Education."The ability not merely to read and write but to master and apply information and have open access to knowledge - is essential to human dignity. I have suggested that it is the basis of a free society. Because knowledge is power, equal access to knowledge is a precondition of equal access to power." (Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z"l)
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Our Position
Education carries a long tradition of importance in Jewish history and values – 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. Moreover, our educators are without sufficient resources to support the myriad of academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of children in our city today.
According to state data, fewer than 1 in 3 students in Metro Nashville Public Schools were on track for literacy, and fewer than 1 in 4 students were on track for math, in 2023. Among children who are economically-disadvantaged, fewer than 1 in 6 were proficient in ELA, and fewer than 1 in 9 were proficient in math in 2023.
It is simply unacceptable that the majority of children in our city’s public schools are not proficient in ELA and math, and that children who are economically-disadvantaged are about twice as likely to be not proficient.
The Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable knows our city can and must do much, much better for our children. We are proud of and applaud Metro Nashville Public Schools for being recognized as one of the top districts in the country for it’s reading and math growth since the pandemic. We must continue to do more.
Unfortunately, far too many of our fellow Nashvillians don’t have access to the high-quality education needed to open doorways to prosperity. Moreover, our educators are without sufficient resources to support the myriad of academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of children in our city today.
According to state data, fewer than 1 in 3 students in Metro Nashville Public Schools were on track for literacy, and fewer than 1 in 4 students were on track for math, in 2023. Among children who are economically-disadvantaged, fewer than 1 in 6 were proficient in ELA, and fewer than 1 in 9 were proficient in math in 2023.
It is simply unacceptable that the majority of children in our city’s public schools are not proficient in ELA and math, and that children who are economically-disadvantaged are about twice as likely to be not proficient.
The Nashville Jewish Social Justice Roundtable knows our city can and must do much, much better for our children. We are proud of and applaud Metro Nashville Public Schools for being recognized as one of the top districts in the country for it’s reading and math growth since the pandemic. We must continue to do more.
- We need to know how we’re doing: We applaud and support the governmental, non-profit, and business community efforts to collect, analyze, and report out on information that highlights where Nashville’s public education offerings are succeeding and where they are falling short. We aim to educate ourselves and our fellow Nashvillians on the state of education in our city.
- We need to support what is working: We aim to advocate for greater resources put towards those 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 even more incumbent on all of us to raise our voices together with our fellow Nashvillians.
- We need to act: We aim to mobilize our membership and act alongside those working with urgency and courage to expand opportunities for children in our city. There have been more strategic plans, programs, innovations, and re-structuring in our public schools over the last couple of decades than 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.