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August 3, 2001/Av 14, 5761, Vol. 53, No.43
Preschoolers get 'an ethical start'
LEISAH NAMM
Assistant Editor
A pilot program designed to teach ethics to preschool children is set to start this fall at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center.
The center was selected as one of 20 JCCs across the country to participate in "An Ethical Start," a 2-year pilot program based on the study of the Hebrew text "Pirkei Avot" (Ethics of the Fathers).
The JCC Association of North America, the central agency for the JCC movement, received a grant from Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation to develop this multi-media program, which uses modern technology, language and imagery to teach concepts such as respect, self-dignity and community.
The VOSJCC will pilot the program in the pre-K class, which currently includes 48 children, said Joanie Charnow, preschool director.
The program focuses on the imaginative character Peer K. Explorer, who will be the children's guide in books, songs, CD-ROMs and a Web site specifically created for this curriculum.
"It's going to be top-quality graphics and top-quality multi-media," said Mark Shore, VOSJCC president.
A unique aspect of this program is that it requires parental involvement.
Assignments will include going online as a family to interact with Peer K., and a soon-to-be designed character, Dafna, as well as completing activities designed for the program.
The center will also start adult Pirkei Avot classes so parents can learn, on an adult level, the concepts their children are learning.
"We don't feel that this will be effective unless the whole family is involved," Shore said.
Families that do not have online access at home can use public library computers or computers at the school that will be made available to families, Shore said.
The concepts focused on will be responsibility, dignity, kindness, community, tradition and respect.
Teacher training will start this fall and the program will be incorporated in the preschool's curriculum in January, Shore said. All JCC staff, both Jewish and non-Jewish, will receive training.
As part of the pilot program, participating teachers and preschool directors will evaluate the program on a regular basis, and parents will fill out forms answering questions about the program, such as whether their children are retaining the information or if they have seen changes in their children's behavior.
Ultimately, the collective knowledge from participating JCCs will be compiled and a formal curriculum will be developed.
"That's what's exciting to us - to be in on this at the ground level," Shore said. "It's a tribute to everybody here that they chose us to be a part of this continental project."
After a lengthy application process, when Charnow and the preschool's teachers wrote essays about their philosophy and why they wanted to be included, the VOSJCC was selected from 50 applicants to participate.
Call 602-867-2357.
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