Too much to say, and afraid I will make the kind of generalizations that I will regret. Nevertheless
1. Don’t confuse the actions and attitudes of an individual or even many individuals with the feelings or actions of all. HKBH was prepared to save Sdom for even a tiny minority of righteous people, if they could be found. L’havdil, there are (I think and hope) only a minority in the Chareidi community who would justify this action.
2. That said, if even one child is treated this way it is a wrong that must be fixed. If the schools involved receive state funds, that should be leverage enough to encourage these heartless individuals to relent.
3. Yekke2, if, as you say, they look down on you, then they have no need to speak to you in a superior fashion. The look says all that is needed.
4. I am an individual with some learning, a family and lineage to be proud of, a job where I get to work for the benefit of Am Yisroel every day, and I DON’T EVEN HOLD A CANDLE TO THE UNLEARNED MILDLY OBSERVANT MENIAL WORKER WHO DOES CHESED AND GIVES TZEDOKOH IN THE MOST BASIC WAYS WITH LOVE EVERY DAY, WEEK, OR MONTH. I am humbled by the humility and gentle nature of these many tzadikim and tzidkaniyos who rarely hear a shiur or learn bechavrusah because they are working three jobs to sustain their family, but they still have time and a few dollars to bring groceries and some companionship to the lonely, immobile widow in the apartment above theirs.
That’s who I look up to.
5. Yekke2, you think it is not unfair to deny these kids a place in these schools. I think it IS unfair, but not as much to the excluded kids but rather to the rest of the talmidim in the school who will never benefit from their friendship, never have the opportunity to hear a Torah insight from them, never have the hashpooh they could bring to other talmidim to do chesed, to learn more, to be responsible participants in their community and society. The Principal is not a Novi, and cant foresee the greatness he might be excluding.
6. Lilmod, you say “People do it because they feel it is important and they are willing to sacrifice for Am Yisrael.” Yes, you may be right. And their sacrifice is indeed immense. Why, though, does doing it because “they feel” it is right become a standard for others?
7. All of these points didn’t even address the issue with Sefardi children. All I will say is that those children deserve to be in a school whose hanhala is on a higher madrega than this one.