The Effect of a Jewish Primary School Education in England on the Religious Observance and Practice of Less Or Non-Observant Parents Ofthe Pupils
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The effect of a Jewish primary school education in England on the religious observance and practice of less or non-observant parents ofthe pupils. Mervyn Leviton Institute ofEducation, University ofLondon. Submitted for the degree ofPhD July 2004 ABSTRACT The main aim of this research is to determine whether or not there has been any noticeable change in the level of religious observance and practice of less or non-observant parents which directly or indirectly can be attributed to the influence of their children and the Jewish primary school they attend. There is a frequently voiced assumption amongst those involved in Jewish education that parents, whose children attend a Jewish primary school, have increased their level of observance due to the influence oftheir children and the school. However, no previous research has been carried out in the United Kingdom in order to examine the basis ofthis premise. The purpose ofmy own research is to test this assumption in a thorough and rigorous manner by means of both questionnaires and in-depth interviews with parents of pupils attending three Jewish primary schools in England. In addition, there are two further specific areas that will be investigated as supplementary parts ofthe main research: [i] To compare the extent ofsimilarities and differences ofany such changes in religious observance between those Jewish families in England who formed part ofmy study, and those in the USA whose children attend Jewish day schools, who have also been the subject of separate research in the USA. [ii] To determine whether within the data ofthis research study, there is any correlation with previous research in the field ofsocial psychology regarding causes and effects ofsocial conformity and deviation. The data from this specific area ofresearch will be used to focus on the effects of a crucial inter-connection between parents, children and the school. 2 The thesis includes an examination of previous allied research and its implications relating to the nature of religious identity and changes in parental behaviour attributed to the influence of their children's Jewish education. It also contains chapters outlining the historical and social background which led to a weakening ofJewish religious observance in the UK during the zo" century and a study ofthe changing role ofthe traditional Jewish family and its effect on the levels ofreligious observance in Anglo-Jewry. The data from questionnaires and interviews are analysed in a thorough manner. The results and conclusions ofthis thesis should be of benefit to those planning and administering Jewish primary schools in the UK. 3 Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge my appreciation of: Jo Cairns, my supervisor at the Institute of Education, University of London, who has guided and encouraged me throughout my research. Her patience, clarity of vision and extensive knowledge have enabled me to remain focused from the earliest days ofthis thesis until its conclusion. Dr. Roy Gardner ofthe Institute ofEducation who has supervised the final stage of the thesis and has also ensured that it is as free as possible of grammatical and textual errors. The lecturers at the Institute of Education whose excellent courses I have attended and who have enabled me to cope with the strenuous demands relating to the correct methodology necessary for a doctoral thesis. The headteachers, governors and parents of the three schools who agreed to participate in this research study. The UJIA (United Jewish Israel Appeal) and the Scopus Jewish Day School Trust (previously Zionist Federation Educational Trust) for their encouragement and financial support towards the cost ofthis research. Finally, to my dear wife Ruth whose patience and good humour have allowed me to pursue this immense task and who has helped and encouraged me throughout the past six years. I have no doubt that without her on-going support this thesis would never have reached it final stages. 4 The effect ofa Jewish primary school education in England on the religious observance and practice ofless or non-observant parents ofthe pupils. CONTENTS PAGE Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 4 List ofTables 8 List ofCharts 9 Part 1: Background to the Research. Chapter 1. The aims, rationale and background to the research. 10 Chapter 2. The historical and social background which led to a weakening ofJewish religious observance in the UK during the zo" century. 24 Chapter 3 A briefoverview ofthe changing role ofthe traditional family, together with a specific study ofthe changing role ofthe traditional Jewish family and its effect on the levels ofreligious observance in Anglo-Jewry. 