The Brandeis School of San Francisco – To develop a kindergarten through eighth grade curriculum and an educator’s toolkit on civic engagement and American Jewish history.

Why does your school need this project right now?

As a school named for Justice Louis Brandeis, a leading voice on the Supreme Court for the profound importance of citizenship, we feel a particular obligation to teach our students that they have the capacity to help repair our polarized and fractious democracy. As one of the teachers on the project design team put it, “We believe that school is a microcosm for the larger community, and the classroom is a safe place for students to learn about democracy. Our goal is for students to feel empowered to step up and advocate for change in their life beyond Brandeis.”

How will this project help students take an active role in the civic life of local, state, and national institutions, and how will their involvement then further strengthen their connection to the Jewish community?

Through this project, we will demystify civic engagement for younger students by teaching them how local and state government work, and by giving them the opportunity to be in direct conversation with civic leaders. We are lucky to have a number of Brandeis alumni who work in government, who we hope will show students how they bring Jewish values into their work. Because we believe a thriving democracy is critical to the long-range health of our American Jewish communities, we also believe a deep understanding of and engagement with civics and democracy should be central to Jewish education in America.

Learn more:

The Brandeis School of San Francisco Website

The Brandeis School of San Francisco Strategic Plan