Anonymous wrote:
3. To a certain extent is it impossible to altogether seperate language from religion. The standard greeting in Hebrew "Shalom" conveys a greeting with religious overtones. In English, we say "bless you" when someone sneezes - again a common express with religious overtones.

I think this is a good point, but the greeting "Baruch ha-ba'ah" (welcome - literally "blessed is the person who comes") might be a better example, just because "shalom" is not, in my experience used much as a standalone greeting in modern Hebrew. Of course, the standard way of saying "what's up?" is "mah shlomcha" or "how is your shalom?", which comes to the same thing that pp pointed out.

This is a good example of the many, many ways that I don't thing an Arabic/Hebrew charter would work, however cool the concept might be. When I lived in Egypt, I ---- as a Jew ---- routinely greeted my Muslim friends and mixed groups of Copts and Muslims by saying "as-salamu aliekum." I also learned to respond to the daily question about whether I was a Muslim by saying "not yet" rather than "no", and I was invited to come wash and pray multiple times a day at work --- by people I cared about, considered friends and spent a lot of time with. I realize this may sound coercive and unpleasant, but it wasn't, it was just kind of the way things were and it was meant kindly. So... untangling religion, language and culture can be tough.

I think there are at least 6 Hebrew charters across the country, including the two in Florida and New York. Do we know the mix of students at these other schools, too?

could you provide verification of the info about the FL school? A link to an article, perhaps?

There is a successful Hebrew charter school in Hollywood, FL (Ben Gamla Charter School) as well as one in New York. The following issues emerged when the schools opened:

1. Many of the enrollees were NOT Jewish, but drawn from the community. Some parents did cite a "Jewish commitment to education" as a reason for sending their kids to the school.

2. Somewhat ironically, opposition came mainly from other Jews, most of whom were involved with existing, private Hebrew academies.

3. To a certain extent is it impossible to altogether seperate language from religion. The standard greeting in Hebrew "Shalom" conveys a greeting with religious overtones. In English, we say "bless you" when someone sneezes - again a common express with religious overtones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about somebody here starts a thread asking blacks whether they would be interested in a Hebrew school? It wouldn't be scientific, but at least it would be better than the same 2 non-black boosters insisting they would. The fact that nobody has come on this thread to say "I'm black and I'd send my kid" makes me wonder.

You don't understand that polling people by race regarding public schools is far more insulting than anything any charter has proposed to date??

I'm simply stunned at how many ways this school's backers are able to speak on behalf of black people. C'mon, what's the secret of all this confidence?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about somebody here starts a thread asking blacks whether they would be interested in a Hebrew school? It wouldn't be scientific, but at least it would be better than the same 2 non-black boosters insisting they would. The fact that nobody has come on this thread to say "I'm black and I'd send my kid" makes me wonder.

You don't understand that polling people by race regarding public schools is far more insulting than anything any charter has proposed to date??

Huh? Did you just make this up to avoid answering the question?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about somebody here starts a thread asking blacks whether they would be interested in a Hebrew school? It wouldn't be scientific, but at least it would be better than the same 2 non-black boosters insisting they would. The fact that nobody has come on this thread to say "I'm black and I'd send my kid" makes me wonder.

You don't understand that polling people by race regarding public schools is far more insulting than anything any charter has proposed to date??

You mean, as opposed to the several patronizing posts on this thread about the "black-jewish partnership" and how you're just certain blacks will love the charter's concept? You don't find those posts a little patronizing and toe-curling?

Right then. We wouldn't want any actual facts to back up those squeamish-making earlier posts. Although I could suggest a simple solution: poll everybody, of all races and religions, and ask respondents to identify whether or not they're jewish. At least this would tell you something about the non-jewish market in general, with the caveat again that it would be non-scientific.

Anonymous wrote:How about somebody here starts a thread asking blacks whether they would be interested in a Hebrew school? It wouldn't be scientific, but at least it would be better than the same 2 non-black boosters insisting they would. The fact that nobody has come on this thread to say "I'm black and I'd send my kid" makes me wonder.

You don't understand that polling people by race regarding public schools is far more insulting than anything any charter has proposed to date??

Anonymous wrote:How about somebody here starts a thread asking blacks whether they would be interested in a Hebrew school? It wouldn't be scientific, but at least it would be better than the same 2 non-black boosters insisting they would. The fact that nobody has come on this thread to say "I'm black and I'd send my kid" makes me wonder.

and if they come on now, as a result of this post, I'll wonder if they are authentic.

Sorry - but it's too easy for charter organizers to troll here.

