Every few months, we are met with a variation of the same headline: Teachers on Strike Due to Lack of Pay, School to Remain Closed. The Tuition Crisis, as it has come to be known, is a menace always lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at any moment.
But why does this crisis perpetually exist? After-all, there is no corresponding “supermarket crisis,” in which the supermarket owners go on strike due to lack of pay for the food they provide to our families.
There are two easily identifiable causes: 1. Waste and mismanagement by the school’s administrators. 2. Many parents are not up to date with their children’s tuition, and some schools (perhaps rightfully) feel that it would be inappropriate to send a child onto the streets due to her/his parents’ financial troubles.
Now let’s do some math:
A normal sized classroom has 20 students. A very reasonable tuition is $5,000 per year. $5000 x 20 = $100,000.
The solution is staring us in the face. Parents should pay the teachers directly! If a teacher would receive only $5,000 from each of 20 students, they would make a six-figure salary!
No longer would the tuition money be filtered through an ineffective administration and a few cents on the dollar trickle down to the foundation of the school – the teachers – but only after everyone else, from the top administrator to the janitor, was paid first. The money will filter through the teachers now, and trickle up to everyone else.
How will that work? What about the building costs? The administrative costs? The janitors and cooks?
Simple, the school will charge a fee to every teacher to “rent” their classroom. Like all rent payments, this fee will include all administrative and maintenance costs.
What if the administrator jacks up the fee, leaving the teacher with hardly a paycheck remaining? Simple, the teacher can take his/her business elsewhere. There are dozens of Shuls in Crown Heights that sit empty all week long. If, say, Bais Rivkah charges a classroom fee that is too high, a teacher may calculate that it’s worth it to run her classroom in a shul or community center, while paying for the rent and cleaning costs (etc.) out of her own pocket.
While there undoubtedly are benefits to a unified school in one building, none of these benefits outweigh the dire importance of teachers being paid a proper wage on time. In fact, the lack of pay is the primary cause that drives talented teachers away from our community and away from this career altogether. Implementing this system will make teaching a highly attractive and lucrative career, and it will attract the most talented young men and women into the field of Chinuch. Any benefit to having a classroom within the environment of a large school building will surely be outweighed by the benefit of having talented and motivated teachers educate our children – wherever that may take place.
Who will provide lunch? that is up to the teachers and parents. Some teachers may choose to charge a bit more and provide lunch, and some may just have the parents send lunch with their kids (which is how most public schools in this country operate).
And what about those financially struggling parents who can’t pay. I have two responses:
1. Why should the teachers be the scapegoats to bear the burden of those less fortunate? Why not the grocer? Why not the landlord? Why is it that everyone requires on-time payment – or else no service – but when it comes to education suddenly it’s ok to cry poverty and not pay the bill. $400 a month per child is a very reasonable fee for a child’s education, even for those who are struggling. Maybe they’ll have to make some hard choices. Maybe they’ll have to forgo the car, or eating out, or hosting Shabbos, or that summer vacation. But which of those things is more important than paying your child’s teacher on time?!
2. I’m sure that if teachers are paid on time by the vast majority of their students, they will make room for those one or two students whose parents truly cannot pay. It can be their Maaser; for every nine paying students, they will accept one student who cannot pay. Or two students at half price. This should be more than enough to make sure no one ends up on the streets – but that no one is getting a free ride at a poor teacher’s expense either.
In practice, what I’m suggesting is nothing new. I’m merely advocating a return to the way things were for hundreds of years in the “old home.” Parents paid the Melamed directly for their children’s education, and it was up to the Melamed to make all other arrangements, such as location (which was usually a room in the town’s synagogue. In fact that’s how the synagogue got the name “Shul” which is the word for school in German/Yiddish). The Melamdim would accept less money from the poorer students, while the wealthier ones were happy to pay for the Jewish continuity of their town’s next generation.
Enough with the talk, let’s talk practicality.
Someone should build a simple website where teachers can list their services, for example:
Rabbi M. Cohen – Boys’ Teacher / Grade: 7th/ Experience: 4 Years / Classroom Size: 18 Max. / Cost: $4,500 per year / Lunch: not included / transportation: Not included.
Mrs. N. Levy – Girls’ Teacher / Grade: 4th/ Experience: 15 Years / Classroom Size: 20 Max. / Cost: $5,600 per year / Lunch: included / transportation: not included.
Prospective parents would apply directly to teachers through the website, and would have to submit a credit card to which the monthly tuition could be billed. The teachers will have the option to require that one extra month be paid in advance, so that in the event of non-payment, they will have a full month to obtain the remaining funds without having to resort to either sending the child home or being unable to make their bills.
Each classroom in this network (despite potentially being is separate locations) can be considered one large school, and can gather together on special occasions for a school-wide rally and other such events.
