In an effort to create a universally accepted standard for today’s Bas Chabad, Lubavitch girls’ high school administrators across North America have joined forces in creating a uniform set of standards for Bnos Chabad, to be instituted collaboratively during the coming months.
Schools Join in Raising Chabad Girls to Higher Standard
In an effort to create a universally accepted standard for today’s Bas Chabad, Lubavitch girls’ high school administrators across North America have joined forces in creating a uniform set of standards for Bnos Chabad, to be instituted collaboratively during the coming months.
For the past year and a half, the Merkos Chinuch Office – the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch – has encouraged principals of girls’ high schools to work cooperatively on this initiative. Together they have formulated a uniform policy that will require the adherence of every student. On Sunday, February 7th, administrators converged in Crown Heights to sign the final document and discuss various methods of integrating the system into their establishments.
Educators from an estimated fifteen girl’s high schools, as well as Rabbonim from most major Lubavitch communities, were instrumental in developing the universal standards for Bnos Chabad, indicating their commitment to uphold a model of behavior that will lead to a greater refinement of the talmidos. Each school will design its unique process of introducing the long-awaited standards of behavior. This will be done in a manner that will best accommodate the needs of the student body, as well as each student individually.
“These should be seen as expectations, not restrictions,” related Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, director of the Merkos Chinuch Office. “Mechanchim and Mechanchos are determined to raise the standard of the Bas Chabad in every educational institution.” He added, “Thus, the new ‘Standards for Bnos Chabad’ consist of regulations that encompass a student’s decorum both in school and at home, with regard to public image, dress, media, and social behavior.”
Students will be expected to behave in a refined manner with regard to the Internet, for example. While the religious world is struggling to limit the spread of Internet use, administrators acknowledged that calling for a ban on the Internet would not be an option for most families. On the other hand, administrators said they feel that banning Facebook for teens is essential in raising standards of Tznius, which they feel should extend beyond school uniforms or school hours. The code of conduct calls on Bnos Chabad to be proud of who they are and always cognizant of what they represent.
First on the agenda in most schools is a plan for a vigorous parental education program. Once parents are on-board with the new standards and their implementation, administrators will begin to incorporate the regulations with special attention to each student individually. Each school will develop its own approach together with the involvement of every student. The collective idea is that with the use of creative approaches, the universal standards will be met with enthusiasm.
The principal of Bais Rivkah High School in Crown Heights, Mrs. Shana Tiechtel, explained that only once all students, parents, teachers, and administration understand the importance of growth, and of what halacha and the Rebbe expect of Lubavitch women, will the code of conduct be put into play. “The time has come for there to be a radical improvement in the approach to kol kevuda bas melech penima – the entire honor of a princess is from within,” Mrs. Tiechtel declared. “These regulations are not meant to be a burden or to undermine us as women and girls,” stressed Mrs. Tiechtel. “Rather, these standards are a privilege, giving us a unique role, and making us more beautiful.”
Mrs. Tiechtel recalled the words that Rabbi Hodakov, the Rebbe’s secretary, told her when she first took her position within the Bais Rivkah administration: The key to any project’s success is that there be shalom – from the word shlaimus, completion. For, just as every puzzle piece must be in its proper place for a puzzle to be complete, each party involved in this Chinuch initiative must be focused on joint objectives.
These objectives will be addressed in farbrengen-style meetings, where students and educators will discuss and share their points of view, with the goal being to hone an appreciation for personal refinement.
“It is important that all talmidos understand what the standard requirements are for Lubavitch mosdos, so that when applying to schools, they know what is expected of them both on and off school grounds,” explained Rabbi Dovid Chaim Kagan, principal of Bais Chaya Mushka in Monsey, New York, who was key in moving this project forward. The principal reiterated that although all mainstream girls’ schools have accepted the basic standards, the education process of students and parents, as well as the reinforcement and disciplinary systems, will vary according to each individual school and its students’ needs.
It is the stated hope of the Merkos Chinuch Office and administrators of Lubavitch institutions that through the sensitive integration of the principles that have been established, this generation of Lubavitch girls will have an acute awareness and appreciation of Yiddishkeit, and be proud representatives of Bnos Chabad.
