Practical Ideas to Solve the Tuition Crisis
Since my last article on the tuition crisis, many people have stopped me in the street, called or e-mailed me to discuss their pain and their ideas on this issue.
In order to deal with this problem it is imperative that we all, as a community, understand and agree on some basics. One key to our children’s success is proper Chinuch. Without education our children are missing the foundation to success in life. Education is a responsibility of both parents and the community. The community has an obligation to make sure education is affordable to every parent. Likewise, parents must know that they have to do whatever they can so their children can have the best education.
Once we agree that it is a personal and communal obligation, we must deal with the realities of life. What can we do about the cost of education? How do we deal with the expense?
Op-Ed: How Much of My Income Should I Be Spending on Tuition?
Practical Ideas to Solve the Tuition Crisis
Since my last article on the tuition crisis, many people have stopped me in the street, called or e-mailed me to discuss their pain and their ideas on this issue.
In order to deal with this problem it is imperative that we all, as a community, understand and agree on some basics. One key to our children’s success is proper Chinuch. Without education our children are missing the foundation to success in life. Education is a responsibility of both parents and the community. The community has an obligation to make sure education is affordable to every parent. Likewise, parents must know that they have to do whatever they can so their children can have the best education.
Once we agree that it is a personal and communal obligation, we must deal with the realities of life. What can we do about the cost of education? How do we deal with the expense?
At one time it was only educators, scholars, or Shluchim who were given special considerations with tuition because they were under stress economically. Though we need to have sensitivity for children of Shluchim and educators, today the tuition problem has become more global.
More and more people are struggling to make it and are stretched to the limit. Today even professionals making a nice living are staggering under the high cost of tuition. It’s not uncommon for a growing family to have six or more children attending several different Yeshivas and each establishment is expecting full tuition. I think it is high time that our educational institutions ask and come up with a reasonable answer to the all important question, “What percentage of a family’s income should be going to tuition?”
Schools have to be more concerned with how much tuition they charge, how they collect it and who suffers the most – the children, our future – when they act in an inappropriate manner to collect tuition. Teachers, principals or administrators of course, need to care and show compassion for each and every child/family. Even people on a tuition committee should have sensitivity and compassion when they must refuse a family’s request for assistance.
Here are some of the comments I received last week. When listening to these comments I could feel pain and distress many parents are subjected to when it comes to enrolling their children in school. “They pulled my daughter out of class and embarrassed her because I can’t afford to pay tuition,” “My son left Yeshiva because he can’t bear to see me struggling over the tuition,” “I can’t afford to send my children to the Yeshiva that would suit them most,” “My daughter is not in school. No one will take her because I can’t pay,” “My children’s school won’t even take my applications because I don’t have the money for tuition,” “My daughter is not sure what seminary she wants to go to and they all ask for an exorbitant non-refundable deposit. I hope the one school we could afford apply to will accept her.” We cannot justify people suffering and being humiliated by comments like these.
Yeshivas are not founded to turn a profit. The goal is to educate our children. It is to be expected that many, if not the majority of parents will need to ask for some kind of scholarship based on their income. Communities should expect to help fund the shortfall and demand of their yeshivas that tuition be better subsidized so the burden on families is more manageable.
I feel it’s imperative for each educational institution to put together a think tank to see what ideas work for their community. A base rule is that a think tank/tuition committee needs to include educators and business people, the rich and poor so that all points of view are covered in discussion.
One commendable option to consider emulating is Yeshivas Tzeirei Hashluchim, in Tzfas, Israel. They give parents the best rates for tuition by aggressively seeking out every possible government grant and private foundation in order to keep their costs down. . Perhaps all schools should apply grants and donations collected per child towards the family’s tuition obligations. In addition, they have sought out private sources to cover for the children of Shluchim. This Yeshiva does even better for the families of Shluchim. For those children they charge a flat rate of $1,000 for tuition and the dormitory. Because of their gratitude in how well they are treated, many of families send the administration to their own donors so they can raise money for their Yeshiva. That makes treating parents well a good business plan, too.
One thing that is definite is that by recognizing that this is a problem, both sides – school’s administration and the parents – can work towards a solution. Parents have to understand that they can’t expect to go on expensive yearly vacations, drive the fanciest car and walk around in a custom made suit and tell the Yeshiva they can’t pay tuition. On the other hand, administrators must understand that parents shouldn’t be sent on a guilt trip when enrolling their children. Parents don’t have to hear every expense associated with running a school. An equitable way of determining how much each family can afford must be found.
