December 28, 2005
School Daze
Last week, Yeshivat Rambam held a series of parlor meetings in an effort to gather feedback from current, former and prospective Rambam parents on the school. We attended one of the meetings, as we are both former and possibly future Rambam parents. I didn't really participate in the conversation, since I was having trouble formulating exactly how to express how I felt about Rambam. After some time to gather my thoughts, here they are.
Most of us going in thought this was really just a meeting to discuss the co-ed nature of Rambam. Although we were assured that it wasn't, it really was. The evening began with everyone saying what they liked about the school (BORING), and then what they did not like. The subject of co-education came up immiedietly, and dominated the conversation for the rest of the evening.
In retrospect, these meetings were really market research focus groups. Rambam has a problem in that the school is apprently not growing. They are looking at what they need to do to expand their student body. They got lots of good feedback last night. My advice to Rambam: think of it like a business. If there are more families that want would send their kids to a non-co-ed yeshiva day school than those that would insist on co-education, then it would behoove you to adjust your environment accordingly. Let's face it: Rambam was started by whoever it was started however many years ago. That's great. Who knows if being co-ed was an explicit choice or a neccesity. It doesn't matter. Look at the community, and figure out how you can service the broadest range of students and families. If you build it, they will come.
All the other schools in town are doing this. TA, Bais Yakov, TI, B'nos Yisrael. They are all refining their school's atmosphere in order to attract the largest number of students. Rambam is the only school that is not (although, I guess by starting this conversation with the community, they are; but they haven't done anything yet). I guess that's OK, but with it must come the realization that you will be a niche school. I personally think it's also a disservice to the community, but that's just my opinion.
On a personal level, I'm not sure what it is that differentiates Rambam from TA/Bais Yaakov (where my children are currently enrolled). I don't really have much of a problem with elementary co-education, and my objections to middle and high school co-education are less religious in nature, more based on my own experience. I guess I just feel that Rambam is off pursuing their own agenda, and making that their mission, rather than attempting to organically fit in with the needs of the community. I'm not really interested in making a political statement with where I send my child to school. I just want him to get a good education, enjoy learning and have nice friends. I'm not ecstatic with the current educational options for my kids (my son less than my daughter), but I feel that their current school exists more as a service to the community than to wave it's own flag. If Rambam can become a part of the community, I'm all in.
Greg,
Interesting post. It seems like every institution in Baltimore is constantly trying to "define" itself by moving some where on the frum scale. I thought that Rambam happened to offer a very good education and was also co-ed. At some time it seemed that the strength of the education out weighed the percieved "negative" of it being co-ed. Today, the case might be that the education (in the upper and middle school?) might not be as strong as the other schools in town so how does it differentiate itself except that it is co-ed and if you wanted that you could always go to Beth Tefillah. I'm not sure what the real issue is that they're not growing however, they should look at doing some confidential surveys as well and they might find that they have not looked in the mirror enough (i.e. staff,administration, etc.) who knows? You are correct in that whatever the reasons the school was started for might not be relevant today, but if those parents are still in charge and can't let go it could lead to the demise of the place. Take care.
Greg - I still don't have time to write a full reply but I'll give you a quick thought since you are guilting us into replying... :-)
You say to think of the school as a business but I think that is exactly what they are trying to avoid doing. The school was founded on certain ideals knowing that it would not fit into "mainstream" Baltimore. While I was not there at the meeting, from what I heard before it happened the purpose was not "we are short on cash and need more people to attend so what can we change" but rather "what are people concerned with today and are there any misconceptions that need to be addressed in the future". While I do not think having co-ed classes falls under those ideals that should not and will not be turned against, I do think providing an atmosphere where boys and girls learn how to interact in a healthy way is one of those ideals. How they choose to implement it is up to debate.
On a personal level - would you be happy with the school if all classes were seperated but boys and girls were still in the same building?
Posted by: Rachi at January 4, 2006 5:54 PMI dont have much of a problem with elementary schools being mixed. Above that, I think seperate campuses is appropriate. I have no problem if, for pragmatic reasons, an AP class is mixed. I don't see a religious Jewish high school as the proper place to educate children in how to interact with the opposite sex.
Posted by: Greg at January 4, 2006 11:47 PM
