The pandemic has been one of the great disruptors of our times – even more than other global shifts. Now, almost a quarter into the 21st century, among other things, the pandemic has also disrupted the educational system and has finally forced our society to materially rethink the purpose and priorities of school. For those of us in education and for those who track the ever shifting economic drivers that impact the future of work, it has long been apparent that an educational system designed for the late 19th and 20th centuries is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of our children today.

As a school, of course we are focused on learning. At Schechter Bergen it is our goal to effectively provide instruction that engages and meets the needs of diverse student learners and to align the curriculum with the mission and incorporate core Jewish values that ensure desired learning outcomes.

But in a world that has been so disrupted, we must ask ourselves anew – “Why?” Why school? Why should Schechter Bergen continue to exist and provide this kind of education? Our “why” can be found in our mission – “To inspire our students to be engaged, independent learners who embrace Jewish values and practices and strive with confidence and compassion to better the world.” We, at Schechter, believe this is a very timely and important “why!”

It is reasonable to expect and hope that our students will better the world through their work, how they live and embrace their Jewish values and rituals, how they treat others, and through service, and philanthropy – all of which hopefully will originally be inspired at Schechter Bergen and in their homes. With these lofty aspirations, however, how do we help our students prepare to be ready to thrive in their future and realize the words of the mission that was created for them?

In part, it requires us to ask the questions that speak to the needs and the opportunities of this century and not the last century.  Of course our children need to learn the skills around math, reading, and writing – that is a given. But what other, equally essential, skills are really needed for their future?

The potential answers are all around us. At a recent webinar that I attended, educational thinker and author, Grant Lichtman had us reflect on the exponential curve of Moore’s Law (56 years ago) which predicted that the speed and power of computers would double every two years. This exponential growth in the power of the computer processor also resulted in the exponential growth of information and how we engage in many aspects of our lives.

Lichtman asked us to consider other massive, perhaps exponential, changes in other areas.  He cited:

• Population growth
• Deforestation
• Global species extinction
• Concentration of wealth – income disparity
• Climate change

With rapid and far reaching changes often comes both opportunity and volatility, requiring people to be agile and adaptive to solve the complex problems created by these changes. Unfortunately, education has historically responded slowly to the changing world, putting millions of students at risk of not having the preparation or skills needed to best meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of their tomorrow.

One of the positive outcomes of the Pandemic is the realization that it is, in fact, not inevitable for school change to continue to be glacially slow. The disruption of the pandemic allowed schools like Schechter to pivot, adapt, and make important choices. Necessity required trying new things, eliminating some old practices and “sacred cows.” Now, as the pandemic wanes, how do we make sure schools continue on the path of change and innovation, prioritizing those skills, practices, and values that will truly have a lasting impact on our children?

We must continue to adapt and embrace what our children need today for tomorrow. Advanced research in education and brain science gives us the roadmap. Research in brain development, metacognition – how we think, and learning approaches that are more engaging can all help our students develop the skills that will serve them well for whatever awaits them in the future. After all, we must prepare our kids to do anything as opposed to prepare them for a singular something.

What do you think the essential skills our children will need to meet their future with confidence?