Board of Education Approves Hebrew Courses in Two New York High Schools

Elective courses in Hebrew will be offered at the Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln High Schools this Fall, according to a decision of the Board of Superintendents at it meeting late last week. The course of study is now being planned by Dr. Harold G. Campbell, associate superintendent in charge of High Schools, who is consulting with leading Hebrew educators in the matter. Dr.Campbell also stated that if and when the courses to be offered prove popular and successful, they will then be introduced into other high schools of the city.

The movement to have the Hebrew language take its rightful place among other classical tongues which are offered for study in the secondary schools of New York City, was officially launched about a year ago at a Conference of some twenty leading organizations, whose representatives were convened by Avukah, the American Student Zionist Federation. The conference unanimously agreed to endorse the project sponsored by Avukah and designated a committee consisting of Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Dr. Samson Benderly, Magistrate Benjamin Marvin, Nathan Straus, Jr., Bernard S. Deutsch, Nathan D. Perlman, Abraham H. Cohen, James Waterman Wise and Samuel Blumenfeld to press this matter to the attention of the educational authorities in New York City.

The committee, aided by Commissioner Samuel Levy, presented its case to Dr. Campbell and later again appeared before the entire Board of Associate Superintendents, which was presided over by Dr. William J. O’Shea. At this meeting, Dr. O’Shea stated to the committee: “In view of the cultural and sociological value of Hebrew, it deserves to find its place alongside of other languages which have served civilized nations and will continue to serve them as a medium of intelligent and cultural expression.”