The Rest of the Homeschooling Responses

Hate to start asubject line and never finish it up, so below are the other Yated Chinuch Roundtable responses. The most revealing, often insensitive and jaw-dropping responses (e.g. "I can't ever see a reason to homeschool a child") are in my first post: An Epidemic? Do I Detect Some Fear?

Below are the rest of the responses with some comments in [brackets].

Menahel, The Toronto Cheder

The decision to home-school your daughter is a huge, possibly life-changing decision. [As is choosing a school in many cases]. Often, searching parents end up soliciting information from other home-schooling parents, but they may not receive an impartial view from the home-schooling parents, who tend to defend their choices instead of giving accurate pros and cons to home-schooling. [Funny, because in this entire series of responses there hasn't been much reflection --except an insinuation that the parents might want to avoid tuition--as to why homeschooling is a word that is rolling off tongues of yeshiva parents. Might there be some real issues in yeshiva schools that parents are responding too? Social issues? Emotional issues? Family issues? Learning issues? Academic issues? Hashkafic issues? Pedagogic issues? As for homeschooling parents, I've spoken with the Jewish and non-Jewish homeschoolers and the responses regarding their reasons to homeschool and the planned duration are very diverse, ranging from "some time off" to tackle an issue to "we're going for the finish line"]. If you decide to go ahead with the home-schooling and you feel that your daughter is succeeding, it is most likely that you will continue this throughout her elementary years. You shouldn't only consider her situation at this juncture of her young life. It's important to look ahead at the big picture of her life now. [See above. There are no set rules].

There are serveral enticing reasons to home-school a child:
safety
no bullying issues
curriculum is tailor-made according to the child's strengths and challenges
anxiety and stress of homework are non-factors
child's self-esteem remains intact throughout
emotional bond between parent and child is greatly reinforced
can generate stability if a family is going through a transition or ordeal
children are generally well-rested
the obvious fact that a home-schooled child can accomplish more in one day than their peers do in a week at school

[Ahhhhhhh, some reasons, from emotional to academic].

There are also compelling reasons not to home-school a child:

they miss out on all the "extra" and memories that schools provide, including outings with a teacher, extracurricular activities, and healthy competition. Most adults don't remember the actual Gemara or Chumash that they were taught, but they do remember the way it was taught or the time that a rebbi or morah went out of their way for them. [Once again the argument that yeshiva schooling isn't really for the academics. For me, that is what school should be about: laying an academic foundation. And the rest can be supplemented outside the classroom.]

the parents may fancy themselves as great teachers, but in reality they're not. This will impede the child's progress [There are no less than adequate teachers that might be going the same, hence an interest in homeschooling?]

the lack of socialization learning to get along with peers, and understanding a teacher's social cues. Being in school also teaches a child how to succeed even when others are creating adversity, as well as how to interact, discuss and disagree with peers. [Sorry, but I'm stepping onto a soap box. . . I happen to think well facilitated discussion groups are an advantage of school, although that too could be taken into a different venue, but as the person who had to pick up the slack in nearly every, single group that I was assigned to from late elementary school through high school, I don't believe that all of the group work that many teachers love and is so fashionable is at all healthy, Rather than teaching "succeeding even when others are creating adversity." my experience is that the majority of kids learn that they can push off their responsibilities onto others, without penalty, because someone will do the work. Personally I think a lot more character development happens on the sporting field/gym than in the classroom because no one can hit the ball for you, run your leg of the 4*100, or, moving over to another venue, play your trumpet solo or recite your lines in the musical]. In addition, some children will exceed expectations that parents and teachers have of them due to healthy peer pressure. [What of negative peer pressure?]

loss of emotional support other than parents. Many adults credit a particular rebbi or morah with changing their lives. Often, a child needs to have a mentor or confidant other that their parents. Rabbeim/moros can open up topics in ruchniyus or topics within topics, that appeal to the child, which maybe the parent hasn't even heard about [many homeschoolers go work with tutors and Rebbis. And, and issue many schooling parents express is the lack of time (and money) to seek out opportunities that would help their children grow).

Chazal say in Pirkei Avos: "Kol sheruach chachomim nocheh heimenu ruach habriyos nocheh heimenu." Since Yehoshue ben Gamla's time, chadorim have been set up for talmidim. Adults who are most matzliach in life are the ones who are me'urov im habriyos.

A friend related that in his elementary school years, there was an illui in his class who was two years younger than the rest of his classmates. While this boy excelled in learning, he never learned how to communicate properly and it unfortunately affected him as an adult and as a husband and father. [Uh, marriages and parents have issues! Nonsensical argument, besides the boy was in school]. Home-schooling your daughter will cause her to be different and may create issues with her choice of high schools and seminaries later on. [Finally, the crux of the issue: being different]. Since you are blessed with a choice of several schools in you kehillah, choose the one that best suits your daughter's needs. Allow the capable menaheles and moros/teachers to succeed with your daughter along with your encouragement and close contact with the school. [How different are these schools really, as the responses aren't much different].

Hatzlacha.

Dean, Beth Jacob Seminary, Montreal

Your reason for wanting a one year respite from school for your daughter so that she can "benefit from a year away from the social pressures and stress." To me, this implies that you are running away from a problem and hoping that it will go away. Not only will it not go away, but it will fester and, like any other problem not dealth with, it will only grow in reality and in her imagination and will probably multiply itself twofold or more. [What a strange response. Yes, we need to deal with problems, but sometimes getting away from an issue is a starting point, even for adults]

If she is having stress, you must find the reason for that stress and try, to the best of your ability, to alleviate the underlying causes that brought it about. I also do not understand how removing your daughter from her society will remove her social pressures. She can only overcome such social pressures by learning how to deal with others. I also do not agree with you when you say that she will benefit from being removed from the social scene. She must try to understand what is causing the problem and try to minimize it. She may not be able to do it on her own and may need expert held. [If the environment of the school is hefker and the staff is on a different page, it will be near impossible to deal with the issue. I've heard such sad stories (public school stories too) and sometimes a fresh start is the best course. Reading in between the lines I hear the "deal with it" hashkafa which can be vastly inappropriate depending on what you are dealing with).

If one moves one's child from one school to another because the school is more difficult academically than what the child can handle, then I would agree fully with such a move, as one should always try to place one's children in school where they fit academically and where they can grow.

However, social situations are something else. Our children should be taught to get along with all types of people no matter the school. I therefore do not think that taking her out of school for a social reason will solve any of her stressful problems or any of the social pressures.

The only time that I would recommend home-schooling is when there is absolutely no other alternative to any conventional type of schooling. Examples would include living in a community which does not provide the type of hashkafah and education necessary. One of my nieces, who is from a chareidi Yerushalayim background, married a young man from London with a similiar background. They went into the field of kiruv and are living in Capetown, South Africa. Since the schools there do not provide the type of education they need for their children, their only option is home-schooling.

