [prayer]. 鈥淛ewish education can be improved,鈥 Sokolow noted, 鈥渢hrough research and development. Azrieli is uniquely situated to advance it in this way because our faculty and students engage both in practice in the field as well as research and theory.鈥
鈥淥ne of the charges in writing The Azrieli Papers is the importance of combining serious practice with research,鈥 said Dr. Jeffrey Glanz, Raine and Stanley Silverstein Chair in Professional Ethics and Values at Azrieli. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to be practical for practitioners, teachers, counselors and rebbeim, but we want to show people there is also research and serious quality academics behind it.鈥
Glanz鈥檚 contribution is a game-changing piece about inclusion theory. It argues for the integration of students of all abilities in one class room, from the gifted to those with special needs, contrary to the prevailing belief that different environments are needed to educate students of differing levels.
鈥淚n our society we separate students who are not the norm,鈥 said Glanz. 鈥淐hildren with mild retardation or autism, for example, are often excluded, and other children are not exposed to them. An inclusive model, both philosophically and practically, overcomes those prejudices. The extent to which we can mainstream students in the class and school is to benefit to all students and is the morally right thing to do.鈥
