Hebrew at school by 2012?

SUFFICIENT expression of interest from the Jewish community means a new Hebrew program at Glen Eira College is likely to go ahead as part of a plan to establish the school as a viable alternative to private Jewish day schools.

Tentatively approved by the school’s principal, Lesley Lamb, at a meeting this week, the classes could begin at year 7 from as early as 2012, with a view to a broader rollout in the coming years.

Lamb said the college welcomed the interest of the Jewish community in introducing targeted Jewish language and culture programs at the school. “While there are many pragmatic, educational and governance issues to work through, the college council and staff are supportive in principle. A broad consultation process will be pursued to ensure any programs implemented are consistent with government guidelines and introduced in a staged and controlled way,” she said.

If it goes ahead, the Hebrew program will operate during school hours. Initially, the classes will cost around $1000 per year per student, but could be subsidised if more than 10 pupils are enrolled.

The classes are the first step towards a three-pronged Jewish education curriculum created by strategy and leadership expert Jonny Schauder. It would include Hebrew as an elective subject from years 7 to 12, a religion and society subject and an out-of-school hours religious, cultural and language program for students.

The school said it would wait to see how the Hebrew program panned out before coming to a decision regarding the rest of the proposed curriculum. In the meantime, the college is willing to provide a space in which out-of-school hours classes could be run.

“We need to continue to push for the in-school-hours subjects,” said Schauder.

“The vision is that there will be three hours of Hebrew learning in school as part of the formal curriculum. Add to that UJEB delivering their half-hour of religious instruction per week, a camp each year and a Zionist seminar in year 9, plus the out-of-school hours activities and you have almost replicated the experience at a Jewish day school.”

An information evening is being held at Glen Eira College’s Performing Arts Centre on December 12 at 6.30pm for parents and students going into year 7 next year.

For further information, contact Jonny Schauder on 0410 532 337.

LIVIA ALBECK-RIPKA