You say that there are several possible schools that your daughter could attend. If that is so, then you should turn over heaven and earth to find a solution to her problem and create a situation where she will be more socially adept. In the long run, the social aspects of conventional schooling are what will be ingrained into her personality. (Oh YES they will!).

More in Part 3, my final post on the subject. I have a lot of saved articles of interest. IF anyone has the letters to the editor section and if any of them address this round table, shoot me an email.

An Epidemic? Do I Detect Some Fear?

What an interesting and revealing (with a capital R) set of responses in the Yated Chinuch Round Table to an extremely vague inquiry from a parent on the wisdom of homeschooling a child for whom the parent deems is in need of break from school. . . and much thanks to Imamother forum participant because I have taken a long hiatus from reading the publication.

In a great show of "achdus" each and every mechanech forcibly condemns homeschooling, not just for this mother/daughter but across the board. I certainly wasn't expecting an endorsement from those who are immersed in the rather homogeneous school of thought of modern day, conventional schooling. However, the responses have left my head shaking side to side and my eyes popped wide open.

The current "yeshiva system" for all of its achievements (and there are very many to admire) simply does not always work for every child and every family, and in some cases the situation on the ground is detrimental to the student and their future. And yet in these responses there is almost no self-reflection regarding the conventional system and no commiseration with the pain of a parent who is only trying to figure out how to best help her child grow and thrive. I'd say at least two of the responses border on cruel!

Here is the vague question that begs "expound me."

What is the opinion of the panel regarding home-schooling?
I live in a community with several schools, but feel that my daughter can benefit from a year away from the social pressures and stress and would like to try this. In the experience of the distinguished mechanchim, is there a reason not to?

Let's take them one by one in two to three posts (I will start with some of the most eye-popping and work my way down). My comments will be in [brackets]. Excuse the snap in my type.

Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Far Rockaway

Home-schooling is the "in" thing in today's day and age, a fad bordering on epidemic. [An epidemic? Do I detect some fear of the idea even being out in the marketplace of free ideas? Being a home-camping parent/early childhood "homeschooling" parent, I'm fairly certain it is safe to say homeschooling is NOT reaching epidemic proportions, nor will it anytime soon. I don't think we need to worry about homeschooling becoming an epidemic when it is near impossible to find close in age children that are home for the 8-10 weeks of summer].

My question is: Does your daughter want/need to be home-schooled or is this your idea? There is an interesting phenomenon. Serious baalei teshuvah are able to make up in 2-3 years what our children have studies for 15. Why, then, do our children spend so many years in yeshiva? [Just ignore this stunning inditement for a second because we won't be returning to this programming.]

There are two major components besides for ongoing learning.

One is the yedios one absorbs on a daily basis from one's rebbi/morah/menahel/gedolim, etc. There are so many nuances that make up a typical day in yeshiva/Bais Yaakov. Let's call this the osmosis part of education. There is no way in the work that your daughter will pick all this up in a home-schooling environment.

Second, there is a social aspect to being in a classroom. Learning how to play with friends, interact in after-school activities, and joining in the group are most important as well. We receive hundreds of calls over the summer asking to place children with certain rabbeim. While I seriously believe that it is narishkeitin, because all the rabbeim are wonderful [Evvvvvveeeeerrrrrryyyyyy single one? If only every employer could be so lucky!], there is nothing more important than good friends in the classroom [and does the girl have good friends?]. You are sending your daughter to a Bais Yaakov not only to learn, but, even more importantly, to make and retain friends. If your daughter has the common, everyday pressures of stress, teach her how to work with it. Don't run away from it. [First it might be helpful to explore where the stress is coming from. . . . bullying? a learning issue? A school day that is too long?]

Home-schooling should be left only for those who cannot function in a classroom- a handicapped or learning-disabled child who does not want to be placed in a public school, or a child who is cracking under pressure of stress. There is no sensible reason to take a healthy, normal girl out of her milieu. We have all seen too many karbanos [from where? There isn't a statistically significant enough yeshivish population to begin to analyze. I imagine there are no failures from the "system."]. Don't gamble with your children.

I am not even discussing the silliness of trying to avoid paying tuition. This should not be a discussion or consideration. [This is a hum zinger. . . "silliness"? Are there not families in the author's school suffering financially in this environment? Are there not families and marriages not slowly dying under growing debts and financials stresses (This is regularly spoken about by Orthodox organizations when they meet to discuss tuition)? Are there not children that might be living with extra stress from their homes because of the rat race to find that $$$$ and make ends meet? . oh, I forgot, "money ain't a thing" and should not factor into such decisions. Private school parents, a published statement like this from a very well respected Rosh Yeshiva has to make you wonder, right?]

Rebbi, Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, Baltimore

I can't ever see a reason to homeschool a child. Aside from academics, there is so much to be gained from school. In fact, an argument can be made that the social aspects of school are even more important than the academics.

It sounds to me like your daughter needs a strong boost of self-confidence. Speak to her teachers for the upcoming year and explain her concerns. Homeschooling is not the answer. [Emphasis mine. Ever, ever? Can you bottle this confidence because it would eliminate a lot of sleepless nights for concerned parents?]

General Editor, Artscroll/Mesorah Publications

Unless there are compelling reasons, I would be opposed to homeschooling. The writer implies that there may be such "compelling reasons," but as a general rule it is a bad idea and, in most cases, a disservice to the child.

Academically, it is not likely that homeschooling will cover the normal school curriculum, simply because the drive to learn and teach will dwindle as the weeks go by, and there is little stimulus to maintain the program. [And this is not true of some classrooms too? Silly to even argue an unsupported point] Sooner or later, the child will go back to school and then she will be at a disadvantage, thus even increasing the pressures that the parent is trying to remove. Socially, the child will be without friends. Not at first, because she'll still be friendly with her old schoolmates, but that will wear off, since she will not be part of the school environment anymore. [If this is not the stupidest statement of the entire round table, I'm not sure what is. Seems the the socialization problem might be endemic to the very system being promoted. . . and pray tell, how do military brats even have friends?]

The parents shold consult the school on how to ameliorate the "social pressure and stress," but running away from the problem will not solve it. If, indeed, the problem is as significant as the writer implies, a professional should be consulted. [We don't even know where the problem is stemming from, but I guess the possibility that it might be coming from within the walls of the school is not something we should consider!]

PSA: Save the Date Annual Torah Home Education Conference

PSA from one of the organizers of the conference.

The 4th Torah Home Education Conference is on its way!

Please mark your calendars to be in Baltimore on Sunday, May 6th to attend this marvelous event.

The conference is a fabulous source of support, inspiration and camaraderie for all.

Look out for more posts regarding this special event as the program develops.

Make the Torah Home Education Conference a "must" on your homeschooling agenda.

