Members of the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities hold a protest before a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. Leaders of the Hasidic schools say that the new regulations would eliminate their schools where male schools regularly study just the Talmud. Educators say the change will require private schools to provide the basic high school education. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) – New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English.
A Board of Regents committee unanimously approved guidelines Monday to make sure instruction at the state’s private and religious schools is equivalent to that of its public schools.
The rules would apply to all of New York’s 1,800 nonpublic schools but would have the greatest impact on the ultra-Orthodox schools, called yeshivas, some of which provide rigorous religious instruction but little or no teaching in secular subjects like English, math, science and history.
Defenders of the schools say parents have the right to send their children to programs consistent with their beliefs and traditions. As the Regents met Monday, protesters assembled outside, some with signs reading: “We will sit in jail rather than change our childrens education.”
Many yeshivas in New York state are modern Orthodox schools that provide a full secular curriculum along with religious studies. But there have been complaints that some yeshivas run by strictly observant Hasidic Jews were not meeting basic academic standards.
A New York Times investigation published Sunday cited instances of English teachers speaking only Yiddish to students, teachers using corporal punishment and graduates who said they were woefully unprepared for life or employment outside of their communities.
Virtually all of the Hasidic boys who took state standardized math and reading exams in 2019 failed, the report said.
A final vote is scheduled for Tuesday on new Board of Regents rules that would give private schools multiple pathways to show they meet a longstanding legal mandate to provide an education that is “substantially equivalent” to that of a public school. Among the criteria is that primary subjects be taught in English.
“We are trying to obviously adhere to the law but also create some flexibility around that as well,” state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said. Members of the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities hold a protest before a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)
State education officials have spent years trying to strike a balance. An initial set of guidelines released in 2018 was struck down by a state judge who said they were not implemented correctly. The department reviewed about 350,000 public comments following the release of the latest proposal and made adjustments in response, authorities said.
“The regulation respects that parents have a constitutional right to send their children to an independent school and that we respect the worldviews of the schools and their communities,” assistant commissioner Christina Coughlin said.
The group Parents for Educational and Religious Liberty in Schools, which represents yeshivas, said families choose to pay for private or religious schools because they believe in their educational approach.
“A government checklist, devised by lawyers and enforced by bureaucrats, hampers rather than advances education,” the group said in an email. “Parents in New York have been choosing a yeshiva education for more than 120 years, and they are proud of the successful results, and will continue to do the same, with or without the blessing or support of state leaders in Albany.”
Under the rules, a school can demonstrate equivalency, for example, by using state-approved assessments or operating a high school registered by the Board of Regents. It also can be reviewed by the local school district.
Groups representing Roman Catholic and Christian schools said they are confident their schools meet the substantially equivalent standards.
Members of the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities hold a protest before a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)Members of the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities hold a protest before a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)Members of the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities hold a protest before a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)People attend a state of Board of Regents meeting to where a vote is to held on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)Members of the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities hold a protest before a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa delivers opening remarks at a Board of Regents meeting to vote on new requirements that private schools teach English, math science and history to high school students on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, outside the New York State Education Department Building in Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to strengthen its oversight of private and religious schools following years of complaints that thousands of children are graduating from ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools lacking basic academic skills, including the ability to read English. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP)
let us daven for our heiliger yeshivos before Rosh hashanah. the hatred that yaffed has for Torah is impossible for a regular person to fathom
Mendel
1 year ago
#2013200
I would bet that every Yeshiva can easily be equivalent to the local public schools.
What percentage of public school students in Bedford Stuyvesant have a high school diploma?
N8 Gr8
1 year ago
#2013231
If this comes to reality, there will be a further max exodus of frum Jews to NJ, Ohio, Michigan. Maybe even to California where the schools don’t get any funding so the government has no say.
Conservative Carl
1 year ago
#2013220
It would be easier to defend our education if we were providing one. Instead, while some yeshivas provide an excellent education, certain ones are getting away with teaching nothing.
Grammarian
1 year ago
#2013181
Children’s Education
lipa99
1 year ago
#2013232
the Yeshivos and their students need to get an “F”ailing mark in every subject to be equivalent to the public schools.
Vote GOPQ
1 year ago
#2013279
The Agudah noted multiple pathways for compliance in the proposed guidelines as does this statement from DOE.
A few months back the uproar was that local school boards would inspect and decide compliance. It noe appears that this fear has not come to realization. Why is this fact not considered a major achievement and why not start toning down the rhetoric?
Aguttenshabbos
1 year ago
#2013335
With such few people protesting, I thought it was the Neture Karta. What happened to עת לעשות ל’ה….. There should be tens of thousands of Yeshiva kids protesting. When there’s a big Rebbishe חתונה, boy could they pack an arena. Same must be done here if they want to make an impression.
Last edited 1 year ago by Aguttenshabbos
Enough
1 year ago
#2013211
They don’t hVe to take government money either
Observer
1 year ago
#2013240
Looking at the photos, it seems that it was a relatively small group of extreme Hasidics.
Mr. T
1 year ago
#2013385
Instead , they should have protested in front of the askans and mosdos who endorsed Hochul and the Democrats.
Aguttenshabbos
1 year ago
#2013191
Oooh baby. Things are heating up.
Torah
1 year ago
#2013383
Children are not sent to yeshiva to learn English, math, science, hidtory, and gym. They are sent to yeshiva to learn Torah subjects. Why? Becausr the Torah is the heritage of the Jewish people and children are the guarantors of the Torah. ” Through the mouths of children and babes You have shown Your power to the oppressors, bringing an end to a vengeful enemy” (Tehilim 8:3).”. Children are not sent to yeshiva to prepare for a career. They are sent to yeshiva to learn Hashem’s Torah, to learn to daven to Hashem, and to learn to do Hashem’s mitzvos.
hm...
1 year ago
#2013241
this betsy lady looks real scary
zev
1 year ago
#2013317
why don’t we all sign up our kids for public schools tomorrow? lets them find space, busing, ESOL teachers…. give them 2 days and they will end up sending us back to our yeshivas fully funded 100%
Paul Near Philadelphia
1 year ago
#2013374
What a show of political power. There must be fifty or so people at that demostration.
Yid living in Jerusalem
1 year ago
#2013844
the problem is that every Yeshiva should be teaching basic skills like English and math. They would not have Taanis on us if that had been the case. Now we are forcing the city to step in.
LaChaim
1 year ago
#2014276
They should’ve paid attention to the likes of Rav Avigdor Miller zatzal and not have voted in these leftists radicals in exchange for $ benefits. What can I say, small minded NY people who are now forced to reap the churban they sowed. This goes especially for the chasidishe leadership enclaves in Rockload & Monroe counties where they 100% could have made a difference.
(Personally, I’m also of the belief that same effort should’ve been done in NYC no matter how futile it seems. You do your Hishtadlus for Hashem to take care of the rest.)
hard at work yeshiva grad
1 year ago
#2013438
behind betsy in the picture is the hate filled liar who runs yaffed.
once upon a republican
1 year ago
#2013340
Is it ironic that they are protesting that the government that allows them to protest, wants to teach them how they got that right to protect…?
Blue
1 year ago
#2013407
Things I’ve learned from the education saga
1. Secular Studies cause people to become violent criminals (though it’s unclear why this doesn’t apply to the Jewish kids that receive a good education).
2. When the govt says to teach Math they really mean teaching 1 man + 1 man equals a family.
3. Learning history and civics would create knowledgeable Chasidim that can think for themselves & vote for their best interests. This is something the Rebbes can not tolerate.
Active Member
Shtarker
1 year ago
#2013571
A rebbe’s biggest fear is a chossid who can think for himself. Keep ’em dumb, I say, so our rebbes can continue to tell us what to think (and how to vote.)
Shomer Yisrael
1 year ago
#2013233
Why do some groups always “protest”?
It doesn’t work and is very childish.
Avrohom Chaim L
1 year ago
#2013339
They finally did it!! Buroch Hashem our children will now have a minimum decent educatio,n and have the tools to make a parnusa B’ kovid. Thank the Rebboni Shel O’lam for this great day. We should celebrate it every year
Milty
1 year ago
#2013169
You can see in the signs they’re carrying that they don’t know how to use the correct grammar apostrophe for the possessive noun. LOL. Maybe they needed to go to Public School!
Paul Near Philadelphia
1 year ago
#2013172
Nobody has been arrested.
Maven
1 year ago
#2013177
It is true that we must do anything and everything to make sure that this old law will not be enforced and the government wont interfere in our way of life how to educate our children.
Having said, those who went to Albany to protest really mean well. But those who are leading and organized the protest don’t mean well.
These so called Frummies who organized the protest are conspirators who are angry at the entire Frum Chasidic “system”. They are huge anti-vaxxers. Their anger goes back a few years ago when all Yeshivas and Mosdos requested to get the measles shots.
And now they found a way of pay back time.
These Frummies have a designated Yiddish speaking hotline where everyone can call in and leave the most nasty messages and comments on every Rav,Rebbe,Rosh Yeshiva who does not follow their twisted conspiracy and doesn’t go in lockstep.
By their own words on their hotline this protest was against Satmar and Pearls.
They are on a mission to destroy every Kehila and every Rebbe. They are part of the sources the NY Times spoke to. These Chevra are worse than Yaffed because they are supposedly the Frummies
Let's make a deal
1 year ago
#2013243
The Hasidics that don’t want to provide secular studies forfeit, for themselves and their families, all government benefits. No SNAP (food stamps), section eight housing funds, medicaid, welfare, etc.
Blue
1 year ago
#2013236
Anyone who has ever wondered why we’ve been thrown out of 100+ countries imagine taking the present into the past.
•Refused to follow Covid laws
•Anti-Vax
•Spread Measles
•Reintroduced Polio back to America
•Refuse to follow the most basic education guidelines
•Turn every request by the govt no matter how benign into “This is how Holocausts start”
•Not very Kosher with taxes
•Heavily reliant on Welfare
If you were running a country centuries ago would you let these people stick around?
It’s sad to say but we’re our own worst enemy.
Yet these SAME hasidim will vote for hochul
let us daven for our heiliger yeshivos before Rosh hashanah. the hatred that yaffed has for Torah is impossible for a regular person to fathom
I would bet that every Yeshiva can easily be equivalent to the local public schools.
What percentage of public school students in Bedford Stuyvesant have a high school diploma?
If this comes to reality, there will be a further max exodus of frum Jews to NJ, Ohio, Michigan. Maybe even to California where the schools don’t get any funding so the government has no say.
It would be easier to defend our education if we were providing one. Instead, while some yeshivas provide an excellent education, certain ones are getting away with teaching nothing.
Children’s Education
the Yeshivos and their students need to get an “F”ailing mark in every subject to be equivalent to the public schools.
The Agudah noted multiple pathways for compliance in the proposed guidelines as does this statement from DOE.
A few months back the uproar was that local school boards would inspect and decide compliance. It noe appears that this fear has not come to realization. Why is this fact not considered a major achievement and why not start toning down the rhetoric?
With such few people protesting, I thought it was the Neture Karta. What happened to עת לעשות ל’ה….. There should be tens of thousands of Yeshiva kids protesting. When there’s a big Rebbishe חתונה, boy could they pack an arena. Same must be done here if they want to make an impression.
They don’t hVe to take government money either
Looking at the photos, it seems that it was a relatively small group of extreme Hasidics.
Instead , they should have protested in front of the askans and mosdos who endorsed Hochul and the Democrats.
Oooh baby. Things are heating up.
