Sela in Washington City Paper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

SO AGREE WITH THIS. YY students are studying China - and no one has any problem with this (including me as a YY parent, btw). This picking on Sela is so gross. Good luck, Sela, YY families are used to bashing on DCUM, go forth and prosper!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

SO AGREE WITH THIS. YY students are studying China - and no one has any problem with this (including me as a YY parent, btw). This picking on Sela is so gross. Good luck, Sela, YY families are used to bashing on DCUM, go forth and prosper!

Well, I'm glad you're a parent at YY and not a teacher. For you not to understand the difference between studying one of the 2 most commonly spoken languages in the world (and the cultures - note, cultureS - of a country with many different cultures and subcultures that are explored, and NO specific relgious focus) and studying HEBREW (not spoken by a giant % of the world population, and inextricably linked to the Jewish religion) is scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

SO AGREE WITH THIS. YY students are studying China - and no one has any problem with this (including me as a YY parent, btw). This picking on Sela is so gross. Good luck, Sela, YY families are used to bashing on DCUM, go forth and prosper!

^THIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

SO AGREE WITH THIS. YY students are studying China - and no one has any problem with this (including me as a YY parent, btw). This picking on Sela is so gross. Good luck, Sela, YY families are used to bashing on DCUM, go forth and prosper!

Well, I'm glad you're a parent at YY and not a teacher. For you not to understand the difference between studying one of the 2 most commonly spoken languages in the world (and the cultures - note, cultureS - of a country with many different cultures and subcultures that are explored, and NO specific relgious focus) and studying HEBREW (not spoken by a giant % of the world population, and inextricably linked to the Jewish religion) is scary.

+1. Previous pp sounds both well- intentioned and ignorant. I guess the perfect mix for Sela. Good for them...I hope.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Just read the article. While it seems to have been placed as some kind of infomercial, it is scary to read the kind of claims they are making, and the mixed baggage of expectations they are building.

My hope: somehow, it will work, and provide one more options to DC students who need it.

My best guess: it will implode, once conflicting agendas become apparent.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Just wow. It's really sad how people get it so twisted. Infomercial, really? What claims, pray tell are they making? Language learning is important? Learning about other cultures can be beneficial? Hebrew is an interesting, challenging language than can be be a bridge to learning other languages? Sound the alarm! We applied, but ultimately decided to stay at our current school- but not because we had a "mixed bag of expectations" or there was anything "scary" about Sela. Actually, we were really impressed with them. My hope: People would check Sela out themselves before they judge. My best guess, Sela will do just fine and DCUM nasties will continue to unleash their bile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

It's got a population of 7.6 million people. That seems like a pretty decent reason to marginalize the language they speak there, without anything "insidious" going on. Or should there be schools set up to study the culture and language of New Jersey, which has 8.8 million residents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

It's got a population of 7.6 million people. That seems like a pretty decent reason to marginalize the language they speak there, without anything "insidious" going on. Or should there be schools set up to study the culture and language of New Jersey, which has 8.8 million residents?

Really? In a majority-minority population you think it's acceptable to talk about marginalizing people and the languages that they speak? It's a public school set up by DC residents for DC residents. Y'all had an opportunity to oppose them when they were up for charter approval, but in addition to being a bit of a mean girl, you are also a lazy public citizen. Honestly, people who repeatedly regurgitate canards about a school they have never visited or trash Hebrew as a concept, should get the "eff" over it. If their CAS scores are good, blame the Jews. If their CAS scores are bad, you still get to blame the Jews! Win-win!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

It's got a population of 7.6 million people. That seems like a pretty decent reason to marginalize the language they speak there, without anything "insidious" going on. Or should there be schools set up to study the culture and language of New Jersey, which has 8.8 million residents?

Really? In a majority-minority population you think it's acceptable to talk about marginalizing people and the languages that they speak? It's a public school set up by DC residents for DC residents. Y'all had an opportunity to oppose them when they were up for charter approval, but in addition to being a bit of a mean girl, you are also a lazy public citizen. Honestly, people who repeatedly regurgitate canards about a school they have never visited or trash Hebrew as a concept, should get the "eff" over it. If their CAS scores are good, blame the Jews. If their CAS scores are bad, you still get to blame the Jews! Win-win!

Only time will tell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

SO AGREE WITH THIS. YY students are studying China - and no one has any problem with this (including me as a YY parent, btw). This picking on Sela is so gross. Good luck, Sela, YY families are used to bashing on DCUM, go forth and prosper!

