“I wouldn’t send my dog to a kennel that I knew this little
about.”
The above is a classic line from an anonymous prospective
parent quoted in the newspaper last year about the Shalom Academy Charter School. For those who aren’t aware. Shalom Academy, or SACS, is a Hebrew
immersion charter school that was scheduled to open in the Fall of 2011 at an
undisclosed location in either Teaneck or Englewood. They had a lottery last year to accept
students and sent out letters congratulating the parents whose children were to
be accepted. The parents weren’t told
until a few weeks before school was scheduled to start that they would not be
opening this year. The parents then had
to scramble to make other plans.
The lead founder of the school said that it was an “open
secret” that the opening would be delayed but never said why it had to be a
secret at all. In none of the emails that
went out to the parents was it ever even suggested that there was even a
possibility that the school wouldn’t open as scheduled. And no apology was made to the parents for
being led on for months and then being hit with the news at the last possible
minute.
I’ve heard many people, including parents who registered for
SACS last year, complain that they never get any response to their questions
sent to the Board via email or voice mail.
I decided to try it myself before commenting on it. I sent a nice email introducing myself &
asking some basic questions about the school, such as what the status is on
finding a building, what’s the status of getting approvals, etc. As expected there was no reply after several weeks.
In an interview with the Bergen Record , lead founder Rafael Bachrach stated as follows: “Are we willing to work on communication,” Bachrach said. “Yes we are willing to work on communication. Do we think we didn’t communicate? I don’t agree with that.”
Mr. Bachrach I think you didn’t communicate & you are not communicating now.
In an interview with the Bergen Record , lead founder Rafael Bachrach stated as follows: “Are we willing to work on communication,” Bachrach said. “Yes we are willing to work on communication. Do we think we didn’t communicate? I don’t agree with that.”
Mr. Bachrach I think you didn’t communicate & you are not communicating now.
I’m all for Hebrew Immersion. I think strong knowledge of the language is
imperative for understanding Jewish religious texts. And I think if supplemented with an intensive
after-school Judaic studies program it could present a good alternative for those
who are struggling to pay for Yeshiva. It’s
being tried in other communities and I wish them success. However, it is also important to be a
mensch. And I don’t think children can
learn to be menschen if they are in a school that is not run by menschen.
I’d love to hear from founders or anyone close to the
administration so I could get another side to this story.
Logging you in...
remom · 691 weeks ago
My children attend a legacy school but I can't say that they are learning either in breadth nor in depth the material that my husband and I learned (either in secular or Judaic) studies. The intellectual rigor just isn't there - its as if the whole standard of expectations took a nose dive. I try to explain to my children (for instance) in a writing assignment that there work is full of mistakes and lacking in analysis but when they return home with an A - and "Great Job" written at the top, it's difficult to convince them to work harder.
Any thoughts?
Avi · 690 weeks ago
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
You have a point about standards dropping in general when it comes to education in this country. But it may be asking too much to expect an elementary school child to come up with independent analysis. Usually at that age teachers expect you to spit back their own ideas. I don't remember ever having to provide my own analysis until high school.
-YD
remom · 690 weeks ago
I disagree that elementary school is too young to begin to set standards - both academic and behavioral. Our community infantalizes its children. I am not pleased with the behavior exhibited by these MO Jewish Day School children at shul on Shabbat. Rather, I find both the children and their parents sorely lacking in appropriate behavior. The children strike me as bored and as I said in a previous post, uninspired. I don't think that they are adequately stimulated physically and intellectually during the school week. It's so sad.
Anonymous · 690 weeks ago
Actually you should speak to parents of children and the students who go to Noam and BPY. These schools stress individual ideas and learning, and the calibre of the students is exceptional.
Cannot say the same for the older legacy schools.
Anonymous · 690 weeks ago
This is a problem is our society in general where all kids now get trophies just for participating.
Adam Corolla has a great rant about this in relation to the Occupy Wall Street movement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJD8pZiRIzs.
CJ Srullowitz · 691 weeks ago
Methinks thou doth protest too much!
remom · 690 weeks ago
I would like to add that in addition to low academic standards and expectations the community seems to foster infantalization of school age children and as such, behavioral standards suffer. I don't see how we can expect excellence to begin in highschool when it isn't present in the elementary grades. We are seriously considering sending our children to a non Jewish school - either public or possibly private, as we are astonished at the educational mindset of those persons running and teaching at the BC MO Jewish Day Schools.
