Education."The more sitting [and studying], the more wisdom." (Mishna Avot 2:7)
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Our Position
Education has long been valued by Jews – both for its own sake, but also as a means to greater prosperity in places where opportunities for Jews have historically been restricted. In theory, education is the great leveler in society.
Unfortunately far too many of our fellow Nashvillians don’t have access to the high-quality education needed to open doorways to prosperity. In Metro Nashville, only about 1 in 4 students are on-track for math and literacy. Upon graduation, fewer than 1 in 3 students in our city are considered ready to be successful in college. Among children who are economically-disadvantaged – who are the majority of the students in our public schools – fewer than 1 in 5 are ready to be successful in college.
The Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable knows our city can and must do much, much better for our children. We are eager to educate, advocate, and act in support of the families, educators, and community leaders committed to achieving this.
Unfortunately far too many of our fellow Nashvillians don’t have access to the high-quality education needed to open doorways to prosperity. In Metro Nashville, only about 1 in 4 students are on-track for math and literacy. Upon graduation, fewer than 1 in 3 students in our city are considered ready to be successful in college. Among children who are economically-disadvantaged – who are the majority of the students in our public schools – fewer than 1 in 5 are ready to be successful in college.
The Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable knows our city can and must do much, much better for our children. We are eager to educate, advocate, and act in support of the families, educators, and community leaders committed to achieving this.
- We need to know how we’re doing: We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Nashvillians about the legacy of segregation and inequities in our city, and the continued impact of these on our city’s educational opportunities. We applaud and support the governmental, non-profit, and business community efforts to collect, analyze, and report out on information that highlights where are city’s public education offerings are succeeding and where they are falling short.
- We need to support what is working: We aim to advocate for efforts that are shown to improve educational opportunities for Nashville kids, and in particular kids from communities that have been historically underserved (African American, Hispanic, English language learners, students with disabilities, immigrants and undocumented students, economically-disadvantaged students). As these same communities have historically been restricted from the type of political and economic power that drives policies and resource allocations, it is all the more incumbent on all of us to raise our voices together with our fellow Nashvillians.
- We need to be all in: We aim to mobilize our membership and act alongside those working with urgency and courage to create meaningful improvements. There have been more strategic plans, programs, innovations, and re-structuring in our public schools over the last couple of decades than most anyone would care to count. We can’t allow fatigue or disillusionment to keep us from action, and we will lift up those who continue to fight hard for change in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
