Planting the Seed of Knowledge

Lomita, CA — A parade of diverse young people proudly marched across the stage at the Bilowit Learning Center recently, finishing the first phase of one of the most important journeys of their lives — their education. Since opening its doors in 1983, the Chabad-sponsored school in Lomita has focused on one key goal: providing a high quality early education for all the children in its Southland community.

“Everything starts with education,” said Rabbi Eli Hecht, director of Chabad of South Bay, which operates the Bilowit Learning Center. “If you can plant and nurture the seed of learning at an early age, you have given the child something that no one can take away.”

Most observers agree. A 2004 study of several thousand California kindergarteners found that attending pre-school helps shrink the achievement gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students. Research also shows that children who attend preschool develop stronger reading and math skills, are better behaved, and are more likely to graduate from high school.

The Bilowit Learning Center’s program encourages each child’s development through a curriculum that provides for students’ physical, intellectual and emotional needs; many activities are child-directed and teacher-guided. The nonsectarian school provides a state-of-the-art education to all the preschoolers, and also offers an additional hour of religious studies for Jewish students.

The Learning Center has recently expanded with help from a grant by Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), a nonprofit organization promoting high quality pre-kindergarten education in Los Angeles County. With LAUP’s support, the school welcomed additional teachers and opened new activity centers for the children. It now boasts one of the best student-to-teacher ratios in California.

“Preschool For Free — How Can It Be?” is the motto of the newly expanded preschool, which uses a sliding scale to make the program available to all who wish to attend. Within a few months of the expansion, the enrollment doubled. And since the Bilowit Learning Center has just been chosen a “model school” for the LAUP program, it is now advising other faith-based organizations on how to implement such programs.

The school provides an opportunity for children of all backgrounds to join together and learn. “It’s in this safe environment that prejudices disappear and children learn trust,” said Rabbi Hecht. “The parents of children from all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds have the opportunity to see a Jewish school and meet a rabbi, often for the first time. They can see that, yes, people with different religions, beliefs and backgrounds can get along, work side by side, and learn from one another.”

“With the world getting smaller every day, the next generation will experience things we haven’t dreamed of,” said Rabbi Hecht. “The most important piece of equipment that a child needs to face the challenges of the future is an open mind. That’s why teaching a child to be tolerant and loving is so important. It’s not about what makes people different; it’s about what makes them the same.”

The goal of The Bilowit Learning Center is to provide high quality early education for children of all backgrounds.

Studies show that children who attend preschool develop stronger learning skills and are more likely to graduate high school.

The banner proudly displayed in front of Chabad of South Bay invites all children that wish to learn

Rabbi Hecht helps the children tend to the garden at the school and learn about nature.