Also, we want to know what you want to see in YOUR homeschooling conference.

Please take time to complete the following survey -

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/29MSH87

Adopting Some "Homeschooling" Skills

I want to address this particular comment from my previous post. I'm pasting the comment in full, but I only will be expanding on the first part of the question, "developing a skill set":
SL, you suggest that the parents should be "developing the skills that are keeping them from seeing the possibility in homeschooling." While homeschooling is great for some and some parents are terrific at it, this not something that everyone can simply develop a skill set in. Parents who are not cut out for home schooling would be doing their kids a great disservice. Have we come to the point where we believe kids are better off home schooled just to keep them away from the goyin, even if it means a lousy education, rather than use some of the wonderful free public schools that are available either where you live or simply by moving a short distance? If you are a great teacher and your kids are suited for homeschooling, then go for it, but it is not something that every parent should be considering. . . .

My comments: I wasn't so clear in my comment as I was hinting to a larger phenomenon that I see all the time.

I see a tremendous amount of money being spent on care even where parents are available, to say nothing of communal resources (think chessed babysitting hours provided by teenage girls, as well as actual donations ). The biggest expense is summer camp. Whether it is sleep away camp, day camp, or backyard camps, it is rare even for parents who are home to forgo outside care. Then there is after-after care. Many parents hire help for the after-school hours, often advertising for someone to assist them with homework and bedtime. There are groups on yom tov and Shabbat, but no matter the set up, they are rarely manned by parents, most often teenage girls working on a paid or volunteer basis. Break is coming and for some children (with a parent who is also on break), this means more camp. It is also rare for a pre-kindgergarten student to go to pre-school a half day. Nearly all are children are in school a full day.

From what I hear and read, many parents struggle tremendously when they have their children home even for a small school break. And, that is where I think we all need to start and build more "homeschooling" skills regardless of whether or not we ever homeschool. On a purely financial basis, there are tremendous savings to be able to care for all our children when we are available, rather than outsource that care. Beyond the finances of it all, I think it is important to give quantity of time to our children. Furthermore, I think it is important for our children to have the consistency of care that can best be offered by a parent. While I sometimes like my children to go to a Shabbat group or the like, I have sat in and witnessed that the leaders lack authority and that the kids lack the consistency that they should have in their regular home and school environments. I just don't see the benefit of bouncing between school, home, multiple caregivers, multiple summer camp and other care environments.

I'm going to introduce a few of my own tricks of the trade for managing my own crew and I hope readers will add some of their own tips and successes to keep the series active. Apologies if my tips are so obvious that I'm spilling virtual ink by even sharing them:

1. Get down on the floor: My kids want attention (lots of it!). But, there is just so much to be done. In many homes, laundry is the nemesis. There is just so much of it and the pile never stops growing.

When I work on a task like laundry, regardless of the participation that day of my kids, I try to sit on the floor. While sorting, folding, hanging, I am able to provide an increased level of attention to a child. I can read a story book, or just watch a child color. Playing a game is tough, but doable too.

2. Regroup: When the behavior is going south, or about to go south, regroup. Have everyone put away what they are doing, take a breather on different chairs or couches, and then start anew. If the kids need to go back to their bedroom and come out again, try that.

3. Assign a Task: My friends complain that their children are "bored." I can't say that this is something I have personal experience with. But, when I do find that my kids are being unproductive or that they seem to be aimless, I sometimes just assign (not suggest, but actually sit them down with the new assigned task) the "bored" kid something to do. It might be a specific chore, a specific academic task or book to read, or it might be giving them an overlooked toy to play with.

4. Managing the Environment: I find that when I am disorganized or the home is disorganized, the kids become less manageable. I make it a high priority to keep this home in good shape. Some of my friends take a different viewpoint and I've had many discussions about sticky countertops and happy children, the thought being that the kids should just have fun and the mess can be cleaned up when they are back in school (which falls far too close to Rosh Hashana to add massive deep cleaning into the routinue, imo). Personally I believe that respect for our home and our things is a value right from the Torah itself. Things should be put in their place. Toys should be returned with all the pieces in tact. And items must be cared for.

The bottom line for me is that when the home is neat and organized, I'm a better parent and a better person and the kids function better. If the home is in disarray, so are our attitudes.

5. Lists: I tend to organize in my head, but I am increasingly finding that physical lists on the wall are key to communicating the expectations and schedules. Investing in the right system of cork boards, whiteboards, markers, dry or wet erase markers, is worthwhile.

Please share your tips for managing your children for those long stretches.

What To Do When The Money Doesn't Exist?

Hat Tip: with thanks to a loyal reader

A mother at Imamother writes the following (two excerpts):

I'm supposed to register my second child for school next year and even if after the humiliating questionaires and grilling they agree to give us a break, I wouldn't have enough to pay the school and I have no idea what I am going to do. I am putting off having a third child indefitiely ONLY BECAUSE the cost of tuition is prohibitive. this cannot be what sarah schneirer had in mind. I don't have the guts to put my kids in public school although it grows increasingly tempting. What options are there if the money simply DOESN'T EXIST and there is nowhere to get it from? I am constantly fighting a sense of panic. This issue is controlling our finances, our family planning, our emotional health...this is WRONG! Especially in today's economy, where people need to be happy with whatever job they can get, how does anyone in the frum community pay more than one tuition? who has a spare 10 or 20 or 30,000 a year after living expenses? WHAT DO I DO??

--AND--

[. . . . . . ]I AM getting a tuition break. full tuition would be nearly $7000. But for my next kid the most I can do would be 2500 and the school won't take that. I have a friend with girls in the same school who ligitimatly can't pay because the school she works for is behind in paying her. her kids are getting kicked out. schools are toughening up, and not giving breaks and grace periods like they used to because they are also short on cash. also the exedous from brooklyn to lakwood means fewer young families and fewer kids in the schools. that means fewer tuitions. so they need whatever money they do have coming in and they won't give up on it so easily. Our school got a new tough as nails administraotr and you have to go through a song and dance just to get an appointment with him and even if you do, he has heard the same sob story ten thousand times. the fact is we just can't afford it the same way we can't afford to buy a house and qwe can't afford a new car. we can't afford private school. I looked into homeschooling. I don't think I can pull it off. I don't have the patience or the orginization or the space. I may have to look into it again, but not everyone can be a teacher. even for their own kids.

Additional info: The husband works a "dead end" job, has no degree/vocational certificate and what he makes only covers about half their living expenses. The mother freelances, but hasn't experienced great success.

Wow, this is a really difficult situation with no "good solutions" in the here and now. Reading between the lines, the underemployment on the part of both parents makes the oft suggested individual solutions (moving, aliyah) problematic. It also makes the "obvious" alternative of homeschooling, suggested as it should be, difficult because the parents need to be investing in their own earning potential, skills, etc.