With this said, it is understood that even full tuition still doesn’t cover all the expenses involved in educating a child and running a school. I don’t know when or why it became fashionable to put the entire burden of Yeshivah costs on the parents. This trend must stop.
A phenomenon worth thinking about is why people give Tzedakah to other places and not to the school that’s teaching their children. It was amazing how many people angrily told me that it was because of the lack of compassion and feeling that was felt from the administration when they sat down to discuss tuition originally. Parents said, “When we asked the Yeshiva to work with us because we just started our business, instead of asking us to sign an IOU they bled us by insisting on head checks.” Now that these parents feel more secure financially they don’t want to give money to the schools that showed them no mercy. Schools must be aware, that a little kindness would go a long way in future donations and cooperation.
Perhaps the worst stories that were shared with me over this week were those of students that were pushed out of the system because they couldn’t pay. In today’s day and age we know what it means when a kid is pushed out of the system and spends time in the streets – definite failure, kids-at-risk, etc. The responsibility of educating a child lies on the community and the parents, and this is a partnership that must be nurtured.
Together, these partners must answer the question, “What percentage of a family’s income should be spent on education and how should it be divided fairly between the schools?” Then they must come up with ways to keep the Yeshivas fiscally sound.
Practical Ideas to Solve the Tuition Crisis
After giving the matter a lot of thought and consulting many parents and educators I have come up with some suggestions on how to start grappling with this crisis. I have compiled these ideas into a general list. Every idea may not work in every place.
Hopefully, these will generate other ideas that will work in each community.
1) Vouchers for school
2) Tax credit for tuition See below for a phone call you can make to help
3) Educational subsidies/foundation for scholarships within each community
4) Better fundraising /better financial management Schools need to take on the obligation to raise more money. They also should have some over site committee that takes a look from time to time to make sure they are getting the most for their dollar.
5) Better formula for how much to charge each family
6) Tzedakah and Maaser as tuition to our own institutions
7) If you give extra ask for a voucher give to someone else If someone does give Tzedakah to a school they should ask for a receipt that could be used as a voucher towards tuition for someone who has a child in that school.
8) Adopt a child Those who can afford to should adopt the tuition of a needy child who would otherwise lose out.
9) Home schooling This option works for some, but would be a disaster for others.
10) School coupons Have parents buy school coupons to be used in local stores so that local vendors gain and the school makes a profit
11) Charity boxes Give daily Tzedakah in the school charity box
12) A bill for the future Some schools send their non-paying families a bill each year and tell them, “This is what you owe us. When you will be in a position to give, please do.”
13) Signed IOU Other schools take this idea even further by making parents sign an IOU to be paid if and when they “make it.”
14) Worth mentioning once more Schools like Yeshivas Tzeirei Hashluchim, in Tzfas, Israel which make it possible for every family to afford tuition and especially children of Shluchim.
You would be surprised to find out how much these efforts can pay off.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Shea Hecht
YESHIVA TUITION BREAK – PLEASE ACT NOW
June 08, 2007One sixty second phone call to this toll-free number could save our community millions of dollars: (800) 319 – 3403.
With just two weeks left in the Legislative session in Albany, now is the time to act to help families who are struggling to pay yeshiva tuition. Assemblyman Vito Lopez & Senator Marty Golden have introduced legislation that would allow middle-class parents to deduct the cost of private school tuition from their state taxes and poor families would receive an actual tax credit. This could save average families in our community thousands of dollars each year.
But we must ACT NOW. The legislative session in Albany ends June 21st
Please call Governor Spitzer’s office today at (800) 319-3403.
If you speak with a live operator, please tell them:
I’m calling to ask the Governor to support the Lopez-Golden Tuition Tax Deduction Bill.
If you reach a voice mailbox, DO NOT HANG UP. Each message is logged and counts!
After the tone, leave the same message along with your zip code:
“I am calling to ask the Governor to support the Lopez-Golden Tuition Tax Deduction Bill. My zip code is XXXXX.”
Governor Spitzer has the ability to get this done. But he must hear from you and everyone you know.
It’s a simple call (800) 319-3403.
Every single call made to the Governor is logged and will make a difference!
This Op-Ed reflects the views of its author, it does not necessarily reflect the views of CrownHeights.info nor of its Editors.
A reader that wishes to make his or her voice heard on any topic of their desire is welcome to submit his or her Op-Ed to News@CrownHeights.info.