The power is in our hands to take back control of our schools and our children’s education. When will we exercise it?
And idiotic. The teacher should teach, someone else should take care of permits, admin tasks and building upkeep.
I am a teacher in an out-of-town Chabad school and I need to take issue with a few points made here: 1. My administrator is NOT a “waste”; she is my advisor, my go-to person for any issues that arise with my students, and someone to share successes and Nachas with as well. She enables me to focus on doing my job. 2. To #45–I feel sad that you’ve come to this conclusion. I have seen first-hand how HaKadosh Boruch Hu opens new channels of Parnassah with each successive child. Bitachon isn’t easy but it is worthwhile. 3. To #50… Read more »
Can’t you tell this is an entertaining piece of wishful thinking that makes a good point but is not to be taken so literally? Chill out everyone and smell the roses.
never understood why a teacher should be rich? also hours it’s so small, find another job. or go to medical o law school
anyone out there knows that the school lunches subsided by the government are a money making machine?
I think this is a fantastic plan. The people who dont like it are the ones who like to squeeze the least they can pay with tears while finding money for what they want. A big problem is that many parents do not put the expense of education at the forefront. Camps take exorbitant fees which parents all cough up to get their kids in. Why not push for your education!? There is a huge disconnect between teachers and parents and this is the only way to fix it
Apart from the fact that it would probably kill him, he is the one person I would trust to put things right. He built up a very successful business; he founded Shmira; He is a big Baal Chesed & Baal Tzedaka & he has the support of his partner-in-life, Idii. Why are our best people ignored? He doesn’t just talk, he DOES.
You seem like the writer.
At least try to change your style to hide this fact
Have less kids.
My theory is that if we really have to have large familes, somehow we would have figured out how to have low fee schools.
I am sending my child to “the Rebbe’s school” not in CH.
Tuition starts at $15000 and will climb to $40000 by the time he is in his final year of school.
we have sat with a financial advisor and believe that we can only afford to send TWO children to Rebbe’s moisod, any more and we would either need to shnore or send to public school.
If the community, as a whole, made the schools a priority, there would be enough to go around to support everyone.
Sadly this is not the case:
Serving schmaltz herring at the weekly (lavish) kiddush is more important than supporting the schools or paying full tuition.
No, this is not a practical solution at all. The only practical solution is really to have someone in charge of fundraising and not rely on tuition. Parents should not have to be pressured to pay full tuition if they cannot. A school cannot exist solely on tuition payments! If the author thinks a school should rent classrooms…so why not just forget the school altogether and just form small classes of ten kids per class, parents get together and hire their own melamed and utilize peoples basements etc to learn in.? that might even be a better solution. cheaper, better… Read more »
Why not the grocer? Why not the landlord? Why is it that everyone requires on-time payment – or else no service
Because a school raises money from the public and/or gets donations on the notion of No jewish child left behind
the grocer and the landlord don’t take public money to help feed your children the schools does. Thats why the administration carries the burden.
You deserve thanks for trying to solve the problem and taking time to write this op-ed.
Another reason why it wouldn’t work is, the classes are tailored to the students academic standard, to prevent bullying, and other factors. Imagine if a teacher was trying to teach to children on all different levels, the only uniting factor bring the parents ability to pay?
But keep thinking, maybe next time you’ll hit gold!
Never before has such a preposterous idea been given so much credibility!
There is.more to running a school.than teacher’s salaries!
I propose a better.idea.
Pour MORE money into the chinuch in our neighborhood! Rethink your.priorities and how you allocate your funding.
Fancy Bar mitzvas, bas mitzvas, weddings, vacations and summer homes have become the norm…
Take all that WASTED money and put.it into something really beautiful, the chinuch of our children!
Most parents couldn’t pay the current tuition, and you want to raise it? How can they pay it when rent in crown heights has gone out of control? Also, bais rivkas about the only school that doesn’t fundraise. Besides, I don’t think they rent out their hall out for simcha. They can get plenty money there.
If they were actually doing something, they wouldnt need to. People would be willing to give more on their own if they beilieved in the product.
The schools today offer a very poor product. Simple.
If schools were a business…
Principals would be the CEO…
Parents would be shareholders…
Most schools would go out of business due to lack of accountability, effectiveness, vision, etc etc.
Simple. If Ipay tuition, I am a shareholder. I want a say in who hires the CEO, not based on if thei father or grandfather was the princopal.
Is that it is failing most students…
1) The strongest academically are bored.
2) The Ones with learning challenges, arent being reached. (The resource rooms, tutors etc are not effective).
3) The Ones who need more practice, more creative ways of learniing, or more private coaching, arent getting it.
This leaves maybe 1/4 of the students actually getting an education.
Great idea thinking out if the box
I always thought it would be a giid idea ti break up the schools like what happened to lubavitch yeshivah in the early 90s and today they are all getting by
Waste of time, waste of money, waste of money.