I regard homeschooling/group schooling as one of the most doable alternatives for centrist/modern Orthodox Jews in the upper middle income brackets (esp. where income is earned primarily by one parent). It is one thing for a family staring another 5-digit tuition bill in the face that falls on top of another 5-digit tuition obligation to decide to home school. It is quite another thing for parents who just don't have much disposable cash regardless of where they send their children to school. This is just my opinion, but I think it would be very, very helpful to have some real money to work with if taking the homeschooling route (especially in a world that can be described as hostile to the very idea).

So what are parents like these to do when their well has simply run dry and the schools are not able to accommodate? Are there any practical solutions in the here and now for parents that don't think they can home school?

I always love flexibility and many options. Flexibility seems to be sorely lacking here. It is hard to know just how limited the family's options are or if they are limiting their own options unnecessarily. I do believe that no matter what schooling route they ultimately go in, or regardless of if they grow their family, the parents must invest in their own earning potential. .. from developing a marketable skill set to developing the skills that are keeping them from seeing the possibility in homeschooling.

PSA: Third Annual Torah Home Education Conference

[link] Join us in Baltimore, MD on May 29, 2011 for the Third Annual Torah Home Education Conference! We have another fantastic schedule planned to encourage, inspire, and educate you – whether you’re at the beginning of your search for information about homeschooling or a veteran homeschooler, you’ll find something here to interest you!

The conference will once again be held in the Park Heights JCC, in the conference rooms on the second floor - 5700 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215. Check-in begins at 8:15 am, and the conference ends at 5 pm. There is ample parking on site. Lunch can be purchased at the Eden Cafe, a dairy restaurant on the first floor of the JCC that is has kashrus supervision from the Star-K of Baltimore. (Please contact them directly with questions about their menu; a copy of the menu is available online.) Special hotel pricing is available to conference attendees. A variety of Jewishly oriented curriculum will be available to view, and Jewish learning games and activities will be available to purchase.

The cost for this unique program is $50 per person, $90 per couple. Registration and payment must be completed online.

Child care will be available at an additional cost; payment for child care must be made in full by May 20, and is paid for separately. There are currently a limited number of spots available for childcare at the conference. Infants, toddlers and young children will be with JCC staff members in a room adjacent to the conference room. Older children will have day camp activities at a private home nearby.

Teen girls can use the JCC facilities for the day; this will give them access to the pool, gym, raquetball courts, and workout rooms (pool and workout rooms have separate women’s hours).

Fees: Infants and toddlers – $60/child; children ages 2-4 – $50/child
Children ages 5-10 $40/child; teen girls $15 for a JCC guest pass

Please RSVP by May 13 to reserve your spot. For questions and to RSVP, email apmandel@yahoo.com or call Alisa at 410-963-2977.

To see this year’s fantastic conference schedule, please click here.

We look forward to greeting you at the conference!

[Schedule--See Link for Speaker Bios]

Third Annual Torah Home Education Conference Schedule

8:15 registration

9:10 – 9:25 – Introduction –

9:25 – 10:15 -

a) Mrs. Rebecca Masinter- “Laying a Foundation: Homeschooling the Young Family”

or

b) (to be announced)

10:25 – 11:15 -

a) Dr. Ben Perkus – “ADHD: Who Says? and What Now?” A Discussion about ADHD as a diagnosis, and how it may impact our families.

or

b) Mrs. Ahuvah Feldman - “Nuts and Bolts of Homeschooling: Getting Started”

11:25 – 12:15 –

a) Mr. Isaiah Cox - “Choosing to Homeschool: A second generation perspective”

or

b) Mrs. Avivah Werner -” The Monster in the Mind: Acknowledging and Dealing with Burnout”

12:20 – 1:50 Lunch (enjoy fellowship over lunch in the Eating Together Room, browse curriculums in Center for Jewish Education)

1:55 – 2:45 pm -

a) Mrs. Viva Hammer - “Homeschooling Your Teenager – Capturing the Opportunities and Handling the Technicalities”

or

b) Mrs. Bracha Goetz – “The Marvelous Midos Machine – Your Home”

2:55 -3:45 -

a) “Homeschooled Teen Girls Share” – panel discussion

or

b) Rabbi Yosef Resnick, MSEd – “Jewish Community and Homeschooling in the Internet Age: Creating Connections, Networks, and Friends”

3:55 – 4:45 – general session -

Dr. Hadassah Aaronson – “Children in a Homeschool Environment: Socially Deprived OR Selectively Engaged?”

4:45 – closing

School Voucher Debate Worth Watching

From the Wall Street Journal: Douglas County, Colorado's School Board is debating a voucher plan that, by all means, is unique, both because of the proposals contained within and because of the demographics of the district. The district is a rather affluent one and schools rank high. There are 56,000 district students, and 4,000 private school or home schooled students. The median family income tops $105,000. The district includes 65 schools, 9 charter schools, 2 magnet schools, and 1 online school. Private schooling in the county is limited. With only one very small exception (a 21 student school), all private schools that go beyond the 1st grade are faith based.

Given the demographics, having a voucher proposal on the table is surprising.

Beyond the demographics, what makes the proposal of note includes the following:

1. the proposal would allow faith-based school to allow admissions based on faith,
2. (under consideration) is a proposal that would allows students to remain public school students while opting to take certain courses through private schools and/or private educators,
3. (under consideration) is a proposal that would expand public-funding for home schooled students.

Public opinion is mixed, especially on subsidizing private instructors for classes outside the regular curriculum as many parents already hire tutors for their children out-of-pocket.

The voucher plan proposal would subsidize students in private settings up to $5,000.

I don't have any comments on the story, except to note that the $5000 supposedly would cover 35-100% of tuition in the local private schools. Clearly there is good range of prices for private school consumers in the area and should a voucher proposal pass and be implemented, it would be interesting to see what happens to the private schools when government money (and regulation) gets injected into the market. I hope to watch this debate and I hope the private schools will weigh in.

Also, does anyone know what county the frum Denver schools are located?

Some reading that might be of interest:
Vouchers, and why a Conservative Might be Ambivalent
Economics and Education (ideas of Thomas Sowell)

To the Exclusion of All Else

Hat Tip: Honestly Frum

There is an article up on ephilanthropy which probably will not be given much of a look in Orthodox circles titled "Day School or Nothing?" The Conservative Jewish author challenges the notion that "there is day school and there's not day school" writing "'no alternative to day school' is problematic because there must be an alternative." He goes on to state "unfortunately, binary decision-making by Jewish leaders and educators in the past two decades meant the 'smart money' and intellectual capital in Jewish education and philanthropy went to Jewish day schools, at the expense of supplementary schools and other alternatives."

This is a thought provoking and important statement and certainly one which the Orthodox community might need to grapple with in the future. I personally don't think we can continue down the road of supporting only one model to the exclusion of others.