Yitzchok
All of it!
a parent
some schools are so mis managed that once a group of professionals get to see the books lots of money can be saved. that’s if they will allow people to go over the books
ayl
wow thanks rabbi hecht for thinking about yuor fellow jews.
well thought about solid ideas.
I agree especially in that a yeshiva should be thought of as a comunal institution, that the financial burden lies on the comunity for the most part to fund its expenses and of course parents paying tuition.
this way tuition will go down and fundraiser will bring in funds from comunity members.
remember a yeshiva cleanses and purifies the air and brings blessings to the comunity where it is.
our tzedaka should go to the poor of our comunity first ie yeshivas.
it has to be b’PUM
fundraising incentives
There are so many people in our community who are looking for jobs or second jobs to supplement their income – why dont the schools launch a campaign to get fundraisers – either part time or full time, which would offer generous commisions. There are many people who would be able to suucessfully fundraise if they had the motivation ( extra income from commision) . Everyone stands to benefit.
their mommy
Ok, great, thank you for thinking further with practical suggestions. We do not have any of those needless expenses mentioned above, and are wholeheartedly into participating openly and with achdus. So who’s forming the committee? Who is participating? Which schools? The words of Torah that our pure and holy children say is immeasurable to the existence of us all, right? So let’s not delay, because we are on the border of a decision…even the ridiculous $200 registration fee bounced…
yossi f
I stopped going to yeshiva at age 16 because i couldn’t stand to see my parents struggling with the tuitions they couldn’t pay.
BT Mommy
I have a full time job and also spend a lot of time working on different fundraisers for our school. Except for a few people, it’s hard to find parents to help. Everyone is too busy or doesn’t want to do what is asked of them. I think parents should do mandatory volunteering at their schools. Either working on fundraisers or coming up with their own fundraising projects or working in the office or driving kids on trips or something.
someone who cares
Rabbi Hecht; Hamaase hu hoikur. Being that the schools are ‘public’ institutions, are the schools willing to open their books so that proffesionals can help them get the most bang for their money? Are the schools willing to hire and pay fundraisers? Rabbi Hecht, I understand that you are busy. However, are you willing to coordinate and organize action? When you announce a committee to work on this, you will have volunteers. Otherwise, all this will remain as a very nicly written article which was a waste of time on your part and the readers part.
If You fix this You Must be Moshiach
Why should a local Yeshiva agree to include out-of-town tuition (commonly 8K-12K) in a family’s overall tuition burden when calculating total family expenses. They will only be left with pennies left over from these huge expenses. Even if they would agree to consider dividing up a total maximum percentage of family income for tuition (a big “if”), would they ever agree to include these huge out-of-town expenses?
Also, I was SHOCKED to learn recently that our schools do NOT reduce tuition demamded, to not include money coming in for govt. vouchers, corporate matching funds, etc. These funds are taken ON TOP of tuition and DO NOT REDUCE TUITION BY A PENNY. Someone told me that they are not going to bother to lobby Spitzer for the tuition credit, BECAUSE IT ONLY GOES TO ENRICH THE SCHOOL’s ADMINISTRATOR AND WILL NOT HELP PARENTS AT ALL!!
Which brings us to another SHOCKER– the guys demanding all the big bucks for tuition are taking money off the top for their own accounts. How else to explain the multiple houses, cars, and lavish lifestyle of (some of) the tuition czars at our schools?
wonderful post
What a wonderful article!! All true and hopefully will serve as a catalyst to implement your ideas.
As a general idea this all will do wonders; from a parctical perspective some questions need to be answered.
A) Once a % of income is determined how will it be enforced? for argument sake let’s assume the % is 20%. What do you answer to the person who is making 200 million and does not want to give 400k for a Yeshiva system where his grown up children no longer attend? what do you tell the kolel youngerman with no kids that says he cannot even give 60 a month off the measly 300 that he makes in kolel?
B) how does one determine the income of the self employed or the person that brings the wonderfully low W-2 or 1040 that shows he earns $1.62 a year before paying taxes?
C) What about the wonderful mosdos that are competing for the same dollars such as the new shliach in timbuktue or Mechon Chana or Hadar Hatorah ;) that cannot rely on their studants or parents for their funding?
To wonderful post:
A) I think the Rabbi’s idea is to have a set amount for tuition (as it is now), but if that amount exceeds the predetermined % of income (in your example, 20%), the excess is is waived.
