Reflections on going back to school

Going back to school can be an important learning experience for both parents and children. There are roles, needs and benefits to both in this yearly transition.

In the article “Being Engaged in our Children’s Education” at Chabad.org, Rabbi Nochum Kaplan writes, “I believe a parent’s role is somewhere between coach and cheerleader; neither as critically involved as the former or as benignly enthusiastic as the latter.

He closes with “Being positively involved in our children’s lives means knowing what they are experiencing at school and what issues they face; it means listening and being there for them; it means offering encouragement and helping them develop self-confidence. It certainly means setting limits and assigning appropriate consequences for non-compliance. It may mean giving advice when asked and being a shoulder to cry on. It does not mean fighting their battles nor acting in their stead. Like training wheels on a bike, the child needs to know they are there, so he won’t fall but the less they are used the better the ride.”

ChatGPT offers some helpful additional insights for both parents and students about going back to school after the summer break and is able to look at this pivotal moment through the lens of Judaism .

The pursuit of knowledge and education is highly valued in Judaism. When we go back to school and back to academic learning, we are offered the opportunity to engage in academic studies as well as learn about how to engage in the kinds of human interactions that develop our emotional intelligence.

As the the summer comes to an end we reflect on our past experiences and prepare for new learning and growth. This reflection helps us move forward with freshly minted goals and as sense of renewal.

Schools helps us to develop friendships and form bonds within the classroom and the school community. We also learn about collaboration and teamwork.

By aligning the experience of going back to school with the principles of Judaism, students can approach the new school year with a sense of purpose and dedication, infused with a degree of spiritual fulfillment as well.

Here are some questions for parents to reflect on:

How does listening to your children help them grow?

In what ways do you encourage your children to learn?

How do you set limits with your children?

In what situations is it important to give advice to your children?

Here are some questions for children and students of all ages to reflect on:

What do you look forward to learning at school this year?

What school activities do you look forward to?

Which friends do you look forward to seeing, working with, and playing with?

What did you do this summer that you can “bring with you” to school? (e.g. excitement, energy, stories, lessons, new ideas)

Here’s to going back to school both mentally and spiritually invigorated!

PATRICIA RASKIN, owner of Raskin Resources Productions, is an award-winning radio producer, business owner and leader.  She has served on the board of directors of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.  Her “Positive Aging with Patricia Raskin” podcast is broadcast on the Rhode Island PBS website, ripbs.org/positiveaging.