NYC Mayoral Candidate Andrew Yang caused a firestorm on Thursday, when he made comments in favor of Yeshiva education in New York City.
Taking questions over Zoom for the “New York Jewish Agenda”, the candidate was asked about Yeshiva education which has been under attack for the past few years.
The following is his response:
“When I looked at the Yeshiva question, the first thing I wanted to see, was what were the outcomes. What is the data. I don’t think we should be prescribing our curriculum, unless the curriculum can be demonstrated to have improved impact on people’s career trajectories and prospects afterwards”, Yang said.
“If the school is delivering the same outcomes, I do not think that we should be prescribing rigid curriculum. And I will also say that when I was in public school, we studied the Bible for a month. Bible is literature. If it was good enough for my public school, I do not see why we are somehow prioritizing secular (education) over faith-based learning.”
Following his remarks, social media exploded from the usual suspects such Naftali Moster – who works day and night to destroy the Yeshiva system – and others. But one person, NY Times reporter Eliza Shapiro, who covers NY schools, tweeted “Just can’t overstate how remarkable it is that Yang is saying this. There is evidence that boys are graduating from Hasidic yeshivas unable to read, write or in some cases speak English. And Yang is saying – fine with him.”
It seems Shaprio has turned from reporter to pundit.
Many elected officials immediately tweeted their responses to angry social media accounts that blasted Yang.
NYC Councilman Kalman Yeger tweeted “NY Times’ “education reporter” lying about yeshivas. As usual.”
NY Times' "education reporter" lying about yeshivas. As usual. https://t.co/PLBaNtv76L
— Kalman Yeger (@KalmanYeger) February 18, 2021
NYC Councilman Chaim Deutsch responded to Ben Max of the Gotham Gazette and wrote “This is exactly right. The Talmud, for example, is basically several textbooks full of legal, mathematical, & moral lessons. There is no secular equivalent to religious studies. Yeshiva students split their days between Talmud & secular studies. A good balance.”
This is exactly right. The Talmud, for example, is basically several textbooks full of legal, mathematical, & moral lessons. There is no secular equivalent to religious studies.
Yeshiva students split their days between Talmud & secular studies. A good balance.
👏 @AndrewYang https://t.co/c2yP2uTRAD
— Chaim Deutsch (@ChaimDeutsch) February 18, 2021
NY State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein tweeted “Journalist or pundit??? Some public school kids struggle too. The fact remains, overall yeshiva outcomes are spectacular! Despite the fact that *some* in the media have made it their mission to attack the yeshiva community.”
Journalist or pundit???
Some public school kids struggle too. The fact remains, overall yeshiva outcomes are spectacular! Despite the fact that *some* in the media have made it their mission to attack the yeshiva community. https://t.co/6UlDOLX3Fp
— Simcha Eichenstein (@SEichenstein) February 18, 2021
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12 Responses
Let’s be real. He likes the Yeshiva system because it is private and isn’t as much of a drain on public funds as public schools. That’s all. Let the silly jews pay sky high taxes and pay their own k-12 tuition too. Great deal for every city with private schools
Fluent in English or not, Ms. Shapiro, what is the crime rate within Yeshiva student graduates vs. Public school graduates? Does any yeshiva need constant police presents due to crimes done in school like the public school system? How many Yeshiva graduates are married with one wife for their entire life vs. public school grads??? Ms. Shapiro, look your self in the mirror before telling us how to educate our kids!!
It is important for both sides to stick to the truth. Its true many yeshivas do not teach any secular studies and many yeshiva graduates from closed chassideahe communities don’t speak proper English. But even that is a bad argument. They live fine lives and get fine jobs without proper English. Way better than a lot of “highly educated educated” liberals who get their doctorats in gender studies and the like.
basically he’s saying he’s a statues quo democrat ready to do pay for play.
but he’s still a nut job
We have idiots in the media graduating not being able to speak, read, or write the truth.
And you would think that everyone attending public school is a total genius.
I am just here for the comments.
The Yeshiva student body does, on average, better academically than the NYC public school student body.
If public school education outcomes for the entire public school population is the standard, and Yang’s facts are correct (which is possible, even if he is a politician and political candidate), the Yeshiva education is sufficient. But how does Yeshiva education compare with the secular education outcomes of Jewish students in public schools? I don’t know, but I think that is a more meaningful comparison. The public schools have lots of challenged students – challenged by poverty, by uneducated parents, by dangerous neighborhoods. I think yeshiva education should be compared to a higher standard.
When you write Naftali Mosters name you should write is Naftali MONSTER. Rush Limbaugh did that all the time when he would want to put down/ discredit the Left.
Here’s an unpleasant fact for you….
Many of ultra-orthodox yeshivah graduates CANNOT READ OR WRITE ENGLISH, and many can barely speak it!
What percentage of PS graduates go on to become doctors and lawyers?
What percentage of PS graduates go on to become electricians and plumbers?
What percentage of PS graduates go on to become owners of their own businesses?
What percentage of PS graduates go on to become real estate and insurance brokers?
Bankers?
Builders?
Archetects?
Accountants?
And now compare to Yeshivah graduates!
Huju, why should yeshivos be held to a “higher” standard than the public schools? By what right can the government be able to demand better performance from yeshivos than it does from its own schools? That the yeshivos have better material to work with is irrelevant; that better material should be used for Torah, not for shtus. Cheilach le’oraisa. We have limudei chol to satisfy the government’s demands, and so long as we satisfy those minimally the government has no right to demand more. It is entitled to our ziboris, not to our iddis.