The dire economic situation of New York Hebrew teachers at present was discussed this week at the annual convention of the “Agudath Ha’Morim Ha’Ivrim,” or Hebrew Teachers’ Federation. At the convention, which 300 Hebrew teachers attended, bitterness and despair were expressed over the treatment now accorded to Hebrew teachers by directors and supervisors of Talmud Torahs and Hebrew schools.
Speakers stated that salaries of Hebrew teachers are now being drastically cut and that the teachers are helpless. M. Shiffman, secretary of the “Agudah”, reported that this year more disputes between teachers and board of directors have occurred than at any previous time. Many teachers, he said, were dismissed for no cause.
Israel Chipkin, who greeted the convontion on behalf of the Jewish Education Association, stated that dark clouds are hovering over the horizon of Jewish education in New York, but that strikes will not remedy the situation. The Jewish public in New York must rather be educated to the necessity of Hebrew education, he said.
Other speakers were Efrem Kaplan of the editorial staff of the Jewish Morning Journal; B. Hirsch; Dr. S. Feigen of Pittsburgh; M. Schuster of Cleveland; and M. Edelstein.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