33 Part 2: Literature Survey. Chapter 4 Section 1: Previous research relating to the nature ofJewish religious identity and to changes in parental behaviour attributed to the influence oftheir children's Jewish education. 45 Section 2: Previous research which examines the effect of Jewish education on the later Jewish religious identification ofthe pupils themselves. 58 Section 3: A comparison ofallied research in the USA with data captured by this present research in the UK. 75 5 Part 3: School Information and Methodology. Chapter 5: [1] A description ofthe location, background and characteristics ofthe three schools utilised in my study, the pupils and their parents. 80 [2] The rationale for the design and content ofthe questionnaire. 84 [3] Interview methodology which is designed to elaborate upon data ascertained through the questionnaire and to explore and analyse parental attitudes and commitments to current religious identification and practice. 99 Part 4: Questionnaire and Interviews: data and analysis. 103 Chapter 6 Parents' childhood education, family background and childhood experiences which appear to have been the foundation for increased or decreased religious observance in later years. 105 Chapter 7 An analysis ofthe questionnaire and interview responses of parents, giving reasons for choosing a Jewish primary school for their children. 139 Chapter 8 Analysis and significance ofthe data relating to changes in levels ofreligious observance ofthe parents in specific areas. 165 Chapter 9 Analysis and significance ofthe data relating to the influence ofthe children on the parents' level ofreligious observance. 194 Chapter 10 Parental attitudes towards their children's Jewish identification and experiences. 234 Chapter 11 Comments ofthe parents relating to their anticipated future level ofreligious observance. 251 6 Chapter 12 Sincerity ofintention: a deeper analysis ofthe reasons why parents may have increased their level ofreligious observance. Is it for the benefit oftheir children or intrinsically for themselves? 271 Chapter 13 An examination ofthe various factors which have caused changes in parental behaviour as identified in this research, with a comparison ofestablished behavioural paradigms in social psychology. 301 Part 5: Final conclusions. Chapter 14 [1] The role and significance ofhome-school relations [2] The final conclusion ofthe thesis. [3] The contribution ofthis research to the current Jewish community in the United Kingdom. 322 Bibliography. 333 Glossary ofHebrew words. 341 APPENDICES A: Letter to the headteacher ofNorton Jewish primary school. 347 B: Letter to the parents ofpupils ofNorton Jewish primary school. 348 C: Questionnaire sent to parents ofpupils at all three schools. 349 D: Interview questions. 359 E: Basic categories ofcoding using QSR NUD*IST Data Analysis. 363 F: Countries oforigin ofparents and grandparents. 364 G: Dashefsky and Shapiro (1974) Jewish Identification Scale. 370 7 TABLE NUMBER. PAGE NUMBER IN BRACKETS. 1. Growth in attendance at Jewish day schools from 1950 to 1999. [13] 2. Jewish population in England and Wales 1871 - 1911. [24] 3. Countries ofbirth ofparents and grandparents ofthe children. [107] 4. Prior Jewish education received by husbands and wives. [111] 5. The estimated level ofreligious observance ofthe grandparents. [115-116] 6. Reasons for choosing a Jewish school. - Lack ofparental education. [140] 7. Reasons for choosing a Jewish school- The same as parents received. [140] 8. Reasons for choosing a Jewish school- Reflects family way oflife. [140-141] 9. Reasons for choosing a Jewish school- Jewish friends. [141] 10. Reasons for choosing a Jewish school- to read Hebrew prayers. [142] 11. Reasons for choosing a Jewish school- to learn to speak Ivrit. [142] 12. Concerned about discrimination at a non-Jewish school [144] 13. Did not want child to learn about other religions. [144] 14. Did not want child to participate in other religious practices. [145] 15. Importance ofa Jewish secondary school. [145] 16. Observance ofdietary laws at home. [168] 17. Observance ofdietary laws away from home. [169] 18. Lighting Shabbat candles on Friday night. [172] 19. Friday night Shabbat Kiddush recited at home. [174] 20. Synagogue attendance on Shabbat. [176] 21. Havdalah ceremony observed at home. [179] 22. Eating only kasher for Pesach food during Passover. [181] 23. Participating in a full Passover seder. [183] 24. Attending synagogue on Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. [186] 25. Lighting a Menorah at home on Chanukah. [189] 26. Having a sukkah at home on Tabernacles. [191] 27. Influence on parents ofchildren's friendships with other children. [196] 28. Influence ofadult friendships made through the school. [196] 29. Influence due to a wish to support the ethos ofthe school. [196] 30. Influence caused by helping children with Jewish studies homework. [196] 31. Influence