But such will probably be. Please see this article at BeyondBT promoting homeschooling. As a supporter of homeschooling, but not an actual homeschooling parent (although I've been accused of such since as I keep my children home far later than is currently trendy!), I personally don't care for the way in which this particular article promoted homeschooling (just an issue of style). But please try to look past such and focus on the comments of Mr. Marvin Schick, who was asked about homeschooling in an interview, as it is in direct relationship to the subject for which I began this article. Mr. Schick is quoted as saying:

“I can understand why parents with limited income who face high tuition bills might pursue that route, but even with the tuition crisis, I doubt that many parents will opt for homeschooling. For one thing, Orthodox families partake of the general societal trend in which both parents work. This alone makes homeschooling difficult.” Asked whether he felt that Avi Chai may take a position on home schooling or even provide support for home schooling families, he replied that Avi Chai is not presently involved in home schooling and that he is certain it will not provide support for home schooling. Nevertheless he does also acknowledge, “ . . . the inability of our schools to accommodate boys who are not good learners or students who are just a bit off the beaten track.”

I have enjoyed Mr. Marvin Schick’s articles on day schools and financial issues for many years now, often finding myself nodding in agreement . I find it sad that he is on record essentially dismissing the possibility of supporting homeschoolers, or other opportunities that might open up such as group schooling or hybrid schooling. Day schools and yeshivot are most certainly a very important component of the fabric of our community, but I worry that they are eating more and more of the communal and family budget to the exclusion of other programming, developed or undeveloped.

I get the feeling that NCSY, Bnei Akiva, Pirkei/Bnot groups are far less supported and popular today. I already know a handful of children from religious families who are enrolled in public school, and while I try to avoid predicting the future, I do believe that number will grow, financing being the primary reason. While many believe that Shomer Shabbat parents will do anything to keep their children in a yeshiva/day school, I do believe we will see more families leaving the confines of the day school. I already know a handful and I know others that talk about it and I'm not certain that it is just talk. I'd personally like to see support for alternatives developed at the leadership level, but I'm not counting on it. I do admire those who have taken a step outside of the box and formed alternative schools such as the Jewish co-op school in Flordia and the Yeshiva Alternative in Los Angeles, as well as homeschoolers, and it would be nice to see leaders leave the black and white world of "day school or not day school" and consider the possibility of supporting (or at least not completely dismissing) some viable alternatives.

Now is probably a good time to give a Yashar Koach to the Lookstein Center on their newest journal looking at the Financial Crisis and the Jewish Day School. It was such a pleasant surprise to see a "Tuition Crisis" edition that contained some debate regarding charter schools, as well as articles on the alternatives mentioned in the paragraph above. Also, as Public Service Announcement: Second Annual Torah Home Education is coming on Sunday, June 13 in Baltimore. The speaker lineup looks impressive and I welcome guest posters as I always do).

As the Conservative Jewish author writes: "We need a more holistic approach to Jewish education, one that doesn’t pit one model against the other, but instead regards Jewish education as a continuum that contains a variety of viable alternatives." I think that sums it up well. I think it is a mistake to dismiss alternatives as "not day school."

Public Service Annoucement: Second Annual Torah Home Education Conference

The Second Annual Torah Home Education Conference will take place on June 13, 2010 from 8 am – 5 pm in Baltimore, MD. There are childcare options for infants – age 3, a day camp for children ages 4 – 10, and a teen girls get together for ages 11 – 17. This is the only event of its kind taking place anywhere in the country, and will be just one day, so don’t miss your chance!

The schedule and brief bios of speakers are below, and if you want more info you can visit http://jewishhomeschooling.wordpress.com/ or be in touch with one of the contact people listed at the bottom. Please share this with anyone you know who may be interested!

Second Annual Torah Home Education Conference Schedule
8:15 registration

9 – 9:15 – Introduction – Mrs. Avivah Werner- “The Road Less Traveled”

9:15 – 10:15 -keynote speaker – Rabbi Daniel Lapin- “And You Shall Teach Them to Your Children – Does it really mean what it says?”

10:25 – 11:15 -
a) Mrs. Susan Lapin – “Life After Homeschooling – What does it look like?”
b) Mrs. Yehudis Eagle – “Teaching Tefilla (Prayer): More than Technicalities”

11:25 – 12:15 – general session - Rabbi Bamberger- “The Challenges In Our Yeshivos”

12:20 – 1:50 Lunch (enjoy fellowship over lunch in the Eating Together Room, browse curriculums in Center for Jewish Education)

1:55 – 2:45 pm -
a) Mrs. Avivah Werner – Home Education on a Shoestring
b) Mrs. Chana Lazaroff – Home Education for the Special Needs Child

2:55 -3:45 -
a) Dr. Ezra Hendel – Teaching Chumash and Rashi
b) Mrs. Malky Adler – Minimizing Outsider Syndrome (women only)

3:55 – 4:45 – general session -
Rabbi Simcha Feuerman – Home Education: The Way of the Future

4:45 – closing
In alphabetical order is a brief bio of our speakers:

Mrs. Malky Adler is the mother of nine children living in Detroit, MI and has been home educating for six years. Her children range in age from infant through high schoolers. She will talk about the challenges of homeschooling when living in a community that views you as an outsider because of your unusual education choices and how to effectively deal with that.

Rabbi Bamberger is an experienced educator with over 25 years of experience. He has served for five years as a high school principal, teaches ninth grade limudei kodesh, and is the rabbi of a shul in Monsey, NY. He has spoken nationally about various aspects of chinuch. He is now homeschooling his youngest child, and will speak from his experience inside the yeshiva system for two and a half decades about the challenges our schools are facing.

Mrs. Yehudis Eagle is the mother of 11 children, several of whom are grown, and has been homeschooling for over 15 years. She has an integrated and holistic approach to home education, and will speak about how to approach tefilla as a home educator.

Dr. Ezra (Russell) Hendel, A.S.A., has taught chumash to homeschooled children from the ages of 5 – 11 and produced over 400 worksheets. He has developed a unique and effective approach to teaching Rashi, is creator of www.rashiyomi.com website, and will give an interactive presentation to help parents teach chumash and Rashi.

Rabbi Daniel Lapin, known world-wide as America’s Rabbi, is a noted rabbinic scholar, best-selling author and host of the Rabbi Daniel Lapin Show on San Francisco’s KSFO. He is one of America’s most eloquent speakers and his ability to extract life principles from the Bible and transmit them in an entertaining manner has brought countless numbers of Jews and Christians closer to their respective faiths. In 2007 Newsweek magazine included him in its list of America’s fifty most influential rabbis. Rabbi Lapin will be our keynote speaker for the conference and will talk about the Torah view of home education.