How about somebody here starts a thread asking blacks whether they would be interested in a Hebrew school? It wouldn't be scientific, but at least it would be better than the same 2 non-black boosters insisting they would. The fact that nobody has come on this thread to say "I'm black and I'd send my kid" makes me wonder.

Anonymous wrote:upper 16th street is saturated with schools...Shepherd elementary is a busy place
Lowell has had a fight with neighbors in terms of renovations/expansion, the Jewish Primary Day school has had issues expanding and just bought one of the buildings Latin is using
though the ethical society building is unoccupied now, that won't fit a decent size school...As someone who has to fight that traffic, I'm hoping for a different location, if it gets through the board...

Where does one start to assume that this school would be located in upper 16th street? And Upper 16th Street is Ward 4, not Ward 3.

You all get so ahead of yourselves.

First, this DC Hebrew Public Charter (not Washington Hebrew, which is the name of a Reform Synagogue on Macomb Street NW) would need to be approved. Who knows how many full applications will be submitted and who knows how many charters will be accepted.

Next, it would need to find an affordable, accessible location. Just this summer, Inspired Teaching (within weeks) changed locations from it's first potential school (former Rudolph Elementary) at Hamilton & 1st Street NW (Ward 4) to 8th and Varnum NE (Ward 5) because the Rudolph building wasn't suitable (apparently it needed a lot more renovation than initially thought). It still doesn't know where it will be next year. Good buildings, accessible location, and a central site are hard to find. A start-up charter will have a hard time affording rents in Ward 3. Chances are: this school would end up in downtown close to where many young Jewish families live.

Third, look at this map of DC charters. Not a SINGLE public charter school exists in Ward 3 or technically, really, "West of the Park" - from Silver Spring all the way down to Foggy Bottom. A search for a charter in Ward 3 reveals no schools.
http://www.dcpubliccharter.com/SearchSchools.aspx

Sit tight. Let's see what happens in April.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dispute the assumption that a Hebrew immersion school is only appealing to Jewish parents (and I'm not even touching the assumptions that these Jewish parents are wealthy, or where they live). I think we still have an incredible dearth of good school options, so if the school is well-run & appealing for other reasons, parents of all backgrounds will still be interested sending their kids there (even if it is their second, third or fifth choice).

There are also some parents (me included!) who think that bilingual education is good in & of iteslf, so if I don't get my top-choice language, another program is nearly as valuable.

Agreed.

Also agree. The founders will need to be really clear that it's a bilingual school first and foremost. But as we can see in this thread, race, class, culture, and politics will be a much bigger issue in the District than in a place like New York. IMHO

There is a such a huge demand for high quality early childhood education in DC at all price points. If the charter was for preschool/pre-k only and located on green or red line metro, they'd get approved in a heartbeat.

There are plenty of non-Jews at Jewish run preschools as it is. Lots of people in DC will apply to preschool charters sight unseen. Especially if they only need a pre-K "bridge year" while waiting for their inboundary K seat. if they don't get into on lottery, but plan to go in-bounds for K.

But beyond K, I don't see how Hebrew as a target language would attract and retain enough families of any kind to sustain a full-fledged elementary or prek-8.

Nothing against Hebrew per se. (I'm Jewish.) I know from experience that it's really difficult to get the benefits of bilingualism if you only speak a target language at school and don't have readily available practice opportunities. Even simple stuff like ethnic restaurant menus can make a language interesting or entertaining enough to keep practicing.

But blacks on 16th street have the same charter and private school options as blacks in Brookland, so adding new zip codes to our list doesn't change the basic problem. Latin PCS is right there on 16th for middle school kids. To the poster who wants to sell this as a great 3rd or 5th choice for blacks, do you really want a group of kids in your school who are there because they have no other options? That doesn't sound like a good marketing plan to me.

Anonymous wrote:I dispute the assumption that a Hebrew immersion school is only appealing to Jewish parents (and I'm not even touching the assumptions that these Jewish parents are wealthy, or where they live). I think we still have an incredible dearth of good school options, so if the school is well-run & appealing for other reasons, parents of all backgrounds will still be interested sending their kids there (even if it is their second, third or fifth choice).

There are also some parents (me included!) who think that bilingual education is good in & of iteslf, so if I don't get my top-choice language, another program is nearly as valuable.

Agreed.

upper 16th street is saturated with schools...Shepherd elementary is a busy place
Lowell has had a fight with neighbors in terms of renovations/expansion, the Jewish Primary Day school has had issues expanding and just bought one of the buildings Latin is using
though the ethical society building is unoccupied now, that won't fit a decent size school...As someone who has to fight that traffic, I'm hoping for a different location, if it gets through the board...