Hope
I really and truly wish them success and hope they understand the importance of how they approached the students, making sure that they don’t feel like more ‘restrictions’ are placed upon them or that their are being ‘policed’.
Much Hatzlacha!
former Bais Rivkah parent
Excellent idea! The fact that 15 schools are adopting this policy will make each school feel part of a bigger picture. I hope that will also reinforce a feeling of Achdus & that Chassidim are truly ein Mishpacha…no matter where our girls go to school, they are all one. These “social networking sites” are totally inappropriate for our children. Parents are so naive as to what goes on on these sites.
I wish I still had girls in Bais Rivkah. I’d be very involved with these goals.
Send them home!
“a universally accepted standard for today’s Bas Chabad,” — what?!
“long-awaited standards of behavior” — gimme a break.
This is all part of the problem!
Appalled
I hope good common basic manners,such as the way one human treats another human will be taught, the BEHAVIOR of young people in this community is shameful, they are rude and arrogant, and lack all manner of social skills, at least this is what I have experienced, I would never ever invite friends from outside this community to visit me here. I can not believe this is the Rebbe’s community and these are the people and young people who represent his teachings……forget about being a representative for Hashem and a light to the nations.
Mother of high school daughters
It’s about times schools take a lead here. Right now, girls are in charge, not the administration- like having kids run the home, because the parents can’t discipline them.
Look to the rest of the frum world- they have standards and are able to mechanech their students in the standards.
Which schools are involved?
great idea
the key is parental involvement. sounds well thought out. wish lots of success!
Realist
Come on do you really think banning social netoworking sites is gonna get these girls off these site. All it is gonna do is make your kids lie to you and put a fake name on these sites, thus making it harder to monitor. If you really have concerns about it talk to your kid and monitor your computer history.
By the way dont think that i dont know what i am talking about, i do because i am a Jewish teen and those things i warned of above are things that i have seen happen with other teens that i know
alumniette
the first step to a higher level of learning is RESPECT AND POSITIVITY.
Ask the girls what they feel they need
wishful thinking
if they think this is going to help….. the only way is to INSPIRE people to raise their standards themselves. you cant force people to keep certain standards, rather teach them and hope they get inspired to do it on their own. I’m afraid this will turn them away even more!!
Achdus
Why aren’t Bnos Menachem and BaisChaya Mushka also participating in this? Or is this another one of Bais Rivka’s ideas in which the other local schools are not welcomed??? Just like when Rabbi Gancz spoke about Tznius in BR.
assur
facebook?
it-s all good
but in what way is this different from what schools have been trying to do until now?
rochie
Say what you want, the standards are currently in the dirt – you can see it clearly in the street. Hope this raises them in a positive way. Hatzlacha raba!
former Bais Rivkah parent
To Achdus:
Why do you automatically assume BM & BCM aren’t welcome? Maybe they don’t WANT to join. Maybe they already banned FB & Twitter & MySpace & they don’t have to deal with it.
This isn’t showing Achdus. Straight away you decide what the story is & make a greater chasm than exists. Don’t judge until you really know the facts.
MOTHER
let me tel you all a few things. my daughter goes to out of town chabad school. they ban face a few years ago. so what do the girls do. they dont put their picture on , but THEY DO HAVE ACCOUNTS, MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME . SHE LISATON TO THE GIRLS IN HER CLASS SPEAK. THEY THINK SHE IS INVISABLE SINICE SHE A QUITE GIRL. SOME PUT THEIR REAL NAME ON THEONES HEY GO BY IN SCHOOL . SOME JUST USE ONE OF THEIR NAMES . ABOUT 10 GIRLS DID THIS. ONLY ONE GIRL GOT CAUGHTS SINICE THE SCHOOL CHECKS. AND SHE WAS SUBSPENED FOR A MONT.SHE TOLD THE GIRLS SHE BACK ON ONLY ON A HALF NAME AND GAVE IT ONLY TO HER FEW FRIENDS.M DAUGHTER IS NOT ONE OF THEM. BUT SHE HAPPEN TO BE SITTING NEAR THE GIRL WHEN SHE WAS TALKING
a concerned alumn
The first step is RESPECT. Girls need to have respect for hanhala, respect for teachers, respect for parents and most of all – respect for themselves. I believe that everybody, parents, teachers, and hanhala, can help give the girls this sense of respect in a positive way. Together we can affect a big change and I believe that we will.
