It’s a language school, not a religious public school
by David K. on Jan.17, 2009, under Faith
NY State has approved the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School. It’s will open this fall in Brooklyn to teach the Hebrew language “and aspects of Jewish culture”. Sponsors want to “instill Jewish identity without the private expense of Jewish day schools,” according to the Jewish Daily Forward.
Jewish Day schools teach religion along with the secular curriculum so this proposal is controversial within the Jewish community. There could be blowback to the new group of 15 unnamed millionaire philanthropists who want to spread this concept nationwide. The Forward writes:
Critics have variously argued that Hebrew language charter schools impermissibly erode church-state boundaries, potentially balkanize Jews from the rest of society, and create a false dichotomy between Jewish religion and culture.”
The Hebrew proposal also comes two years after a similar request for an Arabic-focus public (not charter) school was nearly derailed in 2007 under protests that it would foster Islamic religion and, possibly radical politics. The Khalil Gibran International Academy, also in Brooklyn, opened last year.
Is that possible? Biblical Hebrew is the language of the Torah but modern Hebrew is the language of Israel. Likewise, Classical Arabic is the language of the never-translated Quran but modern Arabic is the language of a minority of Muslims worldwide.
Is this too close to the church-state line are they getting with public funds? If catholic schools taught in Latin, could they get funding?
Where do faith, culture and religion split? Can they? Does it matter?
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January 21st, 2009 on 4:12 am
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April 22nd, 2009 on 6:03 am
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