The children in our community are not impressive - they whine and roll around the carpet in shul and stuff their faces at the kiddishes and seem bored and uninspired. I am uncomfortable raising my children in what I see as a community "asleep at the wheel".
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
Adults also get bored in shul & stuff their faces at kiddush but I don't think the schools are responsible for that.
Guestonymous · 690 weeks ago
At the end of the day, are we, as a community, highly confident that our children will come out of their 12-14 years of day school education qualified and motivated to compete for spots in the right universities and for the financial opportunities that will enable them to live comfortable happy lives in places like BC? Or are we just hoping for a Divine fulfillment of the bracha "ve'hativcha ve'hirbecha me'avotecha"? Or does our community care too much about its current creature comforts to stretch, to confront uncomfortable issues? I think the high level of activity and the passion on this and related blogs speaks to the fact that at least part of our community is open to confronting these questions.
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
-YD
Guestonymous · 690 weeks ago
It would be comforting if there were metrics we could track like standardized test scores. In fact it would be very informative to study trends in SAT scores for our community, its various schools, and the broader changes over time. As the data are unlikely to be made available, perhaps we can think about how many aimless kids are coming out of our community - graduating college or even grad school unmotivated and unable to support themselves.
The key is to challenge our assumptions, because it is the complacency that kills.
[Poem by Edwina Reizer, with adjustments]
So many people know what's wrong
but still are singing the same old song.
They know our kehillah is filled with sin
but they accept the predicament that we're in.
Well G-d helps those who help themselves.
Read the history books gathering dust on shelves.
Then you'll see that it's all up to we
to change what's becoming our history.
guest · 690 weeks ago
I have no connection to SACS and would never send my kids to a public school. However, if Bachrach and company were so reticient to comment publicly thus far, why would you think they would do so on an anonymous blog? It's obvious they don't want to speak publicly in order to avoid being held accountable.
Anyway, after last year's debacle, I doubt anyone other than the truloy desperate would send their kids there in September.... assuming it actually opens this year.
guest · 690 weeks ago
"We are seriously considering sending our children to a non Jewish school - either public or possibly private, as we are astonished at the educational mindset of those persons running and teaching at the BC MO Jewish Day Schools.
The children in our community are not impressive - they whine and roll around the carpet in shul and stuff their faces at the kiddishes and seem bored and uninspired. I am uncomfortable raising my children in what I see as a community "asleep at the wheel".
Your posts indicate criticism of the entire MO orthodox community, something I find sad. I'm sure your kids are perfect angels. It's OK not to like a certain school or shul. However, if you really don't like the entire community and to send your children elsewhere, then why do you live here? I wouldn't live in a community I hated.
guest · 690 weeks ago
BTW, I don't know if you have seen the stats on Teaneck's public schools, but they are simply horrible. Teaneck's children consistently score in the very lowest tiers in almsot all academic performance. I have no idea what your involvement is with the secular and non-Jewish poulation of Teaneck, but if you think it's better, you're kidding yourself. Virtually none of the crime here is committed by Orthodox Jews. Still, if you think the grass is greener on the other side, go for it!
Cindy · 690 weeks ago
guest · 690 weeks ago
TPS had a student ratio of 11.13/child. Their cost of instruction, support services salaries and admin costs are consistently in the top 90-95% of all of New Jersey. Based on this, they should have a superior edication model, right?
Teaneck schools are rated worse than 79.8% of all NJ schools (source:neighborhoodscout.com)
Teaneck's HS ranks in the bottom third of the state.
Based on the money we all pay via taxes, these numbers are an embarrassment.
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
How about 1/3rd of the upper middle class kids going to a different school system?
guest · 690 weeks ago
That sounds like a racist, bigoted statement (now where did I read that before?) :)
Are you saying poorer kids are not as smart as rich kids? Or are you trying to say that that non-White kids are not as bright as Whites? Which is it?
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
The more affluent a family is, the more resources they have. Whether it be time, additional educational support, the parents having a better educational background themselves, etc..
The fact that you would go right there, by definition, means you have a bit of an issue.
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
The more affluent a family is, the more resources they have. Whether it be time, additional educational support, the parents having a better educational background themselves, etc..
The fact that you would go right there, by definition, means you have a bit of an issue.
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
Cindy · 690 weeks ago
This is Cindy -
I just read your comment -
Specific success examples are an important testament of academic success that can be achieved. Let's not ignore or take away from the success stories that serve as a real life human example. Please consider coming to the January 12 meeting on thursday night at 7pm, and learn more about the teaneck schools, and the after school israel club and the accomodations for the community. Perhaps you may be interested in learning more.