What took so long..........
Better late than never. But where were all these ideas years ago. Has anyone seen Kingston lately, everything is as tight as can be and then some. I’m sorry folks but you don’t such tight clothes in any other frum ‘shechunas’ like Boro Park, Williamsburg or Flatbush. For my high schooler’s, until this is implemented, they’ll be out of the system but for my younger ones there’s still hope.
Women in Crown Heights need self-esteem
The crux of the problem is lack of self-esteem in the mothers and daughters. By discussing body image and self-respect than Tznius is sure to follow.
When women in Crown Heights are all programmed and molded to fit in a one size cookie cutter shape and thereby lacking any sense of self it is no wonder that they turn to emphasizing their bodies as they have no sense of self, no identity, and they are not encouraged to develop their unique sense of personality, intelligence, and talents. When a women knows that she is valued for her charm, wit, and talents than she’ll realize that she doesn’t need to show off her curves to be admired.
Achdus
To former Bais Rivkah parent:
I only saw Bais Rivka and BCM in Monsey’s name mentioned so that’s how I assumed the other CH’s schools were not participating. There are definitely girls using FB, Twitter, etc. who go to these schools. FUthermore, they may be strict with Tznius IN school, but definitely do not adhere to it OUT of school.
Your words were definitely on the harsh side and uncalled for!
Achdus
To former Bais Rivkah parent:
I only saw Bais Rivka and BCM in Monsey’s name mentioned so that’s how I assumed the other CH’s schools were not participating. There are definitely girls using FB, Twitter, etc. who go to these schools. FUthermore, they may be strict with Tznius IN school, but definitely do not adhere to it OUT of school.
Your words were definitely on the harsh side and uncalled for!
Realist
Please allow me to bring up a point. Facebook is only bad if u use t for bad things.
However it can also be a useful tool. It can allow people to keep in touch with friends from camp, and friends who dont live near them. I think you need to show these girls a little trust. You all raise your girls in such proper ways, if you give them some trust they will not forsake it. As i said above i am a jewish teen and all that a ban on facebook does, is cause these girls to go “underground” and lie to their parents about it. Facebook has so many privacy controls and features that if they dont want to be found by the administration than they can easily do so.
Realist
Also if you dont trust your girls to make the right desicion at this age how in the world can u hope that they will make the right desicion when they are on their own.
Also by imposng so many restrictions you may cause your daughters to chas veshalom rebel against Judiasim. I know a girl who completly hates both her parents and she will never love them because of how strict and uptight they are.
If you give them some room to live their own lives than that is the way that they will grow into responsible girls that you all want them to be.
I AM A JEWISH TEEN so please take my words into consideration.
comment
Yasher Koach and Hatzlocha Rabbah to all the schools.
As once part of a high school’s staff, a good first step would be to focus on the growth of the girls rather than the money that comes in.
oh please
brilliant, brilliant! finally they realize that the only way to solve anything is by crushing the girls under their iron fists. these girls need to be dominated and subjugated. more policing! more force! more patrolling! especially since the administration doesn’t have enough on their hands already. of course this is the most effective method of raising the standards and implementing the rules.
especially since this has worked so well past.
Please stop this extremism.
Stop this extremism. What is wrong with facebook?
If your daughter talks to guys, do you really think banning facebook will help? And if she doesn’t, do you really think she will start to because of facebook???
Please stop blaming other things (Such as the stores in Crown Heights, movie posters in front of 770, politics, and Facebook for your so called “problems”.
attn MOTHER with the caps:
so i’m glad your daughter is a great snoop.. but lemme tell you something:
EVERYONE HAS FACEBOOK
she’s probably the only one in her class without.
p.s… sorry i had to break it to you like this…
Forgot something
You left out one serious thing. We can’t expect our girls to live up to these standards until their teachers are dressing appropriately. I know you can’t impose uniforms on teachers but this is a very real problem.
illustration photo
I like how the illustration photo shows a girl looking at a pic of boys :) Yes, ch.info, that illustrates the point.
