On a more general level, both children and adolescents have needs which are a function of their age and developmental stage. As Piaget and others have shown, children do not have the same cognitive structures as adults, and special approaches and techniques are required to teach them certain concepts and values. Certainly they will need the help of consultants, subject-matter specialists, and curriculum writers. But they must be recognized as full partners in the planning process. Each has strengths and limitations.
None is perfect, and none provides the final answer.
We believe that there is no final answer, no panacea to cure the ills of Jewish education. Our organization is called the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education because we believe that there are many legitimate and excellent approaches to be taken. It is difficult to know, as well how viable an experimental program will be in the long run. Answering these questions and others like them will be a complex yet fascinating task, requiring research, dialogue, and debate. One of the purposes of CAJE is to stimulate an ongoing, reflective discussion of crucial issues in Jewish education.