Presence

You're right that it's really too early to speculate. Still, it's clear that something is up. You pointed out before that it's not necessarily true that the secular studies will deteriorate. Still, the problem is that if TA moves far to the right and Rambam doesn't become an adequate option, there will be no school in Baltimore that fits the bill of "normal." What's "normal"? Hard to define. I guess the feeling is that we need a school somewhere in the middle, one that's not the strict definition of a yeshiva where the bochurim all sleep on campus, but still has serious Judaic and secular studies. We want a school with hashkafos that seeks to impart a love of Torah and mitzvos but also prepares a student for life in the secular world, and doesn't try to dissuade students from the realities of the secular world. I wish that my gut feeling was not that a school like this will never exist.

If you know Dr. Joel Pleeter, then you should take any rumors that he and the board want to chniyok-ify TA with a grain of salt.

Teichman's not frum enough for Joel Pleeter? That's the funniest thing I've heard all week!

The board isn't going to articulate anything. They never have, and never will.

-DMZ

Please refrain from commenting on individuals and their levels of observance. Dr. Pleeter works very hard for the school, and his religious observance and/or personal hashkafa are not a subject of debate or discussion, here or elsewhere. I know Dr. Pleeter personally (he delivered 2.5 of my children) and respect and appreciate the work he does for the school. I only mentioned him because, as far as people on the outside are concerned, he is seen as being in control. I do not think that this is a battle of personalities by any stretch, if you got that impression, I apologize.

I love our .5 of a kid. She is the cutest.

You have a great blog. You keep those of us no longer in Baltimore in touch with all of the important news from the menu at the Brasserie to TA's future!
Thanks

The point wasn't that Joel's not an outstanding Jew and community member - I know for a fact that he is both things, because I was a member of his shul for 8 years. I'm sorry if I gave that impression. The point was that the idea that Joel (who, to them, IS the board) is in some sort of out-frumming contest with R' Teichman is absolutely absurd - he's not that sort of guy. If I wanted to personally attack someone, I'd be far more direct about it. Apologies to you and Joel.

I wouldn't rely on the students to know much about this - they're not told anything by the board at all. (This is one of the problems with the school.) The better way to get some inside knowledge is to call one of the officers that you personally know, and grill them for some info. I got some very, very interesting information like that when I was editor of the Torch (is that still around?).

-Erwos

The current situation sounds really difficult. I spoke to a mother of children currently attending TA, and she is very distressed about Rabbi Teichman leaving.

I know for a fact that the board members at TA were not a factor in the discussion or decision process. I have spoken directly to 3 of them and they know NOTHING. They were only informed that he may be leaving. The board members are just figure heads to satisfly regulations.

Look, the fact that TA may make a shift to the right reflects the evolution of Baltimore - not of TA. TA needs to function as a gauge of the community. Baltimore has changed. With Ner Israel's tremendous growth, cheap housing and a strong Agudath Israel, Ner Israel graduates began to stay in Baltimore in huge numbers in the 70s and 80s and that fact is reflected now by the need for more yeshiva-oriented schooling. The school barely remained open in the late 80s and 90s by not meeting these needs. Schools can't function with 10-15 kids each year and Rambam will learn this fact if they don't alter their philosophy - or at least approach - in the coming years. There is a need for a frum, separate high school in Baltimore, but the numbers may not allow for this.