Children are not sent to yeshiva to learn English, math, science, hidtory, and gym. They are sent to yeshiva to learn Torah subjects. Why? Becausr the Torah is the heritage of the Jewish people and children are the guarantors of the Torah. ” Through the mouths of children and babes You have shown Your power to the oppressors, bringing an end to a vengeful enemy” (Tehilim 8:3).”. Children are not sent to yeshiva to prepare for a career. They are sent to yeshiva to learn Hashem’s Torah, to learn to daven to Hashem, and to learn to do Hashem’s mitzvos.
this betsy lady looks real scary
why don’t we all sign up our kids for public schools tomorrow? lets them find space, busing, ESOL teachers…. give them 2 days and they will end up sending us back to our yeshivas fully funded 100%
What a show of political power. There must be fifty or so people at that demostration.
the problem is that every Yeshiva should be teaching basic skills like English and math. They would not have Taanis on us if that had been the case. Now we are forcing the city to step in.
They should’ve paid attention to the likes of Rav Avigdor Miller zatzal and not have voted in these leftists radicals in exchange for $ benefits. What can I say, small minded NY people who are now forced to reap the churban they sowed. This goes especially for the chasidishe leadership enclaves in Rockload & Monroe counties where they 100% could have made a difference.
(Personally, I’m also of the belief that same effort should’ve been done in NYC no matter how futile it seems. You do your Hishtadlus for Hashem to take care of the rest.)
behind betsy in the picture is the hate filled liar who runs yaffed.
Is it ironic that they are protesting that the government that allows them to protest, wants to teach them how they got that right to protect…?
Things I’ve learned from the education saga
1. Secular Studies cause people to become violent criminals (though it’s unclear why this doesn’t apply to the Jewish kids that receive a good education).
2. When the govt says to teach Math they really mean teaching 1 man + 1 man equals a family.
3. Learning history and civics would create knowledgeable Chasidim that can think for themselves & vote for their best interests. This is something the Rebbes can not tolerate.
A rebbe’s biggest fear is a chossid who can think for himself. Keep ’em dumb, I say, so our rebbes can continue to tell us what to think (and how to vote.)
Why do some groups always “protest”?
It doesn’t work and is very childish.
They finally did it!! Buroch Hashem our children will now have a minimum decent educatio,n and have the tools to make a parnusa B’ kovid. Thank the Rebboni Shel O’lam for this great day. We should celebrate it every year
You can see in the signs they’re carrying that they don’t know how to use the correct grammar apostrophe for the possessive noun. LOL. Maybe they needed to go to Public School!
Nobody has been arrested.
It is true that we must do anything and everything to make sure that this old law will not be enforced and the government wont interfere in our way of life how to educate our children.
Having said, those who went to Albany to protest really mean well. But those who are leading and organized the protest don’t mean well.
These so called Frummies who organized the protest are conspirators who are angry at the entire Frum Chasidic “system”. They are huge anti-vaxxers. Their anger goes back a few years ago when all Yeshivas and Mosdos requested to get the measles shots.
And now they found a way of pay back time.
These Frummies have a designated Yiddish speaking hotline where everyone can call in and leave the most nasty messages and comments on every Rav,Rebbe,Rosh Yeshiva who does not follow their twisted conspiracy and doesn’t go in lockstep.
By their own words on their hotline this protest was against Satmar and Pearls.
They are on a mission to destroy every Kehila and every Rebbe. They are part of the sources the NY Times spoke to. These Chevra are worse than Yaffed because they are supposedly the Frummies
The Hasidics that don’t want to provide secular studies forfeit, for themselves and their families, all government benefits. No SNAP (food stamps), section eight housing funds, medicaid, welfare, etc.
Anyone who has ever wondered why we’ve been thrown out of 100+ countries imagine taking the present into the past.
•Refused to follow Covid laws
•Anti-Vax
•Spread Measles
•Reintroduced Polio back to America
•Refuse to follow the most basic education guidelines
•Turn every request by the govt no matter how benign into “This is how Holocausts start”
•Not very Kosher with taxes
•Heavily reliant on Welfare
If you were running a country centuries ago would you let these people stick around?
It’s sad to say but we’re our own worst enemy.