I would like to express my concern regarding the current approach to chinuch in Bais Yaakov schools. It seems that the focus has shifted from cultivating a genuine love and passion for Yiddishkeit to transforming these subjects into academic exercises. For many students, this learning feels like just another subject, burdened with challenging tests and heavy memorization. Unfortunately, once they graduate high school, many girls lose interest in continuing to cultivate their connection to Torah and mitzvos.
In contrast, yeshiva high schools for boys take a very different approach. The emphasis is on fostering a love for Torah, encouraging students to internalize the teachings. This often leads to a deep, lasting connection, as evidence by the many boys who choose to spend years learning in Israel before and after marriage. It raises the question: Why aren’t Bais Yaakov schools inspiring the same passion in girls?
The issue seems to lie in prioritizing academic achievement over spiritual growth. While academic success is certainly important, the pressure to excel in tests often overshadows the true goal—building a personal and lasting connection to Torah and mitzvos.
I believe it’s time to consider a shift in focus. Can we explore ways to reduce the pressure of exams and instead emphasize personal growth? Experiential learning, mentorship programs, and promoting post-high school Torah study opportunities could help create a more meaningful experience for students.
This is an important conversation for the future of Jewish education, and I would appreciate people’s thoughts on how we can foster positive change.
Sincerely,
C.P.
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10 Responses
It doesn’t even count as academics.
“Rote learning prioritizes recalling facts or details instead of understanding concepts or applying critical thinking skills. While it may be useful to memorize information in some instances, using this approach too often may lead to students having a lack of ability to think critically or to problem-solve.”
I would say this isn’t a “Beis Yaakov” problem. This is a problem in a handful of schools in a handful of communities.
That being said, in the days of “old” there were many girls who lost interest in “cultivating their genuine love for Yiddishe-keit” because they received too intense of a yiddishe education in school….again, not a “Beis Yaakov” probablem – a handful of schools in a handful of communities.
The ideal solution is….wait for it, hope you are sitting down…… BALANCE!
Many have unfortunately swung the pendulum too far. IYH on the next swing, it will stop at a happy medium as opposed to swing back to the extreme again.
👏👏👏 the whole Jewish education system, in search of excellence, sacrifices the childhood of our precious children on the alter. Children need more time to run, play, explore, and just be. It is with a heavy heart that I will be sending my 5 year old to sit in a desk in primary this coming year.
Agree with this. There needs to be more emphasis on hashkafa… less stringency when it comes to academics.
This sums up the truth of the frum school system today. Unfortunately frum schools think their primary focus should be to teach shtissim and cause tremendous pressure and angst for so many students and this is for subjects that are of no practical use to the students. Years ago the schools focused on teaching what is the ikkur of for Jewish daughter, today it’s about “education”. The only thing they should teach more of is hashkafah and to fluently speak and write loshen kodesh. Loshon kodesh should not be taught by bland repeated memorization, only by interactive measures(as should all studies be taughtbin such a manner), by reading stories and having discussions in loshen kodesh.
As a parent of Beis Yaakov girls, I couldn’t agree more. I don’t think this is exactly what Sarah Shenirer (and the Gedolim who backed her) had in mind. The Beis Yaakov system may be educating our girls, but is it cultivating in them a love of Yidishkeit?
From reading up about Sarah Shenirer and how she taught, I get a different picture from what we see today. Students of Sarah Shenirer describe how she cultivated in them a deep love and appreciation for Torah and Mitzvos.
And I now wonder: Did Shenirer give tests? If she did, were they similar to the tests our Beis Yaakovs give today? Were there report cards? How has the system changed over the years? Anyone with more information about this, please share….
As a parent of four Bais Yaakov girls, I can unequivocally state that this writer is misinformed and spewing utter nonsense. His writing is fiction.
I completely disagree.
As a Bais Yaakov graduate, I remember how many teachers were eager to turn their class into a “hashkafa class,” no matter the actual subject they taught. This was great for cultivating passion, along with official hashkafa classes, meaningful conversations with teachers and peers, yemei iyun, and the like.
However, it came at the expense of my actual education. I wish I had learned more in school, particularly halacha. Hashkafa and passion for yiddishkeit can and should be mainly cultivated at home. Our daughters should be receiving an education that will serve them well in life.
This means we should focus MORE on knowledge and “academics.” We need MORE rigorous testing in halacha. MORE intellectually AND spiritually stimulating text based classes. MORE analytical skills.
I went to Bais Yaakov of Baltimore as an out of town student. We didn’t have a high school then in our community. The education I received there was exemplary– we were taught love of Torah and our fellow humans. We were taught respect for the animal kingdom. Our teachers taught not only our subjects in Chumash, Navi, Tehillim, Ivris, Historia ( and how world history affected Jews)but by action as well.Our principal was very makpid in not embarrassing any of us ever–certainly not in front of another student, teacher or staff member. We were never addressed by our first names–always Miss Ploni. Our Bikkur Cholim and Chesed activities were voluntary–not a mandatory “subject” reported to the school for their report cards as are most of the Bais Yaakov type schools in Brooklyn (it appalled me to hear that when I first moved to Brooklyn from out of town). I think that more stress need to be focused on the above rather than focusing solely on subjects. Of course we need both, but the intensity on learning seems to make the student forget how to be a mench as well. Yiddishkeit without menchlechkeit in narishkeit. Let’s have an education of everything. The above should also be for the boys yeshivas as well.
After seeing more posts and re-thinking this topic, I think we can’t generalize too much here. My real “gripe” is with the secular studies – particularly in High School. The subjects being taught will most probably not help earn any parnassah – so why does my daughter need to cry that she is having final exams for 2 months straight 3 or 4 tests a week? Why does she need to be up all hours of the night studying and then get down on herself for not getting a top grade? What’s the point of all this!? My experience is in Eretz Yisroel, don’t know of Chutz La’aretz is different…