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The @jdforward published an opinion by @MosheKrakowski in which he inexplicably calls the criticism of yeshivas “misconceptions”.
https://forward.com/opinion/431757/the-truth-about-secular-studies-in-haredi-schools/
Here’s a laymen’s differing, but eyewitness perspective:
https://forward.com/opinion/431757/the-truth-about-secular-studies-in-haredi-schools/
Here’s a laymen’s differing, but eyewitness perspective:
1) Prof. Moshe Krakowski writes in the Forward that Haredi lack of education is being mischaracterized. I will try to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was woefully misled but the flaws and inaccuracies suggest otherwise.
(2) He begins by saying that the critics are exaggerating how limited the education is. Is it possible to exaggerate the number 0? Because Lubavitch and some select Hasidic schools offer ZERO secular education. Why ignore that entirely?
(3)Prof. Krakowski visited ‘a Hasidic school’ which he doesn’t name but used it to claim that the 3rd graders learned sentence structure, reading and more. I urge anyone to find an 8 year old in Williamsburg who can structure a sentence. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
(4) The professor gives himself away when he throws in that some kids knew a few Harry Potter references. I have no idea where his handlers took him but not a solitary boy in New Square, Monroe or Williamsburg knows Harry Potter from Pottery Barn.
(5) This throw-in reference to Harry Potter sheds some light on the inaccuracies and slight of hand he uses throughout. He obviously did not look at the schools who are the target of these reforms.
(6) Unlike the good professor, I am not an expert in education but I *am* someone who has lived experience in this matter. As a conversation with any *representative* Hasidic child will show, the lack of education goes way beyond the social aspect.
(7) I would like Prof. Krakowski to think if he would have ever been able to become ‘an academic who studies education’ if he grew up Hasidic? How many of his Y.U. peers *were* from Bobov? Do our boys deserve less than him? What shameful privilege to be pontificating like this!
(8) The Prof. seems to suggest that those calling out the lack of education are somehow biased against Hasidic culture. As if we are reading about an Amazon tribe in NatGeo and not people who choose to be part of 2019 NY society. The Prof.’s own culture is why he’s read.
(9) The entire article is flawed and disingenuous. He feels free to name @yaffedorg but cleverly refuses to name any schools. He knows his claim cannot stand up to the light of day so he hides behind vague descriptions. That’s because you and I know what real evidence looks like
(10) It is shameful that he has chosen to throw tens of thousands of children under the bus in order to score some points with those who claim to be more religious. I eagerly away his visit to Satmar and his honest report on what he saw.... I won’t hold my breath though.
11) It gives me no joy to write these words that can be read as bitter or impatient with people that are different. Please understand that I am whom I’m describing in these Tweets. It’s embarrassing to say these things about communities I call my own...
But with all due respect, we don’t need a PHD to tell us the piss in our faces is actually a sunshower. END