BRet
I agree with one of the top postings, that respect and dignity are the top issues. It will be very hard to stop this.
The parents have to be reached, but also, the achdus, respect and dignity in the school have to be dealt with, or should I say, stepped up in a big way.
They need much more of something. But we all need to straighten out, add more emes to our lives. Do the real thing….have achdus and ahavas yisroel, reach out to that invisible neighbor who has less family than you do, and say hi. Start a real campaign that will make a differenc.
about time
How about PARENTS behaving & dressing as they should? The way some mothers dress, esp. the young ones…roll on summer! all that exposed skin & hair?! Their little girls are going to be the next generation of untznius women & unless something is done now we are headed for big trouble in 10 years time.
Achdus, you need to get over yourself.
a girl who has been bais rivkah high
sure so you can band facebook and you can ban the internet…..and sure why not make new rules for the students
but hello that will NOT SLOVE A THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why dont you stop thinking about how to make the students look better to impress everyone and get to the core of the problem!!!!!
PROBLEM: the school doesnt give enough baiscs of yidishkit
For example ,i was once davening in bais rivkah high school shul and i saw one girl laughing and talking while she was daveving shmona esreh
or how is it that everytime we would daven we needed mrs. Tachtel to come in yell and scream at the girls that they cant talk while they are daveing
THE PROBLEM IS INSTEAD OF GETTING THE STUDENTS TO LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE JEWISH TO LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CHABAD THE SCHOOL JUST RUINS THEM BY TELLING THEM ALL DAY HOW THEY NEED TO BEHAVE AS YOUNG LADIES THATS WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM
Solution: i was in bais rivkah seminary alef and we had a teacher there who taught us the meaning of what a girl is the meaning of what a chabadnik is she taught us what we needed to be taught when we were in high school
ONLY ONCE I WAS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL DID I APPRICATE BEING A JEWISH CHABADNIK
this teacher of ours taught us lessons for life without having to scream at us and yes even though we were in seminary and we had our mind in place more then the girls in high school since they are teenagers that come with problems
BASICALLY IF THE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD MAKE MORE CLASSES OR AT LEAST ON CLASS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE ANY HOMEWORK OR TESTS WHERE THE STUDENTS GET TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE WOMAN ARE SO SPEACIL.
Mrs. tachetel you have to understand the students will hate you for banning them from facebook
there is no need to ban them from facebook
there is a need however to show these students why they are so speacil by bringing in good a good teacher who will show them
this way when these girls willl go on facebook they wont do bad things on it when these students will on the internet they wont have to look for the bad
Mrs. Tachtel i went through the bais rivkah and it was not the new rules that made me a better person it was not you or mrs. golshmit or mrs. parcharsky who helped me slove my teenage issues but it was teachers like mrs. shapiro the libarian that helped me slove my isssues why
cause they understood me they helped me apperciate who i am today
That is why i will conclude by saying
the only way to get to the girls is by showing them why we woman are so amazing and only through that we the woman will be able to bring moshiach
Chossid
Universal Chabad standards sounds ludicrous to me. What’s good in Brooklyn, is not necessarily good out of town and vice versa.
Every area has different logistics, different types of people, and different situations.
To force everyone into one mold will be disastrous.
Mother of daughters
Today its facebook.. who know what modern technology has in store for us.. What did the Rebbe say how modern tech should be used for… Parents love your children set an example.. respect them make their opinion count..instill good values, based on trust.. validate your children..
School can’t mold your children they need it to be a partnership with parents…
Freilach Purim!!!
Silent Killer
People don’t realize but the internet, facebook is like a silent killer to our youth’s growth, you wont realize its impact in the first few months or year but after some time you will start seeing a big difference in your teen and by that time it will be to late to do anything.
I wish the Merkos Chinuch Office much success in this undertaking. It is long over do and if we don’t put a standard in place a day ago we can foregut what we are meant to look like.
