Great reporting by Naomi Zeveloff and Nathan Guttman at the Forward on the extent to which the Jewish charter school movement, which establishes Hebrew-language schools using public funds, is serving a frankly Zionist agenda. The piece demonstrates that Zionism has become central to American Jewish identity, and also, I hope, marks a turning point in American Jewish attitudes towards these schools, dedicated to helping a foreign country. Excerpt:
Yet, as Hebrew charters have overcome stereotypes of being parochial Jewish institutions, they’ve also positioned themselves as more than just schools. Many, though not all, Hebrew charters see themselves as fonts of Israel education that will cultivate students — both Jews and non-Jews — to serve as goodwill ambassadors for Israel in the years ahead.
“I often dream of what the graduates of our Hebrew-language charter schools will look like 20 years from now,” wrote Sara Berman, the chair of the Hebrew Charter School Center [HCSC] in the Spring 2011 issue of Contact, the journal of the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life. “I see them as a vanguard of understanding for Israel and for cultural respect in general.”
Charter schools are publicly funded but privately sponsored primary and secondary schools that pledge, in exchange for their taxpayer support, to meet certain standards put forth in charter agreements with state or local education boards. Many also receive private funds from their sponsoring institutions. Most charter schools operate on a lottery system; families who want to send their children to the schools are picked at random...
One goal of the curriculum at Brooklyn’s Hebrew Language Academy [HLA]— HCSC’s first school [Hebrew Charter School Center]— “is to foster a love for the country of Israel in all of its diversity,” said Principal Laura Silver.
At HLA, whose 306 students are 45% non-white, the Israeli flag hangs alongside the Stars and Stripes...
“A passionate, Israel-oriented, Hebrew-speaking community will almost certainly support Israel and stay connected to Judaism,” wrote [San Diego's Jennie] Starr in the Autumn 2011 issue of Contact, describing Kavod
Now try this:
“A passionate, Saudi-oriented, Arabic-speaking community will alsmost certainly support Saudi Arabia and stay connected to Islam,”
and remember or imagine the response.
Passionate attachment should not be fostered to anything but one’s own nation, if then!
Even better, try the intense vitriol and Islamophobia directed toward the Khalil Gibran charter school and its principal, Debbie Almontaser. A school named after a famous Lebanese Christian poet, which was dedicated to teaching Arabic language and culture broadly, was demonized as promoting anti-Semitism and terrorism. Yet, Hebrew charter schools can, not only promote Zionist ideology and a connection to a particular country, but present a truncated vision of the country’s Hebrew-speaking population — especially the 20% who are Palestinian Citizens of Israel:
At least they should represent the diversity within wonderful tapestry that Israeli Jews make. Perhaps with role playing games.
Today we will learn about tzniut. Ashia will play a Jewish girl, and Bill and Jack will play Haredi boys. Let them sit and she should walk in front of them. Yes! Now, boys, spit — just a little, this is only a play. Why did you spit, Jack? Ahh, you will learn in a moment.
Today we will learn about sicarii. Not all Haredi boys would spit at a little girl, but sicarii would. Long time ago Sicarii were the heroes who defended Masadah. Here is a picture of Masada. They were very brave. And a bit crazy.
From what I hear many (most?) of those pushing for these schools want alternatives to expensive, primarily modern Orthodox, Jewish day schools. In those schools the half-day of Jewish studies combines religious subjects with a celebration of Israel. Since the religious studies aren’t permissible in a charter school, you’re simply left with the Israel advocacy. It would be interesting to know how much this differs from other language-specific charter schools.
From what I hear many (most?) of those pushing for these schools want alternatives to expensive, primarily modern Orthodox, Jewish day schools.
Several of the private foundations which advocate them say Hebrew charter schools present opportunities for “Israel Education” or “Israel Engagement” beyond hasbara.
link to jimjosephfoundation.org
link to moadonkolchadash.org
In those schools [Orthodox, Jewish day schools] the half-day of Jewish studies combines religious subjects with a celebration of Israel.
That’s hardly surprising, since Israel controls a parastatal public agency, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) which has an Education Department with a mission of promoting Israel Education and Engagement. It employs a Director of Market Engagement for North America in its Pedagogic Center and a staff of over 300 Shlichim in North America, working on University campuses, at Federations, in schools and Jewish Community Centers, in synagogues and with youth movements. link to jewishagency.org
It would be interesting to know how much this differs from other language-specific charter schools.
I can’t think of any other public charter schools which ostensibly function as agents to educate or engage students on behalf of some specific foreign state.
Try this title: “Zionism ‘Carefully Taught’ at Hebrew Charter Schools on US Taxpayer Dime”
to pay no attention to the Arabs who can’t live in your Utopian “diverse” Ha Olam neighborhood.
Are publicly-funded schools allowed to teach their students to follow a certain political ideology? I don’t know, but I would guess there might be a law against it.
RE: “Great reporting by Naomi Zeveloff and Nathan Guttman at the Forward on the extent to which the Jewish charter school movement, which establishes Hebrew-language schools using public funds, is serving a frankly Zionist agenda.” ~ Weiss
MY COMMENT: Do ya think (lol)? [See below for the privately funded version.]
FROM WIKIPEDIA [Sheldon Adelson]:
SOURCE – link to en.wikipedia.org
ALSO FROM WIKIPEDIA [The Adelson Educational Campus]:
SOURCE – link to en.wikipedia.org
” is serving a frankly Zionist agenda.” ~ Weiss
”
Yea it does. I came across a list of books that are used in these schools some time ago and posted it here….can’t remember the date.
But they were pretty bad…Holocaust, Victims, Jewish Nationality, Superior Peoplehood, the Chosen, the whole cult thing, etc,etc,etc…..
If zionism and Israel firstdom become any worse in the US than they are already we’re gonna have a disaster.
somebody ask Peter Beinart where he stands on taxpayer funding of Hebrew schools.