Cindy
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
Wow, now that's an interesting statement...
How about this one, virtually none of the kids going to Ivy League schools from Teaneck, right after High School, are Orthodox Jews.
How about that?
rickroll · 690 weeks ago
How about that?
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
Without context, statistics are meaningless.
And that's why they say, "figures don't lie, but liars figure."
99%Yid · 690 weeks ago
a) not examining context
b) not realizing the comparison isn't similar
c) not at all familiar w/ the public school based on first-hand knowledge
remom · 690 weeks ago
I also think that Teaneck used to be a very different community twenty years ago and my thoughts were that it was simply going through a phase but that it would revert to the type of community it had once been. I'm clearly wrong and again, this is why we are considering a move.
I just wish there were more people with in the community who discussed books, ideas, world politics and expressed a yen for culture (as in art and music) rather than the endless talk of renovations and real estate.... I don't want my kids ending up in Kiryas where-ever or Lakewood-like Jewish communities - and I fear that community wide, this is the trajectory. Oye.
Cindy · 690 weeks ago
Mark · 690 weeks ago
You are witnessing the slow demise of Modern Orthodoxy. Where would you consider moving to? It's occurring everywhere.
remom · 690 weeks ago
Mark · 690 weeks ago
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
Unlike in previous times and in other places around the world (including in some parts of E"Y today) our children can be proud of who they are and can go to school without being yelled at or spit on.
The biggest problem our community is facing is the cost giving every child in our community a quality private school education that teaches both Torah and secular subjects. We need to do everything within reason to keep those costs down which is why we are discussing different options for doing that on this blog.
Cheer up everyone! Things aren't that bad. It's a new year (at least in the secular world) & things are starting to look up. Dow is up 200 points. We are not in demise & we'll get through the tuition crisis.
Anony · 690 weeks ago
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
By the way, we are not talking about "a few bucks" but potentially over a hundred thousand dollars if a family sends 3 kids there from pre-k to 8th grade. That could make an enormous difference in lifestyle to a middle class family.
-YD
Anony · 690 weeks ago
Dan · 690 weeks ago
Anonymous · 690 weeks ago
Mark · 690 weeks ago
Of course. Does anyone doubt that? But as long as it doesn't outpace inflation (wage growth in this case) by too much, it will still be reasonable.
The biggest issue with our existing yeshivot is that most of them raised tuition at close to twice the rate of inflation for 15-20 years.
Anonymous · 690 weeks ago
It is expensive to educate a child, and that is the reason the current schools cost what they do. They are expensive not because anyone is lining their pockets, the administrations are too big, the scholarships suck up the money, or they don't have computers teaching your children. They charge what they charge because that is what it costs to educate a child. Look at other non-jewish private schools and even what the public schools spend to educate. The legacy schools are on par with or in some cases less than the others.
The jewish community, much like any other community, will always have those that can and those that cannot afford private school. The problem lies in the fact that the orthodox jewish community is unique in that most will only consider sending their child to a private school. Unfortunaltey I don't think this is a somthing that can ever be solved.
Dan · 690 weeks ago
Anonymous · 690 weeks ago
Speak to any parent which plan on sending their kids to He'atid and they claim they are doing it because they like the "flip model" or the "technology based learning." Probe a little bit and these parents know squat about what this means or how He'atid is going to incorporate these concepts into the curriculim. Push a bit more and in the end they will admit that it is all about the $$$. Unfortunately you will not find anyone associated with He'atid who can anwer these questions either.
Here's hoping that they get their heads out of their asses and figure it out before the first child steps foot into their doors. It looks like a good amount of our children's futures depend on it.
anon613 · 690 weeks ago
(please note the extreme sarcasm)
Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 690 weeks ago
I had to delete your comment because it included personal attacks. Moreover, the person you are attacking was being sarcastic & said so in the last line of his comment.
Avi · 690 weeks ago
2. I will unabashedly state - again - that I take cost into consideration for all my purchases. Education included. I fail to see how that is a negative. (Well, unless you are living in a different financial reality and plan to personally pay my tuition bills. In that case, criticize my foolish desire to live within my means all you like.)
Mark · 690 weeks ago
Do those parents know anything about the curriculum and the pedagogical approach at their current school? Probably not. It's more an issue of the parent than the school.
And we all make decisions based on $$$ ... that's what we call "real life"!