YY does not teach religion. I too am a YY parent, please refrain from trying to insert the school in every damn thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

It's got a population of 7.6 million people. That seems like a pretty decent reason to marginalize the language they speak there, without anything "insidious" going on. Or should there be schools set up to study the culture and language of New Jersey, which has 8.8 million residents?

Really? In a majority-minority population you think it's acceptable to talk about marginalizing people and the languages that they speak? It's a public school set up by DC residents for DC residents. Y'all had an opportunity to oppose them when they were up for charter approval, but in addition to being a bit of a mean girl, you are also a lazy public citizen. Honestly, people who repeatedly regurgitate canards about a school they have never visited or trash Hebrew as a concept, should get the "eff" over it. If their CAS scores are good, blame the Jews. If their CAS scores are bad, you still get to blame the Jews! Win-win!

Wow! This is the most offensive post I've seen in a long time, particularly the smiley face emoticon. No matter who "wins" you lose because you're such a snarky jerk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

It's got a population of 7.6 million people. That seems like a pretty decent reason to marginalize the language they speak there, without anything "insidious" going on. Or should there be schools set up to study the culture and language of New Jersey, which has 8.8 million residents?

Really? In a majority-minority population you think it's acceptable to talk about marginalizing people and the languages that they speak? It's a public school set up by DC residents for DC residents. Y'all had an opportunity to oppose them when they were up for charter approval, but in addition to being a bit of a mean girl, you are also a lazy public citizen. Honestly, people who repeatedly regurgitate canards about a school they have never visited or trash Hebrew as a concept, should get the "eff" over it. If their CAS scores are good, blame the Jews. If their CAS scores are bad, you still get to blame the Jews! Win-win!

For what it's worth, I posted the line about the 7.6 million people, and I'm Jewish and read Hebrew (and can even remember how to speak a few phrases and conjugate a few verbs). I don't plan to blame the Jews for anything. But I think conversational Hebrew would be pretty far down my list of languages that it makes sense to devote time to studying. Very few people speak it, worldwide, and even fewer people speak only Hebrew and no other language.

That has nothing to do with whether Sela's charter should have been approved. But the idea that it's somehow anti-Semitic to question the usefulness of Hebrew is a little much.

[Anonymous]

The orientation last night was great. The teachers were very nice and friendly. The student body is very diverse as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a non-Jewish Sela parent and the article had a lot of inaccuracies in it - including about the curriculum. Sela has a completely separate curriculum from the NY school referenced in the article - a curriculum that involves studying the wide variety of ethnic groups (from many faith communities) who make their homes in Israel, and other countries around the world where Hebrew is studied and spoken. Sela is the only charter school in the country that teaches all subjects in both Hebrew and English. As a person of color in the United States, I always find it interesting when people act as if Israelis don't have a culture worth studying, or hyper-focus on social justice issues in Israel as if America and Americans are in any position to judge any country on civil rights issues. If you don't want to send your kids to Sela, fine, but marginalizing cultures, languages, etc. - smacks of something pretty insidious.

It's got a population of 7.6 million people. That seems like a pretty decent reason to marginalize the language they speak there, without anything "insidious" going on. Or should there be schools set up to study the culture and language of New Jersey, which has 8.8 million residents?

Really? In a majority-minority population you think it's acceptable to talk about marginalizing people and the languages that they speak? It's a public school set up by DC residents for DC residents. Y'all had an opportunity to oppose them when they were up for charter approval, but in addition to being a bit of a mean girl, you are also a lazy public citizen. Honestly, people who repeatedly regurgitate canards about a school they have never visited or trash Hebrew as a concept, should get the "eff" over it. If their CAS scores are good, blame the Jews. If their CAS scores are bad, you still get to blame the Jews! Win-win!

For what it's worth, I posted the line about the 7.6 million people, and I'm Jewish and read Hebrew (and can even remember how to speak a few phrases and conjugate a few verbs). I don't plan to blame the Jews for anything. But I think conversational Hebrew would be pretty far down my list of languages that it makes sense to devote time to studying. Very few people speak it, worldwide, and even fewer people speak only Hebrew and no other language.

That has nothing to do with whether Sela's charter should have been approved. But the idea that it's somehow anti-Semitic to question the usefulness of Hebrew is a little much.

Thank you PP! I also found the idea that it's "racist" to question the usefulness of Hebrew as a language to study beyond religious studies or living in Isreal to be a huge stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The orientation last night was great. The teachers were very nice and friendly. The student body is very diverse as well.

It was a nice blend of very experienced and younger teachers and the classrooms were so cheerful. My daughter had a great time.