I don't think it's anti-semitic to say that the Hebrew language is of little interest outside jewish culture. It doesn't have even have that much interest within Jewish culture. Few American Jews speak it, except as part of religious ceremonies.

Latin, on the contrary, is the basis for many of the languages of the modern world, and Chinese and Arabic are spoken widely.

Hebrew is the official language of one very small country - Israel. Arabic is also an official language of Israel and English is widely spoken.

Would the school focus on ancient or modern hebrew, or both? Of what educational value is Hebrew to kids who are not Jewish?

Frankly it sounds like a separation of church and state issue.

Washington Latin does teach Arabic.

Anonymous wrote:Washington Latin doesn't offer immersion Latin...I'd be a bit doubtful as to how this will spin with the charter board; unlike NYC, DC has a fairly limited pool of students who use Hebrew in daily life...

If DC represents one thing to many it is minority rights. DC has been on the forefront of equality. Hebrew, if it promises a top rate program, could be open in '13.

Washington Latin doesn't offer immersion Latin...I'd be a bit doubtful as to how this will spin with the charter board; unlike NYC, DC has a fairly limited pool of students who use hebrew in daily life...

Wasn't the plan at one point for a general Semitic languages school that taught both Hebrew and Arabic? That would have rocked, though I don't know about the advisability of teaching two part-time language immersion experiences at once.

Anyway, I hope this endeavor succeeds and am sorry we'll miss out personally because my kid is now of middle school age.

This has been done elsewhere.

I imagine students attracted to learning Hebrew would also form a strong cohort. Looks like a recipe for success.

Anonymous wrote:I guess if we've got a latin school, why not a hebrew school, right? but I bet they don't teach the RC mass at Latin school.

Will the new charter be teaching the hebrew scriptures?

How about an Arabic school, with no reading from the Koran, of course.

Or a Christian school, not focusing on religion, but rather all the wonderful cultural changes christianity has brought humanity through the ages - music, art, crusades, gingerbread men, the inquisition, the moral majority, tinsel.

All can apply. Jews that lose the lottery at the Hebrew school are especially welcomed.

You're verging on anti-Semitic. Cool it.
Apparently the plan is to focus on Hebrew as a language only. Not on Hebrew as a cultural component of Judaism.
http://www.forward.com/articles/141654/ [although the article reads as though they've already been approved by the charter board - which they have not]

Dang it, this will siphon a bunch of smart kids out of the non-Hebrew charters I was considering. Dang.

I guess if we've got a latin school, why not a hebrew school, right? but I bet they don't teach the RC mass at Latin school.

Will the new charter be teaching the hebrew scriptures?

How about an Arabic school, with no reading from the Koran, of course.

Or a Christian school, not focusing on religion, but rather all the wonderful cultural changes christianity has brought humanity through the ages - music, art, crusades, gingerbread men, the inquisition, the moral majority, tinsel.

All can apply. Jews that lose the lottery at the Hebrew school are especially welcomed.

Sorry, PP here. Found my own answer by going to the Facebook page. A charter has not been granted. They're in the process of preparing their application.

Seriously, though. Has a charter been granted by the PCSB??

Nah. They have chutzpah though.

Have you been granted a charter by the PCSB?

www.facebook.com/pages/DC-Hebrew-Language-Charter-School/220939677930924

DC Hebrew Language Charter School - scheduled to open 2013.
DC Hebrew will be a bilingual Hebrew school serving residents of the District of Columbia. As a public charter school, teaching in both Hebrew and English, the school is the first of its kind in the Washington DC area, and part of a growing movement of schools in the US. The school’s mission will be to provide a nurturing and rigorous academic program that fosters academic excellence, a life-long love of learning, and a high degree of Hebrew language proficiency. Our school will provide students with a sophisticated core curriculum in English Language Arts, mathematics, the sciences, social studies, art, music, technology and physical education. We will incorporate Hebrew instruction across the curriculum using an immersion model. The school will be committed to diversity, community and the development of responsible global citizens. Email: dchebrewcharter@gmail.com