London – Training courses for strictly Orthodox nursery school teachers have come under renewed attack because of material relating to child abuse.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Opponents have circulated a letter from the Rabbinical Council of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations warning of the danger of NVQ courses.
But Hindy Lew, manager of Vista Education and Training, one of the institutions which runs NVQ courses for the Charedi community, said: “The way we teach it, there is no reason for people to be agitating against it.”
The letter appears similar to one issued in March last year signed by the secretary of the Rabbinical Council, Rabbi David Halpern: the latest copy obtained by the JC, however, has its date blotted out.
Its distribution illustrates differences of opinion within the strictly Orthodox community over how far to go in meeting requirements for secular qualifications.
According to government rules, half the staff in a nursery school must be trained to at least NVQ level two and at least one member should have attended a course on child protection.
While the rabbinical council may be concerned, the official rabbinate of the Union has not issued any ruling against the NVQ courses. The council is a forum, whereas the rabbinate represents its religious authority.
Mrs Lew said that about 75 students a year from London’s strictly Orthodox community were attending Vista’s NVQ courses. “Provided they are taught by people who understand the community, there is no problem,” she said.
Vista, which has run courses for many years, now holds classes at the new Lubavitch Children’s Centre in Stamford Hill, North London.
Cache, the agency which validates children’s care and development courses, has rated Vista courses as outstanding for a second successive year in a row.
these are adults what are the concerned about, that the teachers will notice the signs of abuse
Basically this means that teachers should not be trained to the point of C’V picking up signs of abuse R’L and to keep it under the rug, is that a good future for our children, or the greater good of our communities ?
The Rabbonim writing these letters should be investigated for abuse. What else could be the problem in teaching the teachers how to identify abuse. And trust me, we are not immune to it and many children suffer from it and it is not identified in our communities.
Mrs Lew is a reliable veteran mechaneches who was known for her strict views and discipline when she was the “headmistress” (UKish for principal) of the Chabad girls school. The kanoim should only wish that their teachers are being taught by Mrs Lew.
Disgusting. The Torah protects the weakest of our society. And these jerks corrupt the very fabric of our society. The council should be disbanded, and any teacher who refuses to attend, fired.
the more the rabbies speak the more I think it is ok to molest children
what are they thinking off this is a course to detect molestation what on earth can be wrong with that unless they are afraid of being exposed
Interesting – here we have rabbanim that want to limit education on abuse, while in another community we have rabbanim who are upset that someone went to secular authorities to help.
If you prevent the efforts to educate the community, how do you expect to trusted to help?
Could someone (who knows what they’re talking about) define NVQ and the various levels? Is this similar to the child abuse recognition course that’s required for a teaching certificate in New York State?
Why would anyone send their children to a Jewish school knowing that they teachers were forbidden to learn about child abuse?
many kids who are slapped with the title of ADD or ADHD have terrible adult lives. ever thought WHY the kid can’t sit still? maybe because in his house, if he sits still, he will be horribly beaten?
people who dress up as being very religios are just dressed up child abusers or pedafiles.
at least the SS wore the right uniforms.
I think that these people must only relate the term ‘abuse’ to sexual abuse, not realising that there are many more forms of abuse out there…….