Mrs. Susan Lapin now is involved full-time in the her husband in his business and writing endeavors, after years of homeschooling their seven children. She is a wealth of practical knowledge regarding home education and family life, and is now the grandmother of children who are being home educated. She will be traveling from Seattle, WA, to share with us her experience and long term perspective on transitioning from home education to schools, yeshivos, seminaries, and college.

Mrs. Chana Lazaroff is the mother of two married daughters and two sons with Down’s Syndrome. She has been home educating them from birth, drawing on her background as an occupational therapist but even more from her ongoing learning about how to help her children reach their potential. She will speak to us about home education for the special needs child.

Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R maintains a private practice specializing in high conflict couples and families. In addition, he serves as Director of Community Mental Health Services at Ohel, and as President of Nefesh International. He is the author of 2 books, numerous professional articles, and along with his wife, a weekly column in the Jewish Press on matters of family relationships, religion, education and psychology. He has also home educated two of his children and will share about creating a dynamic limudei kodesh curriculum and his belief that home education is the way of the future.

Mrs. Avivah Werner is the founder of the Torah Home Education Conference, founder of J-LIFT, a Baltimore area homeschool group, moderator of Torch-d, international listserve for Orthodox homeschoolers, and frequently blogs about home education at www.oceansofjoy.wordpress.com. She has written about home education for national and local publication, and has been home educating for ten years. The oldest of her nine children will be graduating from homeschooling this June. She will share about how to make homeschooling effective without breaking the bank.

For registration – Alisa - apmandel@yahoo (dot) com, or 410-963-2977; or Sara – srayvy@yahoo (dot) com. The advance registration fee is $25 per person, $40 per couple until May 1, 2010. After that, the regular pricing of $50 per person, $90 per couple will apply. So don’t get so busy with Pesach preparations that you miss your chance to save big by registering in advance! You can go to http://jewishhomeschooling.wordpress.com/ for more details.

**We are incredibly fortunate to have the speakers of the caliber we do, and realize that there will be interest in attending from those who aren’t Jewish or interested in homeschooling. As much as I hate to disappoint anyone, this conference is open only for Jewish homeschooling families, or Jewish families interested in homeschooling.**

Co-operatives and Hybrids

On Wednesday, I received two letters from parents asking me to do a post on co-operative arrangements A-SAP. Registrations have arrived in the mailbox and some parents are experiencing price-shock and some are wondering what options might be out there.

From the information I have gathered, cooperative schooling arrangements range in formality as well as price. There are many developed cooperative pre-schools throughout the nation. A quick google search for cooperative preschools will likely lead you to an already existing model in your area. Pricing structures may be based on level of parent participation. E.g., a parent who participates in the school on a bi-weekly basis will pay less than a conventional school. A parent who participates in the school on a weekly basis will pay significantly less than a conventional school. Cooperatives normally provide training to parents who assist in the classroom. The cooperative will hire an administrator, teachers, and some contracted specialists for music or dance.

The same model can be carried into the grade school and secondary school years. On occasion I heard of frum parents arranging a school with paid staff/tutors for their own children. Due to spare enrollments, there is little economy of scale and participation in such a school does not come free. However, in the cases I'm aware of, the price of such schooling has been competitive and the education is tailored to the individual students. Without greater participation it is difficult to sustain an arrangement like this. And such an arrangement may only be available for girls or boys.

Homeschooling Christian families have developed a number of cooperative arrangements for homeschoolers that are worth researching. I have found a number of these programs on line and I am only presenting two just to get the brains churning. The Heritage Homeschool Cooperative in Washington State has over 100 participating families. It meets every Wednesday from 9-2pm where four classes are offered. There is a tuition and materials fee. There are a variety of parent taught classes offered (here is a sample and interested readers can look at all the offerings on the website). Some classes are academic and homework is assigned. Other classes are more extracurricular. The school is K-12, but preschool classes are also offered which is nice for larger homeschooling families looking for a bit of a school experience.

A more formal and intense school experience can be had at a school such as Granite Classical. This school comes with a larger price tag, still a bargain. This particular schools meets twice a week where students are given a classical education (grammar, logic, rhetoric in all subject matter). The schooling days begins at 8:15am with chapel and core subjects end at 2PM and elective courses conclude at 4PM. Unlike cooperatives, where classes are parent lead, this school has a staff drawn (mostly) from outside its parent body. Staff members might be professional lawyers or engineers who look to share their knowledge. This particular school starts at the 3rd grade when children can read. Like other cooperatives, parents must participate in their children's education. I find this hybrid schooling model to be very attractive personally.

There are numerous sources online on parent participatory schooling models. It appears that many churches have been at the forefront of supporting the development of homeschooling and cooperative schooling models. I would recommend that any parents interested in such a model contact churches that host these groups and speak with founders and parents who are interested in sharing their knowledge first hand (perhaps in a neutral location such as a Starbucks). The internet has numerous articles and resources, but there is nothing like a face to face meeting to explore an option. On occasion I run into homeschooling families and have found them to be very willing and interested in sharing. Many of them belong to umbrella organizations which provide some extracurricular opportunities. You would be surprised to find out that many rec centers, gyms, and even businesses have extracurriculars geared towards homeschoolers in the early hours. I imagine that cooperative schooling parents would also be willing to share their experiences and thoughts on cooperative arrangements. I have discovered there is just about every type of cooperative and support model out there. There are homeschooling associations for African Americans, unschoolers, secular homeschoolers, Catholic homeschoolers (my good friend from growing up is a Catholic homeschooler and mom to many). Speaking of development, there are even buyers co-ops for materials.

For those ready to jump in with two feet who want to look at a Jewish model, there is a Los Angeles Yeshiva for boys which has Rebbes and offers a formal sedarim and supervised homeschooling through a charter school program. There is a group of Florida parents who formed a Jewish co-operative preschool and will be expanding their programming to the early elementary grades. The contact email and phone number for more information is in the linked post. The parents have been so kind as to share information with the readers of this blog and I'm sure they would be thrilled to be contacted. Both the Los Angeles Yeshiva and the Florida Cooperative are full time schools, rather than part time cooperatives. In the Florida cooperative the parents take care of the behind the scenes administration as well as some classroom support. Parents involved with the Florida cooperative are dual income in many cases.

Readers, the readers who wrote me regarding cooperatives would like the advice of all who have participated in cooperative agreements. They would like you to share your experiences, pros and cons. Additionally, they would be interested in some of the nitty gritty. Please participate if you have been a part of any cooperative arrangement from a cooperative camp to a cooperative preschool to a cooperative schooling arrangement. This is your chance to share your experiences.

In a future post I will hopefully present from pros and cons I've gleaned from different articles online, etc.