Your idea is perfect. Perfect.
But alas, the masses will not go along with it, becuase it isnt the status quo.
Its time to get rid of school admins and drain the swamp.
Great article. The only people who don’t like the solution are:
1) Parents who think principals are needed, when in reality most just get in the way.
2) Parents who arent paying proper tuition.
3) Closed minded people with no vision. The same people who would write off Uber, AirBNB Etc…
Lets get started!
You have no idea what it takes to run a good school ?
To think that you pay for teacher rent and lunch ?
What about all the rest ? And who is choosing the teacher ? And sub ? And Extra curri ? And so much more details….
How you write an article when you have no clue what takes to run even a kindergarten ?
Schools are very very expensive … no one is making money from schools ….. no one …
It pains me to see when community residents bash the administrations of schools. Anybody that works in a school knows how expensive it is to run one. Stop putting the blame on administrations. There is no stealing or mismanagement of funds! There has to be outside fundraising in addition to tuition. The focus should be on fundraising ! Of course every parent should be responsible to pay for their child’s chinuch, bu tuition alone cannot pay for all the expenses of a school.
Sorry, this is not a practical solution. Kids need a school, a school building, infrastructure, assemblies, gym, lunch, programs… Teachers need to teach, not to worry about classrooms, and lunch, and everything in between. They have plenty to worry about with just getting their lesson across to 25 different individuals, and their students’ physical, emotional,social and academic health. The cost of Jewish education is, and always was, high. It is a problem, and grows, as families BH grow. Teachers, are an underappreciated, underpaid,underrespected, group of people. But, most of them know that and continue to teach because they believe in… Read more »
you said: “$400 a month per child is a very reasonable fee for a child’s education, even for those who are struggling” my friend I have K”H 7 children @ ONLY $ 400 a month each is just $ 2,800 PLUS every month, a nice $ 30,000-year bobkas…I pay rent $ 2,200 and oh yeah we eat too (not only in shabbos) and sometimes we need a dr here and there BH, let alone shoes and underwears, OK i will take your tip, I will forgo my vacations in Paris this year…
Bottom line:
The parents are right
The teachers are right
The administration is right
Who does the burden fall on?
Squeeze the parents, no fund raising = birth control
“A school needs a minimum of $15,000 in tuition per student, and even then the school needs to fund-raise to expand and maintain.”
That’s very practical, Mr. Stern.
That will certainly solve the problem.
And we could charge a bit more and give every kid a pony.
LOL…☺
wouldn’t everyone like to make more money? What do you do with the children of single parents? What about children of sick or disabled parents? What about very large families? Back in the day, those who couldn’t pay simply did without and some stayed frum and some didn’t. The paradigm today is that all Jewish children should be in a Jewish school which means that the community absorbs much of the cost.
It’s a very interesting idea but I don’t foresee the school being open to such radical change. However it’s a great idea for whoever would like to start this teaching approach. Is tuition really that low in ch? I’m oot and pay 10k per kid not including all the fees. With 3 kids that’s 30k a year and I’m on scholarship only owing 20k not including extras. I’m honestly terrified to have more kids because we are barely able to afford this and get no benefits. We both work and earn a decent living but live like paupers because between… Read more »
That is the dumbest idea I have ever heard! Teachers want to teach, not be in the business of collecting tuition, paying rent, and so on. Furthermore, putting the Burden on the teachers to worry about tuition being paid, and rent being covered, will distract their ability to properly teach. Secondly, tuition is not $5000, no school with a mortgage, overhead, staff, food, insurance, maintenance, and a million other overhead expenses can survive on 5k per student. And don’t forget the supportive staff, the tutors, the principles, etc. And then there are legal issues like, will each teach have to… Read more »
TRANSPARENCY, PLEASE. YISBARERU VEYISLABNU.
Your idea has so many holes – I think this tuition drama is absurd but ur idea really lacks professionalism . The older grades have 7/8 teachers , how would u break that up ? And if someone has 6 boys he needs to pay $30k ? That’s not normal , in satmar there is a cap per family …the out of town yeshivas are paying rebeim to live on out of town cost of living which they don’t get health insurance from the gov can’t get food stamps or section 8 don’t have the social programming we have here… Read more »
From an out of towner where tuition is over $14,000 I am shocked at everyone kvetching about $5000 per kid…
Sorry but that is where your real problem is.
You can’t go to the supermarket & demand steak to be $1.99lb
Why do you think you have the right to do it to schools??? Bottom line is tuition needs to go up if you want to get anything out of your childs education it will cost each and every parent
Maybe we need to focus on making more and complaining less
Good luck
If everyone in School was paying 5k we would not be in this situation there are parents that pay 30$ a month and there are parents that can’t pay at all do you want to put in your plan to send them to public school
there are more than 1 teacher per class room…..
