Most Hasidim deliberately educate their children so that they only receive a bare minimum of gentile knowledge, that way they will be more likely to stay within the bounds of Judaism. Most Hasidim in America have an understanding of English and other secular subjects below the level of the average 8th grade goy. Students who are interested in secular learning usually get frowned upon by their rebbes and communities.
I do not see how it is in America’s interests to have such school systems that do not inculcate even the most bare bones literacy.
Chaim Amalek writes: Snitches get stitches? Thankfully, with Cuomo in Albany and DeBlasio in City Hall, nothing will come of this:
EXCLUSIVE: Rabbi slams NYC investigation into private schools’ secular education standards
Pray for us!
That’s the message a leading Hasidic rabbi gave to his thousands of followers in response to the city Education Department’s investigation into its schools failing to teach secular subjects as required by law.
“These are bad times for us Jews,” said Satmar leader Aaron Teitelbaum during a May 4 speech. “We need to pray to God that (city officials) should not interfere with the upbringing of our children.”
“Worthless … snitches” in the community are urging the Education Department to take action “which the government doesn’t even want,” the rabbi said at a large synagogue in upstate Kiryas Joel.
The Education Department last summer announced that it is investigating more than a dozen private schools to ensure their curriculum follows secular education standards.
That review remains ongoing nearly a year later.
Advocates contend the Education Department is just stalling.
“This speech is concerning in many ways,” said Naftuli Moster, who founded Young Advocates for Fair Education, a group advocating for yeshivas to meet secular standards required by state law.
“Most concerning is the apparent collusion between community leaders and the (department) which might explain why the city investigation stalled early on,” he added.
The Teitelbaum address was transcribed and distributed to followers living in different areas.
The Hasidic leader also says the city has long ignored the state law regarding secular education.
“To put it bluntly, they simply turned a blind eye to what was going on by the Jewish children,” Teitelbaum said. “They didn’t want to look.”
City authorities say the review is active.
“We take this matter very seriously,” said Education Department spokeswoman Toya Holness.
