Wednesday, April 25, 2012

D.C. Board Approves Hebrew Language Charter School

The Washington Post reports that on Monday, the D.C. Public Charter School Board approved 4 new charter schools, including a pre-K through 5 Hebrew language public charter school called the Sela school. In Tuesday's Washington Post, Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld published an op-ed applauding the approval. He stresses that the school's curriculum will be secular, but points out that the Hebrew foundation will be important for Jewish students who decide to pursue after-school religious studies. He explains: "Instead of focusing on language skills, which can be challenging for even the most gifted teacher, the after-school experience can now focus on spirituality and the joy of Judaism."