Hebrew Language Academy Charter School

Has anyone heard of this school? I received some info in the mail from them today, and have been seeing flyers posted about them all over dd's daycare building.

My kids aren't old enough yet so it's really a moot point, but I wish a charter school was a viable option for us. Obviously there's no religious education there but I would love to find a way to send my kids to such a school and supplement their religious education after school. AFAIK however, no programs like this exist.

With so many people struggling financially and complaining about tuition rates, it would be a great thing if enough parents would take the plunge to send to a charter school and organize a successful after school religious supplement.

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 22 2004 Posts: 9754

It would never work because you would have to be willing to send your kids to a school with a very diverse student body which is really no different than a good public school, which has always been an option. The "Hebrew Language" element is really moot.
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Posted: Mon, Mar 23 2009, 5:41 pm Post subject:

A diverse student body is not an issue to me. I also don't think the hebrew language element is moot, as that's one less subject traditionally studied in jewish schools that would have to be undertaken privately.

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 22 2004 Posts: 9754

So then why not send your kids to public school and just add another Hebrew language component as an after school subject? I don't really see why one would not just send their kids to public school already if they have no objections to the public school environment.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 26 2008 Posts: 2096

My issue with charter schools is that they are not allowed to integrate judaic and secular studies. So when your kids are learning about ancient Rome, the teacher is not allowed to mention the Beis Hamikdash and the Churban.

Also, the school would not be allowed to have teachers lead benching during lunch, or have davening in the morning AND afternoon (bc charter schools basically split the school day into secular, and jewish. so if you want to daven, learn, bench, etc, you can only do it during half the day)

It seems like it would be a good solution though. In Europe, schools are not as expensive, because the country pays for secular studies and your tuition only covers judaic studies and food, which I believe doesn't add up to more than 2.5 or 3K a year (for High school!!) But in Europe they don't have all the separation of church and state meshigas.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 26 2006 Posts: 4316

Executive Member Joined: May 26 2006 Posts: 415

I live near Ben Gamla which is a Hebrew language charter school here in south florida. The crowd is 80% Jewish Israeli and although it is still building itself and its reputation (it is in its second academic year) it is a nice option for parents who cannot pay for private school, would not be in a Yeshiva system and would otherwise be in public school. A local Chabad rabbi organizes prayers for the students before school and they rent the campus to offer below cost Hebrew school on campus immediately following school which ends earlyish (public school schedule). The parents are getting a pretty good deal in that most although not all, of the kids are Jewish and it is completely free of charge.
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Gold Member Joined: Jul 26 2008 Posts: 2096