Checks are not cashed till months later. Pure missmanagemt and nothing else
The ONLY way this will be resolved once and for all is for the teachers to realize the futility of waiting for back pay. Quit. But if you stay, you make your own bed and I for one don’t want to hear any more kvetching. If you don’t like it, leave. Other schools don’t have these problems – mismanagement has reached record proportions in Beis Rivkah. If I hear one more word about the Rebbe’s school, I’ll scream! The Rebbe never owed a cent to anyone. So don’t any of you dare hold yourselves up as better than any other… Read more »
The problem is with ONE particular school system. Every other school in this neighborhood seems to manage. It is this particular school that is the problem not the whole school system in general
A few being that most parents do not pay $5000 per child. Secondly administrative costs are way higher than you think. You have to factor in mortgage, insurance, heating the building, secretaries, principles, to name a few. Third there are multiple teachers per classroom so how does that work out in your grand plan?
I think the only answer to both the Tuition and housing crises besides for an open miracle, is that family’s will need to take a hard look as to if living in Crown Heights is working for them or not? and they’ll need to have this discussion before child #3. Moving when you have 7 kids under age of 21 is almost impossible.
The parents will fall behind on payment to the teachers much like the way they fall behind on payments to the administration. Except that now the teacher will have to run after the parents instead of the administration doing it for them.
People have grown so selfish that they have forgotten completely about the fact that the Rebbe instructed the moisdos to raise money to cover costs. If the school’s fundraisers are inept, move aside and let someone else do it.
I can see all kinds of problems arising with this type of system. Not least of which will be the problems that less (socially/financially/whatever) “privileged” parents will have in getting their kids to be accepted as students. There must be a different solution, one which improves the tuition situation without overturning the entire school structure. I would love to see schools develop additional streams of income. Say, for example, that a school building includes a big hall that it rents out for weddings, barmitzvahs or other functions. This already happens in some school buildings. Maybe some enterprising business-minded people can… Read more »
overlooking so many details I don’t know where to begin: 1) most teachers will acknowledge that their success is dependent on a principal, another large salary. 2) there are many administrative responsibilities, collecting the tuition, upkeep of premises, maintenance, and janitorial services, secretarial work (loads of paperwork to the students and correspondences with parents etc.), if these become the responsibility of the teacher, their effectiveness will suffer greatly. 3) The calculation that $400 a month being a reasonable amount overlooks the very common circumstance of ten or more children (Kah), simchos with expenses, illnesses ch”v, and higher expenses for older… Read more »
If rent was cheaper, I would be able to pay more for tuition.
I blame the wealthy landlords for charging an insane amount of rent, and expecting so much from young families.
what happes when you have a large family of 9 kids and they are all in school and according to you they have to pay $45,000.00 that’s nearly what they are making plust rent and food, clothing, etc. etc.
Breakfast, lunch, janitors secretarys, substitutes, tissues electricity maintenance, buses, busdrivers, supplies, water racks up into millions 100 teachers paying 20,000 a year to the school which leaves them only 50k a year after taxes which u forgot to mention, is only 2,000,000 no way thats enough, non teacher salaries alone have to be more then that, there is no solution if there was there was the goyim wouldn’t be in public schools, what will keep it afloat is what always has generous philanthropy
“In practice, what I’m suggesting is nothing new. I’m merely advocating a return to the way things were for hundreds of years in the “old home.” Parents paid the Melamed directly for their children’s education, and it was up to the Melamed to make all other arrangements, such as location (which was usually a room in the town’s synagogue. In fact that’s how the synagogue got the name “Shul” which is the word for school in German/Yiddish). The Melamdim would accept less money from the poorer students, while the wealthier ones were happy to pay for the Jewish continuity of… Read more »
As rent gets higher people paying 2700 for a “three” bedroom can’t shell out so much tuition . My friends it’s all connected . Our shechuna is falling apart . Many of the board members are in real estate I’m sure they realize this. We need to do more outside fundraising. Every parent that wants a break needs to commit time to fundraise.
and what happens when parents do not pay? who will pick up the shortfall then? the teachers will literally be living at the mercy of the parents payments.
there is no surplus.so again, the teacher is the last to get paid.
I dont think this makes sense at all.
LEAST practical solution ive ever heard of.
The administration would stand in the way of it and someone would have to act as an administrator.
The teachers would have to be directly involved with collecting money which is harder than this author imagines and I don’t envy them that job.
Many parents who have large families struggle to pay $5000 per kid. This is the same challenge that the existing administration has.
Acceptance of each child would be dependent on the opinion or desire of the teacher which could change from year to year so some children would undoubtedly be left out of a class.
This wont be happening any time soon.
If you hold so strongly for this idea, why don’t you build the ‘simple website’?
Why do you say so much and do little??