Last Monday, Agudath Israel’s Government Affairs Division announced the winners of its School Choice Essay Contest. Over 3000 applications were distributed and 17 schools in five states participated in the contest.
“School choice programs have the potential to dramatically reduce the tuition burden our families are facing. This essay contest not only awarded deserving, talented young writers, but also raised awareness of Agudath Israel’s efforts on behalf of this worthy issue,” said Rabbi Dovid Schnell, President of Agudath Israel of Illinois.
The winners, from schools in four different states, most articulately shared why school choice programs – including scholarship tax credit programs and education vouchers – can benefit the Jewish community. This contest is part of Agudath Israel’s effort to promote the benefits of school choice programs to Orthodox communities across the country.
With programs currently in effect in 11 states and Washington DC, school choice has benefitted thousands of families, providing tuition relief and enabling parents to choose the best education for their child, regardless of financial considerations.
“We are proud to partner with Agudath Israel to promote school choice and offer the winners our congratulations,” said Andrew Campanella, spokesman for the Alliance for School Choice. “This contest is just another example of Agudath Israel’s commitment to finding common-sense solutions for the rising cost of a quality education.”
Agudath Israel offers its warmest congratulations to the winners, their families, and their schools.
The High School Division (Grades 9-12) winners are:
Grand Prize: Hannah Dreyfus, New Haven, CT, 12th grade, Bruriah High School, Elizabeth, NJ
1st Place: Joseph Rubin, Lincolnwood, IL, 9th grade, Fasman Yeshiva High School, Skokie, IL
2nd Place: Nechama Saltzman, Milwaukee, WI, 11th grade, Torah Academy of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
The Elementary School Division (Grades 4-8) winners are:
Grand Prize: Andy Frederick, Houston, TX, 8th grade, The Emery/Weiner School, Houston, TX
1st Place: Zahava Schuman, Chicago, IL, 5th grade, Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov, Chicago, IL
2nd Place: Aharon Dovid Soloveitchik, Lakewood, NJ, 6th grade, Lakewood Cheder, Lakewood, NJ
The grand prize winner in the High School Division will receive one year of tuition at an Orthodox school and the grand prize winner in the Elementary School Division will receive a camp scholarship. The first and second place winners in both divisions will receive savings bonds in the amount of $1,000 and $500, respectively.
“It was absolutely heartwarming to read the beautiful essays that were submitted,” said Agudath Israel National Director of Government affairs, Rabbi Yehiel Kalish. “Each one spoke honestly and seriously about the great need for tuition relief for our families. These essays, and the dialogue created by the contest, will only enhance Agudath Israel’s efforts on behalf of Jewish families across the nation.”
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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9 Responses
wait, so American taxpayers should pay for Jewish children to go to school. But not for them to have healthcare. Got it.
Since Jewish parents are already paying for non-Jewish children to go to school, I’d say it’s about fair to have everyone pay for everyone’s children to go to school, to the school of their choice.
Now, how is that related to healthcare again?
Weak argument. Jewish parents are paying to live in a society where education is a basic right for everyon. If you need specialized education, that’s great for you. If you want the taxpayers to subsidize your specialized education, at least have the decency to be consistent and support living in a society where healthcare is a basic right one.
It’s like if the healthcare initiative goes into effect and then frum people decide that not only should society pay for healthcare, but also they should pay for everyone who wants a frum doctor to have one.
#1 – Firstly, Jews throughout the US of A pay real estate taxes in order to pay for
text books and other educational tools. Therefore, to not receive these would amount to taxation without representation.
Secondly, the constitution mandates free and equal education for all citizens. This requires our government to provide us the same programs (e.g. special education, etc.) as all other citizens receive.
The groundwork for all this was laid jointly by Rabbi Moshe Sherer z”l and the heads of
various other private and religious institutions. The “yellow buses” and student “metro cards” that NY City residents use are the direct result of these efforts. Title I and mandated services are
other benefits gained.
To add new taxes for a program that will not provide better health care and will
likely put many others in a position where they will need the program, where before they paid their own way, just doesn’t
make sense.
Hey shuali,
As for your first argument, real estate taxes go to a variety of services which frum Jews may or may not use in that particular year. One service that we always use is the privilege of living in community where other citizens are given the basics of education, no matter what their ability to pay may be. Oh, also, if you live in an apartment, you don’t pay real estate tax. How many frum Jews do you think that applies to?
Also, shuali, if you can point me in the direction of that constitutionally-mandated free and equal education clause, that would be so great. I think our con-law professor managed to miss that one.
Mandy: People living in apartments absolutely pay real estate taxes. It is just hidden a bit by being built into the rent. Also, if there is no “constitutionally-mandated free and equal education clause” then why does so much of our money already go there?
Mandy: See Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka – a landmark decision of the US
Supreme Court which declared segregation of public schools was unconstitutional as they were ruled in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Ammendment of the US Constitution.
The broad effects of this decision were the basis for many of the programs day schools and Yeshivos throughout the country benefit from.
The constitution does not mandate free and equal education for anyone. That’s why you can’t find the clause to that effect, Shuali. Cause it isn’t there.
Brown was about discrimination. Just like if better quality national healthcare will be provided to white people, the courts will outlaw that as well. And healthcare is not mandated in the constitution. It is exclusively a state & local issue.
I don’t even understand the hidden real-estate taxes argument. Do you know how taxes work? Do you think your landlord sets aside part of your rent to send to the local school board? Your landlord pays the same property taxes on the land regardless of how much he charges each individual renter…
Mandy: When the child came running to his Rebbe screaming, “Rebbe, Chaim wants to hit me, Chaim wants to hit me,” the Rebbe asked, “how do you know?”
Chaim replied, “because he just did.”
Mandy, I know the constitutionality of “free and equal” exists because it has been the basis of numerous acts of legislation that have provided many New Yorkers and citizens throughout the United States with services such as speech therapy, tutors, special education, occupational and physical therapy, subsidized transportation, text books, computer equipment, etc.