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Imposing curriculum on our yeshivot threatens religious freedom

Think the argument for imposing curriculum on Charedi children is a slam dunk? Think again

July 8, 2022 09:25
NK-school
3 min read

The Schools Bill has been attracting a lot of attention. Tighter regulations would remove a current “loophole” whereby Charedi children at 13 move to a “yeshivah katanah” where they study a curriculum wholly focused on engaging with Jewish texts.

The Bill would bring these schools under the remit of government regulation and require them to teach a more balanced curriculum, including secular subjects. There has been significant opposition from the Charedi community with demonstrations, rallies and a petition. Coverage has seemed universally in support of this legislation — bemoaning the uneducated masses of Charedi Jews claiming benefits and generally putting the rest of us in a bad light.

From the Chief Rabbi and Board of Deputies, despite their pronouncements that, given changing demographics, they need to represent the whole spectrum of Orthodox Judaism, there has been no comment.

Surely this is a slam dunk, and every child in England must be educated to a “minimum” standard in maths and English and be prepared for life in “modern Britain”? Surely it must be right to give everyone the tools to participate in the economic life of the country? Surely people should have the tools to be able to easily leave religious communities such as Charedi Judaism? All obvious points surely for any Western democracy?

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Schools