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I don’t know whether the writer’s observations are accurate or not. But it does highlight an ongoing problem in both communities that can only get worse.
In a world that keeps increasing exponentially because of their typically large families, how will it be possible to keep meeting the increased demands? My understanding is that with every new school built in Lakewood, the classrooms are filled even before their doors open for the first time?
I’m sure that new schools are being built all the time with all deliberate speed. But simple logic dictates that when there are typically 8 or more children per household, there will be a geometric increase in the student population every generation that will be impossible to accommodate. Add to that the increasing numbers of people choosing to live in a more affluent and religious communities like Lakewood or Monsey – and it isn’t to hard to predict that in the not too distant there will be a lot of students that will not be accommodated. No matter how fast new schools will be built - even assuming there is the space to build them all.
The idea of expanding class size to help accommodate the likely explosion in student population is a bad idea. Such classes become impersonal and lack the motivational influence teachers have with each student in smaller class sizes. The younger the age the more important small class size is. Overly large class will surely leave a lot of students out in the cold in terms of their actual education.
I know what a lot of people might be thinking. Maybe the Charedi world should consider birth control in order limit family size. There are after all situations where birth control is Halachicly permitted. But the parameters permitting it are limited and in any case - vary among various different Hashkafos. Making it an impractical solution. I certainly would never deny a family who wishes to have a lot of children the right to do so. I have seen many large families where every single child is well taken care of physically, mentally, and spiritually. Children that in every case turn out to be exemplary contributing members of the community. Sometimes even outdoing their own parents!
Does that mean a lot of parents are doomed? ...unable to find a decent school for their children? