Jewish education crisis at non-Jewish schools
CAULFIELD Junior College (CJC) announced last week its withdrawal from the special religious instruction (SRI) program, denying more than 220 Jewish students access to Jewish education within the school.
CJC joins Elsternwick, Murrumbeena, Carnegie and Valkstone Primary Schools in cancelling the SRI program, with now more than 700 Jewish students – close to 50 per cent – at Victorian government schools excluded from a Jewish education at their schools.
The changes to the SRI program implemented by the Education Department last year allows principals to withdraw from the SRI program if there are insufficient resources.
The United Jewish Education Board’s executive director Marlo Newton voiced her concerns about this “meaningless” phrase to Victorian Education Minister James Merlino in a meeting last Friday.
“I explained to Minister Merlino that this reaction we’re getting from principals who say ‘we can’t resource it appropriately’ are decided on inconsistent terms,” Newton told The AJN.
“The Minister said he believes there is a lack of clarity in the current situation and it isn’t serving anyone well. They intend to bring another version before the end of the year.”
Despite these assurances, Newton said she was “devastated” by CJC’s decision as Jewish students located in the heart of the community are not guaranteed access to a Jewish education.
According to Newton, the school’s former principal had confirmed to the Jewish parent body last year that UJEB’s program would be continued, regardless of the new policy.
As such, parents were not vigilant in expressing interest in the forms, presuming it was a “done deal”, even though CJC appointed a new principal in the interim.
“A lot of the parents were convinced it was a done deal so they didn’t notice or care about the forms that came out earlier this year,” Newton said.
Newton said the greatest challenge to the Education Department’s ministerial directive is that principals are given far too much discretion in determining the school’s resources.
“It’s ludicrous. Out of our top five schools with a large portion of Jewish students, two of them have denied the program on a loophole – Valkstone Primary School saying too many are interested and now CJC saying too few are requesting it to cover it. What are we supposed to do?”
She added, “The reason we’re so upset is that we’re getting emails on a daily basis from parents who are forced to leave Jewish schools and they are asking us where to send their kids to still get a Jewish education in the area … For the first time, I don’t know and that’s ridiculous.”
CJC’s principal Amanda McLean told The AJN that the SRI program could not be “adequately resourced” as parents failed to provide consent for their children to participate.
However, she is seeking other avenues for students from all faiths to have exposure to a diverse range of holidays and celebrations.
“Our school is proud of our multicultural student community, and is continuing to explore options to celebrate and learn about multiple faiths, including Judaism, as part of other school programs and activities.
“The college’s popular parent-led Hebrew Immersion Program is continuing to operate three mornings per week.”
A spokesperson for Merlino added, “The Minister welcomed the opportunity to meet with UJEB to discuss religious instruction in schools and looks forward to ongoing discussions.”
ZOE KRON
Caulfield Junior College students taking part in a UJEB model seder.
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