Posted April 3 2008 by Avi Deutsch
School Closure Will Rob Many Children of Golden Opportunity
I was recently shocked to hear that the Toronto Jewish community turned its back on a vitally integral organization. In sheer ignorance, the so-called leaders of the Jewish community have decided that She’arim Hebrew Day School is no longer needed. One can only conclude that the 70 children needing the most educational help are unimportant to our community. I don’t understand how any reasonable, intelligent person cannot see the importance of a school like She’arim, both to its students and the community as a whole. How can anyone decide which children are more important than others? How can anyone say that higher costs of educating learning disabled children justifies sacrificing them just to save a buck?
We in Toronto are extremely privileged to live in a community possessing the wealth and resources most don’t. However, we show that the concept
‘along with privilege comes responsibility’ eludes us. When I scrutinize, our community I see ludicrous priorities. I see more emphasis put on providing a place for immigrant minorities to play basketball with Jewish kids than on helping our specific community. Lavishing millions of dollars building community centers and the like is ridiculous considering the financial state of our schools and other charities. Some families in our community are unable to buy food for the holidays, or are financially crippled by tuition requirements, yet we can always find money to support the gentile community. There is always Jewish money supporting museums and cultural events but when it comes to supporting our own weak and needy the support falls short.
She’arim has been a valuable asset for over 25 years, helping countless families and individuals. The program She’arim offers is tailor made for children with educational, behavioral and emotional needs that are beyond the scope of a regular school. These children require focused, specialized attention in an environment of acceptance to help them succeed. The void left by She’arim’s closure will rob many children of a golden opportunity to achieve their potential. Is it not our responsibility to ensure that every child is equipped with the tools and skills necessary to achieve success in life?
I am not an educational specialist, nor do I have a child attending She’arim; I have no vested interest other than that of the greater good of the Jewish Community. I view the need for a school like She’arim as an alumnus. I attended She’arim for two and half years, graduating in the class of 1990. I started in She’arim because I was out of options: the day school system had failed me miserably, having done nothing to help me deal with my learning disabilities and the resulting behavioral disabilities. Eighteen years post graduation, I am happily married with four young children, three of whom are enrolled in the Jewish day school system. I own a house, two cars, and hold an upper management position at a large construction company. I actively volunteer in various community charities and am an elected member of the Board of Governors at my synagogue. In fact, all ten graduates from my class are productive members of the Jewish community and society. I know that had I never made the change to She’arim in grade six I would not be where I am today. Every day I utilize skills and techniques I learned at She’arim to help me overcome the severe learning disabilities G-d gave me. I have a learning disability in written communication and comprehension. Thanks to my time at She’arim I acquired skills to overcome this disability and surpass every low expectation I was faced with in the regular day school system.
Now, I am disgusted for the children prepared as a sacrifice to politics and indifference. Without a school to teach these children how to exist in today’s demanding world, I fear many of them will be lost. People assume we can integrate the specialized curriculum into current school systems as a supplement or secondary learning stream, but that is just wishful thinking; the result of an overactive imagination. Children with learning disabilities need specialized classes: small class sizes, caring staff, and programs to give them confidence in their own abilities. These needs will not be met properly in a regular school. Additionally, putting children with learning issues on campus with children who learn in the standard way is just a mistake. Children are mean and will belittle and ridicule anyone who does not fit the mold. How does a child whom the school itself labels as different even have a shot? Self confidence and self worth are the most important values that any child needs to succeed in the world and these students need a place like She’arim to instill those values. To willingly take this away from them is just wrong, immoral, and disgusting. How can we sleep at night knowing that we are throwing away the best chance these kids have to succeed? In addition the consequences are not meted out to the students alone. Parents and siblings will suffer as well which can lead to family trauma and dysfunction. When one child in a family needs more attention than the others and there is no outside source to lean on, the family as a unit suffers. She’arim offers assistance for the entire family dealing with a child’s issues since it truly is a family affair.
She’arim is a school our entire community should be proud of. The children and their families have lost a great asset and ally. It saddens me that we have essentially abandoned some of the most needing and deserving members of our community.
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