BROOKLYN (JTA) — New York State’s commissioner of education has ordered the city to work with a yeshiva in Williamsburg on a plan for improving its secular education.
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The decision, issued last week by commissioner Betty Rosa, is a response to a lawsuit brought by Beatrice Webber, a formerly Hasidic mother of 10 who now heads Yaffed, the leading advocacy group pressing for improvements in secular learning at haredi Orthodox private schools.
Rosa’s decision was first reported by the New York Times, which said the ruling represents “the first time that the state has taken action against a Hasidic boys’ school” and “could be a harbinger of significantly tougher oversight of Hasidic schools.”
Rosa wrote that the Brooklyn school, Yeshiva Mesivta Arugath Habosem, had repeatedly declined to comply with — and Mayor Eric Adams’ education department had failed to enforce — state education law requiring that it offer learning in math, English and other subjects “substantially equivalent” to that offered in public schools.
Webber praised the ruling. “The state did right,” she told the Times. “Hopefully now things will actually change.”
A spokesman for a group that represents yeshivas on religious liberty grounds defended Yeshiva Mesivta Arugath Habosem, and called the ruling “disappointing”
“Educators from the city’s Department of Education visited the school several times and determined that it met the substantial equivalence standard,” Richard Bamberger, a spokesman for Parents for Educational and Religious Liberty in Schools,or PEARLS, told the Times.
The battle over secular education at the religious schools, long reported on by the New York Jewish Week and other Jewish media, broke out widely last month when the New York Times reported that Hasidic boys’ schools were collecting taxpayer dollars while failing to provide an adequate general studies education to their students. Yeshivas and their supporters have responded with outrage to new state rules, implemented two weeks ago, that would withdraw state funding from non-public schools that do not follow state law.
Defenders of the yeshivas say their vigorous religious curriculums provide adequate preparation for the lives Hasidic Jews intend to lead, and that the state should not interfere with their religious liberty.
In a related development, the Times reported that PEARLS, yeshivas and other plaintiffs have sued the state, seeking to have the new regulations overtuned.
Meanwhile, Yaffed filed a complaint with state Attorney General Letitia James alleging that a group of New York City yeshivas has collected $28 million in state funding despite failing to meet state standards when it comes to secular education.
“At a minimum, these funds should be withdrawn and have to be returned to the state,” Naftuli Moster, founder of Yaffed, told Politico.
So the SED has fired the first salvo in the war against yeshivos. Typical war strategy divide and conquer. They wouldn’t go after Satmar they are to powerful, so you pick on a smaller Yeshiva. Next they’ll pick on one family to be charged with truancy. I hope pupa or whoever represents them holds strong and doesn’t give the SED even an inch. The SED couldn’t care less what our yeshivos produceThey wouldn’t even care if every yeshiva graduate was a Bill Gates or Einstein or as honest as Abe Lincoln. They want yeshivos to follow their curriculum. And once they’re finished with the chasidishe yeshivos they will go after other yeshivos to teach their nevala and kefira. We can’t let them get even a thumbnail into our doors.
linked in says beatrice is an inspritual minister. what the heck is that?
unfortunately change will not come come through coercion. this is not the way
sadly change will also not not come if they leave the Yeshivah to their own devices
catch 22. dammed if you do dammed if you don’t
Brought to you by Kathy fjcc hochul
Are you aware that just yesterday hochul visited crown heights and yeruchim silber of AGUDA retweeted it? Aguda is actively promoting hochul
If you take State funds, then at the very least you need to teach math, reading and writing. Those are basic life skills that one will use no matter if they drive a pickle truck or work in an office. What bothers me most is that they are not touching madrasas nor Catholic schools, they take State funds. If you want to run your own show as you want to which Jews have that right, don’t take a dime just like the Amish and no one will tell you what to do.
Set the grade curve a bit lower again , so that the hard working BOE teachers come out “Smelling like a rose ” , & keep bankers hours !!! Oh , did I hurt anyone’s feelings ????
will moster return the millions he shnorred from charities under false
Keep voting for the Democrats.
when did beatrice take over yaffed? what does nick do all day now besides post anti chasid stuff and pick his nose?
All Yeshivas and Catholic Schools in NY that teach and graduate students have signed contracts with the State to provide an ADEQUATE EDUCATION in return for graduation approval and State Aid. End of story.
Not interested in being third world.
Keep voting for democrats remember elections have consequences!
A bunch of Jew haters
Will vote u out
Beatrice Webber should rot in the depths of Gehenim!
Who can argue with improving education?