Today more than ever, with dangers lurking outside our doors and unfortunately sometimes inside our schools, our children need the support of these professionals and money spent in this direction is indeed well spent. But don’t forget the strings.
Special Needs
All children need special attention at various times, but special-needs children need even more of it. We must be able to guarantee a yeshiva education to every child, providing differentiated instruction, tutoring and therapies, with the goal of mainstreaming these children socially whenever possible instead of relegating them to disabled classes and schools.
Yes, this costs a whole lot of money, but if the funds become available, it’s imperative to remember those strings! Otherwise, good intentions could end up paying the heating bill – while little Chanie is deprived of the weekly resource-room tutoring she needs – because the money was mismanaged.
Independent Review Board
A regional and/or national board needs to be established to hold yeshivos accountable and serve as a resource for parents. Actually, we need this whether or not funds start pouring in. Parents need someone with no conflicts of interest to speak for them when the school’s response to a problem is unreasonable or unacceptable.
An objective committee would protect children and parents from destructive or abusive behavior on the part of yeshiva administrators, while also protecting teachers, yeshivos and the community at large from false allegations. Having these kinds of professionals to turn to in times of crisis would be a win-win situation for all concerned.
Call it a beis din, an advocacy board, an ombudsman, a mediator, whatever suits you. But please, someone, establish something. Ideally, we should not have to wait for money to attach these strings, but if that is what it takes, then take that opportunity before it passes. Parents are desperate for it and now is the time to do it.
Gedolei hador, Jewish leaders, therapists, educators, mental health professionals, social workers, doctors: We need you. If you are reading this, it is incumbent on you to seize the moment and show true leadership – to demonstrate that you care for the next generations of gedolim. The benefits will be exponential and provide you with the highest interest on your investments.