"We will not allow any inroad to our pure chinuch which is accountable only to the authority of our Torah leadership."
These were the words of rabbonim and men of chinuch in response to the expected decrees on the government agenda, as reported on Monday, by which the budgets of chareidi educational institutions will be cut off unless they introduce the Core Curriculum (Liba) and government examinations. The government's reply to the Supreme Court plea was presented last week following a provocative petition of the Reform and Conservative movements, where it was reported that the Education Ministry intends to force the Core Curriculum and also government exams upon the chareidi educational system by imposing sanctions on their institutions if they fail to institute the changes.
In addition to the legislation in the Law of Arrangements which was discussed in Yated on Monday at length, the government's reply to the Supreme Court was also published announcing that all schools and chadorim in the government recognized (but not official) school network [Chinuch Mukar] and the other institutions of petur will be required to introduce three basic subjects: English, mathematics and the Hebrew or Arabic language with the full 100% required hours for these subjects within the same framework as that of the secular elementary school system. The changes are meant to be introduced gradually in the coming school year, from 5774 till 5777. The other subjects will be introduced at only 75% in the recognized stream, and 55% in the Ptur institutions but all of them, with no exception (including chadorim etc.) will be required to take the Meitzav and international exams just like the students in the secular government schools.
In reaction to these confrontational words and the government's attempt to force its curricula upon chareidi education, the rabbonim and men of chinuch declared, "the pure form of chinuch will succeed in flourishing and growing in the coming years and no tolerance will be given to any intrusion or tampering with the apple of loyal Judaism's eye which is answerable only to the authority of our Torah leadership. We will stand staunchly and courageously on guard for our pure educational sovereignty without fearing threats or succumbing to the enticements in the guise of concern. We will not allow Greek culture to penetrate our sacred education because we have a weighty and fateful responsibility resting upon us to continue our heritage and the tradition transmitted from our fathers and rabbis without any modification whatsoever."