B) Again, it’s not a set tuition-tax that everyone has to pay. The idea is that there would be scholarships available for all parents who are making less than 5 times (in your example) their total tuition expenses annually.
dtw
The cost of chinuch today has come to include expensive extras such as pre-school, overnight camp, and seminary.These options have become an indispensible part of frum life that did not exist 3 generations ago. Years ago not all boys stayed in Yeshiva until age 20 and there were no schools for girls much less seminaries that cause some girls to be ultra picky when it comes time to get married.
Maybe it is time to re-consider these extras.
Mike
“wonderful post” – the % of income is figured like this. If someone earns 110K and the tuition is 20K you use the formula to see what % of the 100K he should give, because he cannot afford the full 20K. If someone is rich, it doesn’t mean you charge them over 20K – the formula just doesn’t apply to them – they just pay the 20K. This is how I understand it anyway.
Ahaaaaa now you’ve hit the nail on the head. Since we have so many “frum” people ripping off the government and not filing W2’s, it’s not possible to know how much they earn. And if they are already so dishonest to do this, they aint going to tell the schools how much they really earn.
Naf
Then they should have to pay in full. If some one only hse 30k on his W2 you know he is full of………
And if he can pay his bills on 30K a year. You know that they are working on green…..
and if they are not willing to give up this info, you make them pay the full amount.
Wondering where all the money is going
Why are tuitions so high? If a class has 30 children and each pays $3000; you have a total of $90,000. If not everyone can pay that amount, you’ll get $75,000. That should cover the salary of the teacher. How much could the overhead be? Fundraisers should easily be able to take care of the overhead and those that can’t pay the $3000. Otherwise, I am fine with taking the children to a shul and pay a Rebbe $75,000 cash to teach them. What ‘extras’ are the Yeshiva’s providing? Food we pay for. Why won’t the Yeshiava’s open up their books to see what is in the ‘overhead’?
wonderful post
To Mike and the other person saying that the % is only for a cap on tution and a way to apply a scholership, it is not much different than it is today.
It’s merely a more formalized way (or a way for a “committee” to dictate) to demand of the adminstrators how they apply the already exisiting discounts. This seems to be a more kosher veyosher way (i.e. the nepotism discount no longer apllies) but it is not that noval and provides no incentive for the instiutions to agree at all.
The only way to make something work is to explain to the yeshiva how the shortfall will be covered. My understanding was it would become more of a spread out communtiy burdon rather than being left on the parent with 12 kids to figure out how to come up with $80-100k. Making this a cap on what parents will pay will never work if there is nothing to counterbalance the shortfall.
to dtw
“extras”? school for girls? maybe we all should go back to the midbar and we won’t have any extras! You can not judge like that!
There is ppl who work in “green” but still don’t make more than 25K a yr and they may have 2 tuitions in two different Yeshivos to pay, how do we do it?
Michoel
It is a simple matter of those that can should give Maaser to the schools first and yes life is expensive and not how it has become who outdoes the school, because of this or that: you are just hurting yourself and other…others???
Achdus
Moshiach Now!
sg
Most of us cannot continue to send a school money after a child has finished their education there. A family has to educate the child for a parnossah – girls too – and they DEFINITELY have to put money aside to marry them off.
Fundraising has to be outside our neighborhood – Crown Heights is just not rich enough to support so many, albiet worthy, projects.
bord soul
A few points to consider:
If Klonimus has 6 children enrolled in the Mosdos (Oholei Torah, Beis Rivkah) for which they would like 7 thousand dollars yearly for every child, that’s 42’000 dollars. As Klonimus’ wife has a baby at home, she can’t go to work (besides she hadn’t gone to work in the last 10 years, as she always had baby/babies to care of at home), and it wouldn’t be worth it anyways after paying for the babysitter what’s left is not worth the hassle.
So if someone has to pay 42’000 for tuition, what kind of job would he need to have to have also some money left to live of?
Is our Chinuch system raising children to that type of work (like a top surgeon or the like)?
HOW TO COVER THE TUITION BILL-IT WORKS!
Here is a great idea for many of you guys.
My yearly tuition this year was $38,000 – thats for 5 kids.
My wife and I are making jointly $82,500. WE SIMPLY CANNOT MAKE IT! After mortgage payments, food, gas, clothing, airline tickets and spending money for our kids – we are down 10,000 yearly. And we are making descent money. what about all the family’s making in the 50’s or 60’s?
To cover my 10,000 deficit I BECAME A FUNDRAISER.
I tell my business associates that in my spare time I volunteer and raise funds for my children’s school! and I ASK THEM FOR MONEY. I get anywhere between 100 ans 1000 dollars.
THAT IS HOW I PAY MY TUITION.
at first I was hesitant to do it, but now I dont stop even though i finished my goal. People respect me more at the workplace now. They are wowing about how involved I am in my children’s lives etc. little do they know that … this is no choice…
mom
Look at all the administators from most of the schools, they ALL own their homesand have them beautifully redone. Their married children buy homes soon after getting married, their children always have the most beautiful expensive clothes. Why dont we cut these positions and have business men from the communitee offer their time to keep the school going?
Eim HaBonim
I agree 100% with Rabbi Hecht, especially with “Now that these parents feel more secure financially they don’t want to give money to the schools that showed them no mercy. Schools must be aware, that a little kindness would go a long way in future donations and cooperation.”
As a mother alone who struggled to put several children through the yeshiva system, in several in- and out-of-town yeshivas, the ONLY yeshiva pushka I ALLOW in my home is from the one school that took my kids with open arms, asking me to pay what I could, and to “remember us when you can”.
Now B“H that I can, I do remember them: with Maiser, at their fundraisers, and by introductions to big donors. I have also given friends money towards their children’s tuition.
To the local yeshiva that demanded full tuition, insisted on head checks, kept my son out of shiur when I fell behind, and ”stole“ his pell grant money, I can only say B”H my sons are strong enough that you couldn’t crush them. But you already have my blood, sweat and tears, and the humiliation you made us all suffer. I don’t owe you anything!
My point – treat the parents with respect, honesty and integrity.
I know a yeshiva administrator of a Bais Yaakov in Flatbush who conducts tuition interviews ONLY in the students’ homes so he can assertain their LIFESTYLE. No one with luxury cars, designer sofas, huge chandeliers and diamond rings, etc. qualifies, even if their 1040 shows an adjusted income of only $1.62! Tuition MUST come before luxuries, even if you are the (or mishpacha of, the) administrator! But the hardworking family of BA”H 10 kids making even 100K isn’t asked for full tuition! Ditto for families with special needs kids, or other extenuating circumstances. He makes up the difference with extensive fundraising efforts throughout the Jewish community.
We should do the same here.
a mommy
TO HOW TO COVER
not everyone is a fundraiser. some or i shall say most pepole can not i am not saying they cant do anythink else to help the school but alot of parints with 2 or more jobs plus. would like to help with their kids home work plus a baby who is not the yngust in the family wakes up in the night. how can that person have the energy to do more than he is already.Rabbi hechet said somethink that really hit me and that is if a child gets taken out of class or wont get a report card how does that child feel? well that child will gorw up and say dont come to me for money even if i have what to pay etc. the schools really dont know what their doing to our kids.
CM
I agree – “Hamaisah hu haikar”. Thank you for writing the articles. It would be great if you could help turn them into action.
I am curious to know why the idea to have 3000 kids enroll into the public school system – like they did in Satmar – to force the government to give money to our schools, was vetoed. Anyone?
PELL GRANT
When I was in Yeshiva I was elligible for the Pell Grant. The Yeshiva took the whole grant, but only gave us a comparitively small discount…
Help other Ydden to Pay Tuitions
BH, I pay full tuition for my kids
I foundraised more than my tuitions (tuitions of last year 22k)
I think that the schools should offer training for parents to fundraise, I mean professional and practical training)
you are going to be amazed
If I can do it , with language barrier limitations, anyone can do it
Lub were not created to stay home waiting for help and miracles, we have to help others. This a great opportunity for mivtzoym
Boruch ben Tzvi haKohaine Hoffinger
B”H
Let all the minority religions unite to change the application of the ‘separation clause.’
The Rebbe, MH’M said to think big. Let’s think BIG!
The application is cruel and brutal. Then the whole tuition problem will be solved.
If we don’t do this we have no one to blame but ourselves. Leaders stand up and fight!
b.hoffinger@aol.com
aussie
In Australia we pay 10,000 and up per child. Having children is such a Brocha. but it gets difficult when you don’t have money to feed them because schooling is so expensive (even with discounts)
Beis Rivkah Melave Malka ?!@?
I was charged $250 this year for a so called compulsary Melave Malka fee, which to my best knowledge never occured. Why in the world did they ask for this, and not even follow through with an actual event?????? Where is the honesty???????
Someone wrote:“ Which brings us to another SHOCKER– the guys demanding all the big bucks for tuition are taking money off the top for their own accounts. How else to explain the multiple houses, cars, and lavish lifestyle of (some of) the tuition czars at our schools?”
Just because someone at the school has more than others does not mean that they took it from your money. There are other ways people can have money. Maybe they got a yerusha, or have investments from way back, or have another income. Be careful before you just assume that someone at your child’s school rips off for luxury monies. In general, working in a school is not the way one will become wealthy physically- Don’t be so quick to assume you know where someone’s Parnassa comes from…
anonymous
I am not sure who wrote that comment about leaving Yeshiva because they couldn’t afford the tuition, but i believe the parents have a responsibility to deal with the stress of it trickling down to the children.
As a child there were weeks when my parents had no idea hiow there would be food for Shabbos. And as a child, I had absolutely no idea that we had financial trouble. what i needed was taken care of (somehow, i still don’t know how) and what wasn’t necessary, i was told firmly that i don’t need because it wasn’t necessary, not because we had no money.
Parents, take responsibility, so that your children don’t grow up with your financial burden on their shoulders. growning up is difficult enough as it is!
Could be
I agree 100% that the people in charge quite possibly have money from somewhere else, but then they should ‘open the books’ so people can actually see that. I don’t think anyone should just see the books, b/c a lot of people don’t have a full understanding on the behind the scenes, rather it should be a committee made of various community members and professionals.
Please help
Not everyone has the personality to do their own fundraising. Schools need to hire fundraisers and open up their books so that impartial experts can determine where all the money is going and why the Yeshiva’s ‘costs’ per child is so high. I agree with the one that wrote the simple cheshbon – with 30 children in a class and an average $2,500 per child (some giving more and some less) you have about $75,000 coming in which should cover the teacher’s salary. The amount of claimed overhead is what is questionable. Books we need to pay for. Food we need to pay for. If you add up the utility bills, cleaning staff, and other basic necessaties and divide it per child, the amount will be small. Labor costs are usually the biggest expense. What is the salary of the principal, administrator, tuition assessor, assistants, etc.? They should get a decent salary, but how much are they getting? Where is all the money going? I am sure that proffesionals i.e. accountants can look through the books and save the schools lots of money thereby saving all of us on our tuition assessments. They could determine what the ‘Real Cost’ is to educate one child. Where is their oversight? How did the Yeshivas manage in the 60’s and 70’s when no one had any money? The expenses were kept to a bare minimum, they thought twice before spending a dollar and fundraisers raised the rest. Of course it’s easier for them just to raise the tuition and not need to fundraise. By doing that they are impacting the community in a major way by causing major finanacial problems and sholem bais problems. They have a respsonsibility to the community. If they don’t want to keep that responsibility, they should step down and let others take over. Reb Shea, take this beyond words and let’s see some action. The tuition committee’s are going to assess tuition now. Start your own committee to implement your ideas and those others are suggesting. Now is the time to impress upon them that they have crossed the line and help them get back on track.
Mottel
Rabbi Hecht is for real – a family member of mine could not afford Camp Emunah and he personally helped to find scholarship etc. and bring down the cost. He puts his money where his mouth is. YAsher Koach r shea
Call (800) 319-3403
Everybody do this
Please call Governor Spitzer’s office today at (800) 319-3403.
If you speak with a live operator, please tell them:
I’m calling to ask the Governor to support the Lopez-Golden Tuition Tax Deduction Bill.
If you reach a voice mailbox, DO NOT HANG UP. Each message is logged and counts!
After the tone, leave the same message along with your zip code:
“I am calling to ask the Governor to support the Lopez-Golden Tuition Tax Deduction Bill. My zip code is XXXXX.”
pocket diet
I agree with those that say that we should not accuse the administrators right away of embezelment. However, the halocho clearly states that gabba’ey tzeddoka should go in twos in order for there NOT to be any ch’shash. In this case I fargin all the administrators, IF THEY TRULY ARE NOT SKIMMING THE FAT, but remember you do not have to flaunt it even if you have it especially since there are many parents who are truly hurting. I’m not saying to live like a pauper, just recognize that you do not need to live lavishly just because you have it. With that said, there is an administrator of one of the C.H. schools who between him and his wife takes home around $200,000 plus he owns alot of real estate in multiple boroughs and he lives lavishly. I also question if his children pay full tuition for their kids.