Keep working at it, principals
I teach in a chabad school, and the girls there are lacking basic respect and derech eretz, and the principal is too busy on the internet, or taking care of her personal life (bli ayin hara she has, like Mrs. Tiechtel, many married children living all over the world). As most girls would, they take advantage of the lack of leadership. True, though she never screams like Mrs. Tiechtel.
Reading about all the girls who commented above about how they will circumvent the administration to get to Facebook, shows not only how little they value their yiddishkeit, but also how important this need for instant gratification communication has overpowered their rational thought. Like small children who pout and threaten when they can’t get their way for a fleeting pleasure of a candy.
Most chinuch does come from the home, but teenagers turn to their high school friends and experiences faster than to their mothers. This is a generation that needs different chinuch because we don’t have the Rebbe for them to see and be inspired by every time he waved his holy arm or every time he smiled at us…………….
Former BR HS teacher
I think the girls who have written here (assuming they are conforming to accepted standards today) should be the ones to address the students. They understand how it feels to be constantly picked on & criticized: a sort of been there, done that response. I bet the students in HS today would hear the message much more from former students, similar to victims of drunk driving go into schools to warn against it.
These girls should be part of the solution. They understand. They know what the girls want & need to hear.
I must add this, though: To the former BR HS girl who just wrote naming names: didn’t Bais Rivkah teach you how to spell? Just a thought. Try writing in WORD & editing your work before you cut & paste to your post. Spellcheck & grammarcheck are great tools for the uneducated. You embarrass yourself & your school & such poor writing takes away from the value of your message.
reality check
first–you can’t just start teaching standards of behavior in high school–education is a process and elementary has to be included in the change.
you can’t just stick more rules on the girls–in order for this plan to work, there have to be serious changes in how the entire school is run! respect for the school, respect for administration, respect for teachers: it all comes out in how the school treats school as well. maybe the girls are reacting in their behavior to the types of schools we have created for them–changing how we expect them to behave is only a small modification, i think our schools need a much more serious change if we really have our girls’ best interests in mind
upset former teen
5 years ago i got in so much trouble for even looking at a guy!! the standards today are so much lower, also, before if my skirt came above my ankle and my sock wasn’t covering it, i would get yelled at, but it’s okay now for everyone to walk about CH like they do!! and no one gets in trouble, just because…“IT’S THE STYLE!!!”
Agreed
After reading all these posts, the one I most agree with is the Former BR HS teacher. If the administration and ‘higher-ups’ keep doing the decision making and it’s not working, it’s time they rethink their strategy. Go ask those who have been through the system and saw all the failures and can give you tips and pointers on what needs to be done to fix it!!!!!!!!
Mrs. Hindy Lewis
I would like to see the post that insults/attacks Morah Tiechtel (from “keep working at it, principals”) edited. I never heard Morah Tiechtel “scream” either from my daughters or when I taught in Bais Rivka. Morah Tiechtel exemplifies a Principal of a Chabad school & it’s not right that she, Mrs. Laine, the Hanhala, & the teachers are constantly castigated & insulted. They work hard to give our girls a solid education & Midos Tovos, & I know that no matter what effort we put into our children, it is they who deserve the credit for the way our daughters turned out.
I saw that line & I couldn’t read any further, so I can’t even comment on the author’s post. I am surprised that a teacher would talk like this about a colleague, even if she isn’t in the same school. And Webby, I’m surprised you let it through.
I decided to put my name to this so your readers know that there are real parents out there who appreciate Bais Rivkah & all it does for our girls.
Good Shabbos & a freilichen Purim.
Chana L.
I have to agree that one standard does not work for everyone. It just pushes those (such as myself when I was younger) further away, feeling like we are a square peg that does not fit into a round hole.
I went to Bais Rivkah Seminary Bais for four months and the disrespect that some teachers showed to their students was appalling! It was ironic that at the same time that some girls were considered old enough to get married, Bais Rivkah their contemporaries who chose to stay in Sem Bais were being verbally abused by teachers. Warped, yes.
