Schools

Content type
Collection
Collage of Judy Blume on dark blue checkered background

Opposing Book Bans with Judy Blume

Sonia Freedman

Having the option to read Blume’s book about growing up as a girl did not necessarily change my view on womanhood, but taking away a comforting story that offers reassurance about a girls’ preteen years is disappointing and ridiculous.

Collage of Gertrude Goldhaber on pink background

Women in STEM: Gertrude Goldhaber and Me

Maya Viswanathan

Just as Dr. Goldhaber wanted to personally encourage others to study science and math, I too, try to personally invite others in the hope of creating a more fun and welcoming environment. 

Collage of Lani Guinier on light purple background

The Fight for Democratic Merit in College Admissions

Sam Mezrich

Current affirmative action activists can learn from Lani Guinier: she supported affirmative action, but she also supported reforming it.

Collage with outlines of the UK and Arkansas divided by a white line, on a red background

Being Jewish in the UK at Christmas

Irene Y. Raich

I loved the time I spent in England, but I would’ve enjoyed it more had my school attempted to create a more diverse, welcoming, and not Christian-centric environment.

Episode 85: Teens and Mental Health in the (Post)Pandemic

Teens were already struggling before COVID. When the pandemic hit, things just got worse. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we speak with Vanessa Kroll Bennett, co-host of The Puberty Podcast, parenting writer, and mother of four, about teens and mental health—before, during, and after the pandemic—gender differences, and what caregivers and Jewish communities can do to help. We also hear directly from teens about how the pandemic affected them and how they're doing now. 

Photograph of Hanukkah candles outdoors collaged on a dark pink background

Celebrating My Patrilineal Jewish Identity with Hanukkah

Ava Weinstein

I wondered, and still do, why it is that I can’t be accepted as a “real Jew” everywhere I go.

Topics: Hanukkah, Ritual, Schools
Collage of Stars of David and pens on dark blue background

We Need Better Holocaust Education

Sam Mezrich

If non-Jews had more understanding of what our people went through, it would take a lot of emotional labor off the shoulders of Jewish kids.

Illustrated Outline of a Woman Sitting Cross-Legged; Background with Stars of David

Microaggressions in High School: Learning to Advocate for More Inclusive Communities

Georgia Fried

I’m calling out a system that doesn’t make Jewish students feel seen at school—a system that doesn’t educate people on religions that aren’t the most mainstream ones in our culture.

Collage with Maroon Background and Illustrated Young Woman Carrying a Menorah

“All Too Well”: How I Went From Embarrassed to Proud of My Jewish Identity

Amanda Xinhui Malnik

What if there was a short film of my life with captions describing each stage of my relationship with Judaism, like Taylor Swift’s film for her ten-minute version of “All Too Well"?

Rachel Kest with her two children

Kids Are Struggling. As Parents of Kids with Disabilities Already Know, Schools Can Help.

Rachel Kest

For tips on how to help kids thrive, look no further than parents of kids with disabilities—and Maimonides.

Outlined Women Sitting in Forefront; Background of Outlined Hands Holding Protest Signs

Radical Self-Acceptance as a Jewish Lesbian Feminist

Lilly Rochlin

I’ve gathered that—to some—my presence as an openly Jewish, queer, feminist person is interpreted as a disruption that needs to be fixed.

Girl Holding #MeToo sign

It’s Time Schools Took Sexual Assault Seriously

Rena Kosowsky

By failing to educate students about sexual boundaries, my high school perpetuated a culture of assault.

Collage of teenage girl, background of Jewish stars and backpacks, pencils, computers

Jewish Schools Aren't Making the Grade

Rose Clubok

If we want to engage young Jews, we need to rethink how we educate them.

Photo of Painted Over Star of David

Fighting Contemporary Antisemitism: From High School Textbooks to the Halls of the Capitol

Rose Clubok

Since discovering subtle antisemitism in my AP Government textbook, I haven’t read any of the assigned pages.

Background Collage of School supplies with Picture of Dodie Altman-Sagan Studying at Gann Academy, 2019 in the forefront.

Underfunded and Unavailable: The Need for Accessible Education in the US

Dodie Altman-Sagan

In my family of four kids, my dyslexia made me the odd one out. I believed it was uncommon, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Gerda Lerner with TikTok Logo Background

What if Gerda Lerner Were on TikTok?

Lana Klein

If Gerda Lerner were alive today, I think she’d use TikTok to educate its millions of users about women’s history.

Illustration of Silhouetted Face Over Butterfly Background

My Jewish Feminist Metamorphosis

Lily Pazner

On the day of my bat mitzvah, I started to confront my internalized antisemitism and sexism.

Chemistry beakers with colorful liquid

The Power of My Voice: Combatting Insensitivity in My High School

Ellie Klibaner-Schiff

I think I hesitated to counter my classmate’s offensive comment because I didn’t want to be perceived as overdramatic. 

Topics: Schools, Science
Alice from Alice in Wonderland preparing to open the door with the key

Down the Rabbit Hole of My Disability

Ilana Drake

I have a learning disability. It feels like I’m entering the nonsensical world of Wonderland when I try to get my school to understand that.

Google bike in front of Google campus in Palo Alto, California

Toppling the Tech Narrative: Examining Silicon Valley Privilege

Dahlia Soussan

I shadowed at Lincoln High School in eighth grade, and what I saw in six hours challenged my entire perception of Silicon Valley.

Topics: Schools, Technology
Lila Goldstein holding a sign that reads "For Sale: Marco Rubio"

Privilege after Parkland

Lila Goldstein

How many other teenagers around the state of Florida, around the country, shared my bitterness and anger, but didn’t have the tools to be where I was then?

Topics: Protests, Schools
United States Capital, featuring Christmas tree in foreground.

A Culture of Christmas

Ellanora Lerner

What does it mean to live in a country that purports secularity but considers Christianity to be the default?

souvenir name mugs featuring illustrated fish. Names "Eva" and "Hanna" are on the mug.

Learning to Love My Name

Ari Fogel

I always knew my name was about to be called when a teacher announced with an almost mocking grin, “I know I’m gonna butcher this one…”

Shoshannah Hemley and another student stand in front of a crowd of students, shouting in protest. Someone in the crowd holds a sign that says "girls against guns."

“Too Loud” and "Too Jewish": Standing up for Gun Control

Shoshanna Hemley

We were at a school open mic about gun control in the weeks following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting.

Topics: Activism, Schools
Maddy Pollack speaking at her Bat Mitzvah party, microphone in hand. Cake on a table in front of her with text "Mazel Tov, Maddy."

The Only Jewish Kid

Maddy Pollack

When I was in third grade, my teacher asked me to tell my class about the Jewish New Year.

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