Naf, A member of the community
I have been following all your posting and comments. I agree with a lot of your points, but not all of them.
There are a few things that also need to be understood. In today’s day and age, people do have the needs of cell phones, cars, vacations etc due to the fact that work loads for adults are extremely demanding. However, they do NOT need to be the most extravagant (unless they are paying full tuition.)
People, however, do need to have descent working cars (can be less) but it does not have to be the most expensive option with all the bells an whistles that you can get, a basic model is just fine.
I personally know of some children that were pulled out of their class room by the principal. They were humiliated for 20 minuets and then sent home because their parents did not have the money to pay their tuition. (I’m sure that other people in the community have had the same or similar sad experiences.)
What I purpose is on a very large scale. It will not be easy to build and implement, but I am sure that there are enough people in the community that can and will help with this so we can get it done for little or no cost.
An organization should be opened to deal with all aspects regarding money for the schools. If some one has to be suspended from school because of money reasons, the teaches and or principals should have NOTHING TO DO WITH FINANCES. By doing this you will allow the school administration to be busy raising and educating our children and nothing else.
But in order to do this, we need community members to participate in what ever it is that they can do. Even if it is with there organization skill, computer skill, or if one can help in any other way, it is imperative that every member be involved in order for such an organization to be successful. Furthermore, we will need full cooperation from the schools in order to succeed. However, each school will have to comply with the organizations request of bills, statements etc.
Parent will be able to participate (via website), they will be able to submits what there income is and what there finances are, and the organization should be the ones to decide how much they should be paying based on the schools asking price of tuition. In addition, parents that are given discounts should be considerate and support the schools in any way possible even after their children are finished due to the fact that they were treated with courtesy when going through a tough financial time. In this way no child nor a parent will ever be embarrassed about not being able to pay in full.
Please note that this is not the only thing this type of organization is capable of but rather it is just a brief description of what it eventually could be.
With regards
Naf, A member of the community
THIS IS THE SOLUTION!!
I WAS WATCHING A VIDEO CLIP FROM CHABAD.ORG.
SOMEONE RESPECTABLE APPROACHED THE REBBE ABOUT “MEKARAVIM THE RECHOKIM”(THOSE WHO ARE NOT RELIGIOUS. THE REBBE RESPONDED WITH-DON’T FORGET ABOOUT AHAVAS YISROEL AND BRING CLOSER THOSE WHO ARE CLOSE.’
DITTO ! I THOUGHT -WE ARE SO BUSY WITH SHLICHUS,MIVTZOIM THAT MANY IN AUTHORITY TREAT “OUR” OWN IN A WAY THAT THEY WOULD NEVER TREAT THOSE WHO THEY WERE MEKARAVIM.
WHY IS THAT??
DO THEY NOT REALIZE THAT A CHILD WHO COMES FROM A FRUM FAMILY AND GOES OFF THE PATH IS MUCH HARDER TO BRING BACK THEN A CHILD WHO NEVER KNEW ABOUT FRUMKEIT?
WHY ARE WE CREATING PROBLEMS FOR OUR OWN?
WHEN PARENTS ARE STRESSED AND THE CHILDREN SEE THE STRESS THEY DON’T WANT ANY PART OF IT.
THEY SAY “I WON’T MAKE THOSE SAME MISTAKES AS MY PARENTS” I’LL HAVE LESS KIDS OR I DON’T NEED THIS.
FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN BURNT BY “OUR” ADMINISTRATORS ARE SCARRED!
MY SOLUTION- JUST LIKE SHLUCHIM PUT IN ALL THE LOVE AND MONEY IN BRINGING FAMILIES CLOSER-MANY WILL BRING IN CHILDREN TUITION FREE SO AS TO ATTRACT THAT CHILD INSTEAD OF GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL ETC..WHY CAN’T WE DO THE SAME WITH OUR OWN.IF THE SHLUCHIM DO IT AND HAVE SCHOOLS WHY CAN’T WE?
THE SHLUCHIM ARE THEN RELYING ON FUNDRAISERS. THE FAMILIES ARE THEN MORE OPEN TO LEARNING! AND THE GOAL OF THE SHLUCHIM -TO EDUCATE THE JEWISH CHILD IS MET.