I don’t think that banning facebook is the solution either. Girls are smart and figure out how to get around the system. Look at all the girls who spell out the first letter of their first names or last names so that they are not recognized. Instead have the mothers of girls and boys ‘friend’ their kids so that there is some parental supervision if they are afraid of something inappropriate.
Finally, it continually blows my mind how so many people write with Caps Lock. For those who do not realize, it’s considered ‘screaming’. Please keep the caps lock off. Also, some basic grammar rules shows that you are education. Start sentences with capital letters, spell check your posts and your posts will be more readable and respected since you will appear more educated.
moshiach now
someone mentioned how they appreciate Bais Rivkah and I have to say that there are some special aspects of it, for sure.
BUT the ones who appreciate BR are mostly the ones who have the advantages….the kid is compliant, and all the accoutrements to go with it, like family suport, some decent parnossa, and other support systems. not everyone has that.
The girls need guidance and positivity no matter if they’re “good” girls or not.
there is alot needed here
WHAT ABOUT THE TEACHERS
will the schools fire all untzniusdige teachers
As long as there will be one frum (Hebrew or English)teacher dressed in an untzniusdige manner you cant expect that the girls be tzniusdig.
student of monsey bais chaya mushka
yikes. what r they gonna do to us??????????
former br student
I agree with “girl who has been to bais rivka”
Instead of banning internet, and facebook, and making rules beyond rules, it all creates a negative environment where girls feel they have to hide things from teachers and principals…and as a result feel that since their teachers are these strict disciplinarians, they cannot trust them, as mentors and confidants. Schools should be focusing on making the girls feel proud that they are lubavitch, and jewish, and be accepting and open to the girls. obviously there are limits and there should be rules, but the rules should not be the main focus of a school…they should be focusing on the students, having people to talk to them, and find out what THEY think for a change. teachers and principals need to become people that students respect, look up to, and confide in, not people they feel are always bearing down on them to do this and that
BM gal
I’m a Bnos Menachem girl, I have facebook, and I use it only to keep in touch with girls!
So the steps that the Hanhalos want to enact not necessarily applies to everyone, but do to the general problem, has to be enforced.
I agree, but let’s see that happen.
Hatzlocha Rabba!
Looking at the amount of people who took the time to write for or against proves is essential need!
kudos to a project like this! Yes, it will and can work if we stand by and are totally commited! Ignore all the nay sayers, it’s those that are afraid of it to happen because then they will be the ones low on the list of “everyone” is doing it. They want their peers to do it too!
purim joke?
is this a purim joke?
how about we teach the girls shulchan oruch and insitll in them a love of chasidus.
then you wont even need to discuss the nitty gritty about if facebook is ok
Facebook 101
It seems to me that teachers don’t know what facebook is, decide it’s bad and prohibit it.
Facebook is a site that is designed brilliantly so that it connects you ONLY with the people that you choose to be connected with and you see only content that relates to them.
Maybe the teachers should focus on the “who” girls should or should not be connecting with rather than the “how” or “where”.
to the former teacher in BR HS
to the former teacher in high school
first of all i wrote the message early in the morning since i was taking care of my younger baby brother and when he finally fell asleep i had a chance to check up the new news on crown heights.info
so if you have a problem with the spelling
that is just tuff luck
i think it was very rude that you mentioned it
that was not the point of my comment
have a good shabbos
and before you write another rude comment like that to put someone down think about it thankyou
Yechi
They should only focus on who’s their friends on fb not banning. Banning it will only cause lies. If thy have friends who have friends though signs come up saying maybe u know someone so don’t ban just look at the contacts. I rathe just email though it could be used for good and bad butfor email chat it’s harder and that it’s not as bad
Ban Yechi schools!
Perhaps the first thing should be to ban the schools which continue to promote the Yechi nonsense.
by the way, talking about Yechi schools, did you know that the Yechi girls’ school in Chicago is being sued by the city of Chicago? Substandard dormitory.
Bais Rivkah Student.
