Hasidic school raid puts spotlight on conundrum facing Education Ministry

Each morning, an untold number of children in Montreal's Hasidic community set off forschools that don't follow the province's curriculum and aren't recognized by Quebec'sEducation Ministry.

The Quebec governmenthas beentrying quietly to deal with the issue for years, engaging innegotiations with non-conforming schools in an attempt to find solutions.

But araid this week ona schoolin Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie operating without a ministry permitthrust the problem back into the spotlight and renewed questions about how to balance religious and personalfreedoms,the rights of the child and the role of education.

• Hasidic school targeted in youth protection raid
• Former Hasidic Jew sues the province for getting a poor education

On Wednesday,Montreal police officers accompanied officials fromthe agency charged with youth protection in English Montreal,Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, when they descended on the schoola nondescriptbuilding on Parc Avenue atBeaubienStreet.

About a dozenwomen and about 60 male students,most of them of elementary-school age, along withsome adolescents, were escorted fromthe premises.

Raid described as 'overkill'

AlexWerzberger, president of theCoalition ofOutremont Hasidic Organizations, described the raidas "overkill."

In an interview on CBC Montreal's Daybreak,Werzberger said the school is working to adapt to the province's requirements, either through home-schoolingor additional tutoring.

"This isa very new school, and they're working on it," he said."They're not saying no."

No one from the school nor its board could be reached for comment on Friday.

HershberHirsch,a member of the school's board, said earlier this week the schoolwill "continue to co-operate" with the Education Ministry.

"We are certainly not very happy with the trauma caused to the kids, which was not in any way necessary given our co-operation with the [youth services] up until now," he said.

Home-schooling as compromise?

Radio-Canada recently profiled another school, Outremont's Beth Esther Academy, attempting tocomply with provincial law bymeeting the requirementsthrough home-schooling.

Only two people on the staff, however,had the qualifications to be teaching in the school, and there was no science equipment inside.

As well, theEnglish Montreal School Boardsigned a home-schooling contract with each of 236 parents from the Yeshivas Torah Moshe community inOutremontlast fall,EMSBspokesman Mike Cohensaid in anemail.

"This is our only arrangement so far," hesaid.

"We are certainly open to talk with the EducationMinistry anytime if they wish to arrange for additional home-schooling students."

Non-certified schools an exception

In the aftermath of the raids,theCentre for Israel and JewishAffairs, a localadvocacy group, has taken pains to stress that the majority of Montreal's Jewish schools meet the provincial requirements.

"There are over 20 schools in Montreal as part of the Jewish community,none of which, by the way, would be described as secular,"saidReubenPoupko, the organization'sco-chair and a rabbi atBeth Israel Beth Aaron inCteSt-Luc.

The idea that this institution represents the kind of threat that would necessitate that intervention is a little out of whack.- Rabbi Reuben Poupko, co-chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

"All of them are religious to one extent or another,and they all conform, even theHasidicschools, conform to Quebec curriculum."

"The community that I represent believes that all schools should be in conformity with Quebec law and Quebec curriculum," he said.

Poupko added, however, that while "the law on the books makes sense, obviously, the idea that this institution represents the kind of threat that would necessitate that intervention is a little out of whack."

"These kids are in school all day, no one is in the streets, there's no history or record of delinquency, and these are kids who spend their whole day studying in a very serious way," he said.

He added that he's hopeful the school becomes "compliant with Quebec curriculum."

Proulx wants new regulations

It's unclear how many Hasidic schools currently don't conform with provincial requirements.

Education MinisterSbastienProulx acknowledged it's difficult to keep track since the schools aren't registered, and some of the children don't have a provincial permanent code.

• 'It's very painful for us': Hasidic community worried byOutremontban

Proulx said he wants to introduce new regulations to make sure children don't fall through the cracks of the education system.

The province has previously been the target of legal action from aformer member of Boisbriand's Hasidic community,who argued it didn't do enough to ensure he received a proper education.

"I hope that as a society we willbe able to intervene more easily. I want us to be able to have a communication with communities," Proulx said.