ONLY IN THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES DO WE SEE THIS CRAZINESS OF SQUEEZING THE PARENTS DRY -AND MANY JUST FALL APART TRYING TO PAY IT ALL
ADMINISTRATORS ,PRINCIPALS HEAR OUR CRIES FOR HELP AND CHANGE THIS SYSTEM.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THE REBBE WANTED-WE NEED TO KEEP OUR YOUTH INTERESTED IN STAYING IN YESHIVAHS AND NOT GIVE THEM ANY EXCUSES FOR LEAVING!
HELP
THE REBBE ASKED, THAT ALL MOSDES SHOULD HAVE A VAAD! THEIR SHOULD BE A MENAHEL RUCHNI & GASHMI, A SHAME ON THE PRINCIPLES THAT MIX THE BOTH & RACHMONES ON OUR CHILDREN THAT SUFFER, HASHEM SHOULD HAVE THE REAL RACHMONES & SEND US THE GEULOH SHELEMOH NNOOWW
parent
it seems that over the years it got worse and worse. i guess it started with one Meshugene in a school who told kids to go home and then all the schools one by one started the same thing. its really crazy what did the child do wrong that for the rest of his/her life will have a memory of this horrible experience oholay torh bais rifka benos menachem and more all do the same its really sad how low a Mosat can go
Dovid
I have the BEST solution. Why don’t the yeshivas OPEN their books???There is waste, mismanagement and zero accountability….
Hopefull but Exasperated Parent
A mechanism to allow mosids in a community to support the central yeshiva and/or beis rifkah needs to be implemented.
Many communities are growing with more and more mosids opening up as lubavitch reaches out to the overall jewish communities in their towns or cities. day camps, new shuls, friendship circles, etc,
New Shulchim come to the community or already present individuls open these institutions and ultimately the both find new source of funding but also in part end up drawing upon money and donations that in the past had gone to the central yeshiva or migh have gone to the central yeshiva.
This creates a more difficult time for the central yeshiva to financially support itself.
What is forgotten is that ALL these new MOSIDS would not have opened, and all these new SCHLUCHIM would not have settled in a particular community if there wasn’t a school for their kids to attend.
We need to keep the central institutions strong so that they can continue to act as the main part of the infrastructure of the community and support the positive expansion of lubavitch outreach.
Of course, as was pointed out in various other posts, the central yeshivas and beis rivkahs need to take a more open, transparent, and effective approach to communicating with all stakeholders and open up their finance to independent and objective scrutiny to either a small group and/or combination of laypeople, schulchim, and members of the community or completely open up their financial records as a communial institution to foster the cooperation needed to improve, expand and grow as per the Rebbe’s directives.
we need help with camp too
My children were never taken out of their class for tuition thank G-d but my daughter says that when she goes to camp emunah she is taken out of the line to go join those other girls who don’t have their cards bec. their parents couldn’t pay up everything. every year she begs us to please pay up everything to camp before she gets to NY bec. she doesn’t want to embarrassed again by having to go on the line of those who haven’t paid up yet.
Bored.
All these people leaving posts with suggestions of what to do or telling Rabbi Hecht what he should be doing, do not leave their names.
I am not leaving my name, but am not demanding anything either.
With regards to those writing about fancy cars etc.
Instead of spending cash or taking a loan to purchase a car, one can lease a car as part of a company or better yeat, fund the lease with other investments – which don’t have to cost much to get into.
Driving around with a latest model car does not necessarily reflect a person’s net worth.
Schools should be teaching their students real money management techinques. There is nothing un-Chassidish about this.
What car do you drive?
‘Driving around with a latest model car does not necessarily reflect a person’s net worth.’
This is correct however the person that is driving the latest model Jaguar versus the latest model Accord either has a higher net worth or is unscrouplous with his money. Either way it is a few hundred dollars a month difference that can be applied to tuition. Not our business if the person is paying full tuition but it does seem self centered for a parent to ask for a discount when they are driving around in the latest model Jaguar, Lexus, BMW etc.
Chen G
Poor Hillel Ha-zukain, froze on the roof for nothing.
yonason Roberts
As a student who was forced out of jewish schools at a young age because of this very issue, I think that its high time we returned to the set up that the alter rebbe suggested in his hilchos talmud torah and start a tuition tax if one wants to benefite from any of the anemities in crown heights. Same percentage to everyone, run through a community volenteer va’ad incharge of ALL schools in the community. Let them parcel out funds to each school, almost like the public school system, and this way if the vouchers do come through, they’re the ones funneling the money to the right school and dictating terms, the ones we elect. Not every idea in the non-jewish world is abborant, and certainly the idea of having a va’ad incharge of local education is a good one.