Supreme Court Decision on Parochial Schools Draws Angry Response from Two Orthodox Groups

A Supreme Court ruling that a Pennsylvania law providing various auxiliary services to parochial and other non-public schools was unconstitutional, drew an angry response from two Orthodox Jewish groups here today.

Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky, national director of Torah Umesorah, the National Society for Hebrew Day Schools, said “The Supreme Court has made a mockery of our democracy by declaring millions of children in genuine need as second class citizens.” Rabbi Moshe Sherer, executive president of the Agudath Israel of America, claimed that the Supreme Court decision “smashes the hopes of children in religious schools to be treated as equals in society.”

The ruling, handed down May 19, invalidated the provision to non-public schools by the state of services, such as counseling, testing and speech and hearing therapy, It did not affect the loaning of secular textbooks to parochial schools.

CRUEL ACT OF DISCRIMINATION

According to Dr. Kaminetsky, whose organization is affiliated with 500 Hebrew day schools in 34 states with a combined enrollment of 92,200 students, the Supreme Court decision will deny millions of disadvantaged children with serious learning handicaps the remedial assistance financed by taxes paid by their parents.

“The decision severely limits the right of parents to exercise free choice in education and disregards the health, welfare and needs of the disadvantaged child,” Dr. Kaminetsky said. “It punishes the child simply because the parent opted for free choice in education, thus making the option a privilege for the rich only.”

Rabbi Sherer labeled the ruling “a cruel act of discrimination against medically deprived children,” He expressed hope that a future Supreme Court will nullity it.