Public Service Annoucement: Jewish Cooperative School (Flordia)

I received this annoucement and am publishing it as a public service. This is the second (formal) cooperative school that I know of. A few months ago I ran an annoucement for a Los Angeles Yeshiva alternative. I am pleased to be able to provide a forum regarding alternatives in education.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEWISH COOPERATIVE SCHOOL

Contact: Daniel Wasserman
Tel: 786-554-2863
Email: jewishcoop@gmail.com

A Proactive Solution to the Overwhelming Tuition Crisis

Looking to provide a Torah-centered education in an intimate setting for significantly less tuition than a typical yeshiva or day school, a group of parents in North Miami Beach is offering a vastly different model of Jewish education. They have formed the Jewish Cooperative School (JCS). In this model, the school is administrated directly by the parents. The immediate benefits are readily apparent: tuition is reduced and classes are smaller (no class will have more than 10 children). This enables a child-centered curriculum, where the educator can truly focus on each student as an individual. The Cooperative model has existed for decades in the United States. It encourages parents to be more involved in their child’s education by donating time, skills and resources. For example, one parent who is a skilled gardener built a Havdalah Garden with fragrant spices. Each Friday, the students harvest a small bunch of fragrant plants from the garden and bring home scented herbs for the Havdalah ceremony.

“We wanted a high quality, progressive education with smaller classes. And we wanted it to cost less than a typical private Jewish yeshiva or day school,” said one of the founding parents. On almost every level, the Cooperative model makes a lot of sense. After all, a few hundred years ago, in the plethora of small towns throughout Europe, it was common for Jewish families to cooperatively hire a melamed who would be shared by the families.

“We have hand-picked our very own experienced teachers, and ensured that our children are receiving a warm, loving, Torah-based education with high secular subject standards. No one makes a profit - except our children. This is truly streamlining at its best,” said another enthusiastic parent.

One of the most refreshing aspects of this model is that all of the school’s finances are transparent. Tuition goes directly to (1) hiring the most fitting educator, (2) rent, (3) insurance, and (4) supplies. Parents share the cost of each expense. Therefore, with each additional child enrolled, the cost is proportionately reduced for each family.

Now that the model has proven itself to work this year, they have begun plans for beginning a kindergarten and first grade class for the 2010/2011 school year.

“We hope to contribute a proactive solution to the impending tuition crisis while vastly improving the quality of education,” said Daniel Wasserman.

For more information contact them at: JEWISHCOOP@GMAIL.COM

Remedial Education Funding Would Not be My Argument for Vouchers

VIN has published another pro-vouchers article from Josh Pruzansky (Executive Director of Agudath Israel New Jersey), as has Rabbi Boteach. Two in one day. This might be a record.

My regular readers know that I support vouchers from an ideological standpoint. And while I have addressed the subject of educational choice, which incidental extends far beyond the subject of school vouchers as Josh Pruzansky points out, I'm not holding out any hope of seeing a voucher in my lifetime. Despite my support for politicians who share my ideological view, I'm not quite sure that vouchers would be a blessing for our communities. But this is perhaps a subject for a future post as the subject is sure to rear its head from now until the day when the community decides that perhaps it is time to concentrate efforts on solving the tuition issue more internally. Perhaps a concerted effort to consolidate schools, throw support behind present and potential future homeschoolers/groupschoolers, enacting minimum tuitions or at the very least collecting agreed upon tuitions (see my last post).

But back to the articles at hand. If you are lobbying for public education funding to be earmarked for private schools, particularly yeshivot, what arguments do you think will be most effective in winning the hearts and minds of politicians and taxpayers who are on the fence so to speak? What arguments might sway parents who might fear adding more students to the role of the taxpayer? What arguments might help convince taxpayers that private schools can do a better job than public schools at a lower cost?

Personally, I would 'vote no' on using the $24 million of earmarked funds in New York that are funding remedial tutoring for *10,000* yeshiva students as an argument for why the taxpayer should hand over governmental funding for parents desiring a yeshiva education. Now certainly where remedial tutoring is needed and where there are outside funds available, I would see no reason not to lobby for remedial education funds for the sake of remediation. But as an argument with the ultimate goal of securing support for the elusive school voucher and/or greater funding for yeshivot. . . no way! The taxpayer isn't interested in a superior gemorrah shiur. The taxpayer wants students graduating with a strong grasp of the three R's. If you aren't able to provide that, I'm afraid the taxpayer isn't going to be too impressed, even where "the government saves by having children in a values-based education system which produces far lower delinquency rates. [Rabbi Boteach]" .

And, to finish up a quick post. . . . . perhaps VIN should reconsider its choice of photo for an article on educational choice. The photo of choice was taken on the day that FBI agents went into the Deal Yeshiva to seize records to investigate a money laundering ring for which community Rabbis were arrested. Not a smart choice for a photo in my opinion.

(Perhaps a kind reader can email VIN with this commentary. I've never got very far on posting comments there).

Update: Google Alerts alerted me that the Agudah had the article published in the Asbury Press. It should be interesting to see the comments that get published. At this time only one comment is in with the introduction "entitled?" This type of article simply does not speak to the American public. It is far too centered on one community.

Public Service Annoucement: Affordable Los Angeles Yeshiva Alternative

A friend forwarded this to me, after it was forwarded to her. I'm posting this both for my Los Angeles readers (I do have some Los Angeles readers I hope) and for the rest of my readers who are searching for alternatives. This one seems very intruiging.


There is a fantastic new Yeshiva high school program – Yeshivas Ohev Shalom – that is opening up for this fall (starting Sept. 8). It is being run by my brother Rabbi Chaim Tropper (former menahel and rebbe at Yeshivas Ner Aryeh in the Valley), and Rabbi Rachmiel Steinberg who taught at Yavneh for many years and who is well known throughout LA as a rebbe and a top secular teacher (currently a candidate to receive his doctorate in education).

The Yeshiva will have a fully structured limudei kodesh morning program, starting with Shacharis at 8 AM. The afternoon secular program is going to be done as a "supervised home schooling program". Students will all be registered through a local charter school and will be taking an individually designed secular program custom made for each student. Rabbi Steinberg and other accredited teachers will be supervising the secular program, and will be available for one-on-one help for any student that needs it.

The goal of the Yeshiva is to make a real Yeshiva education affordable for every family. Full tuition this year is only $5,000> (75% lower than other L.A. high schools), and scholarships are available. This is a perfect solution for home schooling families looking for a limudei kodesh program for their boys. For families that want to continue secular studies at home, they can attend the limudei kodesh in the morning and then go home for secular studies. It is also a wonderful option for the many families that have been considering the possibility of home schooling but were not practically able to do it since both parents work.

The Yeshiva already has 11 boys registered and will be opening with boys in every grade, 9-12. It is centrally located at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 525 S. Fairfax. Free carpool from the Valley is also available.

