ICYMI: Yeshivas Aren't Teaching Secular Studies. It's A Shonda For The Jews And Democracy.

NEW YORK, NY (05/30/2019) (readMedia)-- Today the Jewish Daily Forward published an op-ed from Columbia Professor Ester Fuchs and Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner calling for the NYS Education Department to enact emergency regulations and conduct basic oversight of yeshivas. Citing Yaffed statistics, they write:

For decades, yeshivas have received millions - if not hundreds of millions - of tax dollars from New York State lawmakers for transportation, security, lunch, textbooks, and even academic intervention services. Some yeshivas cover as much as two-thirds of their budget with public funds.

Yet, we have little to no accountability for that money, even as certain Ultra-Orthodox leaders openly flout state law which requires all nonpublic schools to provide an education that is "at least substantially equivalent" to public schools. That's because lawmakers have historically prioritized politically powerful voting blocks ahead of student wellbeing, and they're doing it on our dime.

The fact is we have no idea if these schools are even in compliance with state educational requirements to teach secular studies, but we have reason to suspect that they're not. According to a report commissioned by Young Advocates for Fair Education (YAFFED) in 2017, Hasidic boys receive only 90 minute or less of secular instruction a day in elementary school, and none in high school. This leaves them unable to read and write in English, perform basic math, or understand the science behind vaccines.

This is not only a shonda for the Jews, but for our democracy. Too many politicians are happy to provide cover - and money - to institutions that proudly shut their doors to regulation but welcome our cash, no strings attached. That's outrageous and it's got to stop. If an institution funded by the taxpayers is unwilling to allow state education inspectors onto their premises twice every decade, they shouldn't be receiving taxpayer funds. Period. But politicians are willing to waste our money because a handful of Rabbis can make or break them at the ballot box. That's why we have a moral and social obligation to speak out, both as Jews and as New Yorkers: the state must enact emergency regulations immediately.

Read the full op-ed here.