I am a student in Bais Rivkah,
I love my school, all the staff, and the whole atmosphere
I have facebook. I use it to keep up with my family and friends from around the world. I am completely and totally against banning facebook. The teachers all have facebook, they know how safe it can be! I think all schools should have an account on facebook and each student should be friends with their school, or something like that to make sure we’re keeping it “kosher”.
Parents should have complete control over the computer’s history and keep checking it. Today’s generation is out of control! I actually have a really hard time dressing tzinuisly, with all the peer pressure, the “style”…
sadly very realistic
as a now, but not going to continue as a bais rivka parent, i will say that the biggest problem is the inconsistency of the issues with the students vs the teachers
please just take a moment to realize that after all is said and done, visual is more potent than oral. the girls see and the girls do.
at a pta meeting some teachers and principals couldn’t even sit down because their skirts were so straight and tight that they couldn’t cover their knees properly. one teacher had to leave early for a family simcha and the skirt didn’t even cover her knees standing up. the principal in charge, when confronted about this display had no words to offer. this is what we have become, complacent and relaxed and just let someone else deal with it. or even better yet, that teacher’s father donates the most money to the school – now who’s going to say anything.or another favorite is do you know who her parents are? this can’t be allowed to continue. this attitude has to stop. i know from growing up that certain people could and did get away with certain things, but i think now it has gotten way out of hand and we have to stop it fast.
until you, as in the schools, are ready to show the proper example and be consistent with it all your other ideas will just fall to the wayside like everything else.
i agree that parents are responsible too, but we allow everyone in – we are lubavitchers. so even though we will have untznius girls coming to our schools, let us at least be able to tell our children how they are learning and don’t know any better; like my family on shlichus tells their kids.
facebook, and all the other stuff, is the least of your problems. kids are meeting other kids and they can get it right on kingston ave.or in their local schools.
i wish any and every thing the best of luck, but lets start calling things what they are then maybe we will be able to take care of them properly.
Parent of BR grad
I agree with Mrs. Lewis. some of these comments are patently false,simply motzei shem ra. Mrs. Teichtel is a special principal, she is truly inspiring ,respected yet kind and beloved at once. My daughter never had a negative experience with her.
I would like to thank Bais Rivka,and wish the administration and all the other schools hatzlacha in implementing the new guidelines and program.
I also agree with the posters who point out that teachers need to have their own dress code. Prove to the girls that Yiddishkeit is not a charade, Teachers that are capable, even charismatic, but without yiras shomayim are empty, and their message rings hollow.
Mrs. Shulammis Saxon
Wow, this subject has touched off a firestorm! I am a former student of both Bais Rivkah and Yeshiva Achei Tmimim, and I now have teenage girls of my own, Boruch Hashem. I am also a high school teacher. I can tell you very confidently–the schools do not need more rules. They simply need consistent standards for both students AND teachers; and just as importantly, the girls need Dugmaos that they can respect, look up to, and want to emulate, because those women respect and truly care for THEM, without judgmentalness. The expectations must be conveyed with love; and the value of each individual girl, simply by virtue of her being created B’Tzelem Elokim, must be emphasized far more than how she dresses or behaves. This is the only way to achieve the results we so desperately need in order to end this Galus.
anonymous
This is an exercise in futility. We no longer live in an era where policing from the outside works.Create the kinds of kids that will police themselves. Then this “no facebook/ no internet” rule will work as an extra measure of protection, another buffer.
Aside from the obvious idea of chabad of generating self- inspiration, here’s an idea for damage control. Lets start by keeping the teachers/ principals that actually love the kids, and firing the ones who don’t. And to the teachers: if you find that there is a kid that gets you “on your nerves”, and you can’t rise above it, stay far away from that child and let someone who can show love deal with that child. Otherwise, the damage you will do might be a “bechiya ledoros”
mom who cares about the girls & Rebbe
MOST (not all, but most) of the comments here, all had some sort of something we can learn from.
Since the Bais Rivka admin is salaried and also is supposed to care about the Rebbe’s inyonim which includes OUR GIRLS, they should be thinking into all of this and learn from the comments. Put them all together and try to make sense out of them. HaShem should help you, because the times are so hard now and we all need to do the best.
Critic
THe illustration photo is perfection.