Please spread the word. More info is available at our website Yeshivas Ohev Shaloms. Rabbi Chaim Tropper can be reached directly at (818) 461-4312 and is happy to meet with any interested families.

A poster with more info as well as the calendar for the 2009-2010 school year will be posted shortly.

Mendel Tropper

Alternative Schooling Models: The Hybrid Model

While researching homeschool co-ops in their various forms, an idea one of my own commentors wrote about in the JPost Bloggers contest, I discovered something known as a "hybrid school." There are a handful of them out there, but one that caught my eye is a 2-day a week, religious Christian school that offers formal schooling in the classics combined with a homeschooling element. Students from mid-elementary through high school meet two days a week for intensive education in the classics and the sciences with both tutors and teachers. In addition to core curriculum, the school also offers an extended day where students can choose academic and extracurricular classes. Tuition is very reasonable. The core curriculum is priced below $2500 for all grades, the highest grades being priced significantly lower. The other academic, extracurricular classes, and study hall are offered on an a-la-carte basis and are open to students who are not enrolled in the core curriculum.

I think a model like this could be potentially very attractive in the frum community. The resource sharing, downsizing, and cost containing elements are all there. I could see separate gender classes being offered on opposite days. I could see a 3 day a week program if more days are what parents want. I could see parents who have the ability to engage in some sort of home education, but do not feel 'homeschooling' is a viable choice finding more attraction to this method. Those who feel homeschooling is too insular and doesn't offer enough social opportunities might find a "real school" with limited hours appealing. Parents who believe the school day/week is ridiculous in terms of hours, schedules, and/or days might also find this school to offer a better middle-ground. Parents who are already homeschooling might enjoy registering their children for some of the a la carte academic or extra-curricular classes. Parents who have placed their children in public school but want their children to still attend school and be in a frum environment to a greater extend could also enroll their children in a la carte classes. Parents, and students for that matter, often realize that they end up having to re-teach or teach themselves the material, so having more hours to get down to business might carry a certain amount of appeal also (I know I felt like getting back home to actually have the chance to concentrate on the material and work at the pace I needed to).

Of course, those who believe that cradle through grave, 6 day a week schooling with extended hours, night seders/extracurriculars, and the expectation of an 8 week summer sleepaway camp is necessary for their child's development or their own needs won't be interested. But, for each parent like this, there is another complaining that they have no family time left schooling begins.

There are tremendous opportunities out there. I think it is time to explore them with an open mind (now you may bombard the comments section with all of the reason why this will NEVER work on cue!). This type of school was something I had never heard of and seems to provide a lot of interesting, quality alternatives.

Also see: The Four Day School Week (an idea that continues to grow on me, although a 2-3 day school could easily get my vote).

Oy Vey: Beis Yaakov of Boro Park Slated to Close

Hat Tip: a reader (thanks)

I have to solve some financial issues today, as well as replace an appliance I've been thinking about replacing for 2 years now (yeah for furnish your dorms sales!), but it looks like there is a lot of blogging on deck as readers are sending articles like mad to my email box (thanks all!).

Today, a reader send me a link to this story. My reaction is practically adolescent because the abbreviation OMG flashed through my head, and I have never once sent a text, nor do I even recognize most of the text language out there beyond lol, and I'm certainly not lol'ing.

Boro Park Beis Yakov send out a letter to parents informing them that the school, the largest girls' school in Boro Park (perhaps the largest in Brooklyn, readers?) will not open in September. Of course they are seeking donations from the community in hopes of reopening. I don't know if this is one of the schools I've seen mentioned as being behind on paying teachers. I can only imagine that the board/administration decision was made out of desperation because plenty of schools have floated payments for months, and even years, on end.

I can't even imagine what parents, just 2 weeks away from the opening of school are thinking? What in the world happens when a school of this size announces they are closing? I can't imagine the clientele marching to the public school district office and enrolling their children. I hope parents will jump into gear, rather than just holding off for a miracle instead of concentrating on their children's education which must be a priority. If my own children's school announced it were closing today, I believe I'm not sure if we would try to get into another school or register with the school district to home school. Likely the majority of parents don't have the leverage and money to get their children into other school (after all, lack of tuition paying parents IS the root cause of closures). So, they have few options: fundraising, public school, or homeschooling. Fundraising isn't new in the frum world and obviously a wall has been hit. Public school is unlikely, even temporarily for this demographic. And, homeschooling would be beyond intimidating for the same demographic given the lack of familiarity and the unpreparedness, to say nothing of lack of know how and support. Oy vey!

The Jewish Observer, may it rest in peace, once wrote "Yeshivos have become very creative and entrepreneurial in finding ways to close their budget gaps" and "To an honest and realistic person, our school administrator knows his business very well. He has been successful in steering the ship through very choppy waters. This same executive director or administrator has become so talented at balancing the budget, his skills match those of any corporate CFO. The fact that he stays at the yeshiva is in itself real mesiras nefesh." I imagine "creative" accounting was used for many years. But, Virginia, "cash is king" and when you don't have it, it eventually catches up to you.

The letter sent out by the Beis Yakov blames the (potential) closing on the financial crisis. But, I personally cannot and will not place the blame on a downturn in the economy. I'm afraid the money management skills haven't matched the a corporate CFO. Many have been talking about the day when the frum community would hit a wall for years now! Many have decried the duplication of services, the growth of a near impossible infrastructure to support, etc. What do you think you get when you combine a growing infrastructure of non-profits + young marriage followed by kollel followed by late entrance into the marketplace + lack of eduction/vocation + a growing fertility rate + a ridiculously expensive 'lifestyle' from clothing to camp+ reliance on debt, parents, in-laws, relatives, and grandparents + underemployment combined with planned government dependency + a recession that has finally proved that credit does have a limit?

I don't quite know what to say about the potential closing beyond OMG. It is really scary, or as the reader who sent me the article said, it will be a tsunami if it closes. I do NOT want to see the infrastructure of day schools/yeshivas/beis yaakovs threatened, changed yes!, collapse no! If I didn't care, I would never have started this blog and dedicated so much time to trying to promote healthy money management from a grass roots level. I realize Boro Park isn't exactly my audience. But, I do have a good spectrum of readers, and I harbor no illusions that similar issues might be lurking in centrist and modern Orthodox schools too. So, I think we all need to be watching what happens there and begging our own schools to employ sound business practices (even if that means that not every single child can be provided with a comprehensive day school education. . . .the majority must goal. "No matter what your financial circumstances" simply is unsustainable).

More tuition blogging to come (unfortunately). Your thoughts.

P.S. The article notes that BY Boro Park receives some state funding. The Yated recently had an article on the tuition crisises that, after a lot of talking, concluded government funding was the only answer. There already is plenty of government money in the frum community and I pipe dreams won't take care of today's problems. Throwing up your hands and declaring there is only one answer, as the Yated did, isn't going to open up a school slated for closing.