Teaching Children How to Think: The Heart of Transformative Education
What do you remember most vividly from your years in school? Chances are, it isn’t a particular fact or test score, but rather a teacher or mentor who helped you see the world in a new way. Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s approach to education champions this very idea — that the purpose of education isn’t to fill minds with information, but to empower each child to think independently, live ethically, and seek deeper meaning in life.
Moving Beyond Memorization
In a world overflowing with information, the real challenge is not access to knowledge, but learning how to process, question, and apply it. Rabbi Jacobson asks: Are schools providing the right tools for navigating life’s complexities? Are we measuring our children’s success by their ability to make money, or by their ability to make a difference?
He argues that true education doesn’t end at teaching facts or formulas. Instead, it weaves an environment where children can discover their unique purpose and sense of responsibility, not just to themselves, but to the world around them. One of his favorite analogies compares each child to a musician with their own melody to play — no two songs are the same, and every child’s gift is indispensable.
The Power of Relevant and Personal Education
Rabbi Jacobson encourages educators and parents to always ask themselves: Is what I’m sharing relevant and meaningful to this child’s life? When lessons are rooted in real-world struggles and aspirations, learning becomes an experience that resonates far beyond the classroom walls.
Take, for example, the weekly tradition of Shabbat. Instead of merely teaching children to perform the rituals, Rabbi Jacobson suggests inviting them to explore how those traditions make them feel and how they can shape their family experience. A child lighting candles or sharing a song is encouraged to reflect — What does this mean to me? How can I make this moment unique? By shifting the focus from rote actions to meaningful personal involvement, learning becomes alive and lasting.
Practical Strategies for Fostering Independent Thinkers
- Encourage Questions: Make home and school safe spaces for curiosity. Rather than delivering answers, help children explore the questions behind the answers. For instance, if a child wonders why morality matters, guide them in examining choices and their impact on themselves and others.
- Make Lessons Personal: Relate academic or spiritual study to daily challenges. When learning about kindness, invite children to share experiences when someone’s kindness made a difference in their lives.
- Celebrate Every Child’s Unique Journey: Recognize that no two paths are alike. A healthy educator or parent empowers each child to discover and develop their individuality, supporting rather than prescribing their journey.
- Apply Learning to Real Life: Encourage children to take what they’ve learned and turn it into action: writing a family mission statement, volunteering, or initiating a new family tradition rooted in values they’ve studied.
Nurturing Souls for a Better World
Rabbi Jacobson teaches that each child carries a divine soul with a mission that only they can fulfill. When education aligns with this truth, it becomes a partnership in building a more compassionate, ethical, and vibrant world.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or lifelong learner, consider this approach: focus less on what to think and more on how to think. This mindset not only prepares children for the future — it empowers them to shape it.
To watch an in-depth exploration of these principles in action, watch the full class here: Transform Your Students — Educational Lessons from Rosh Hashana.
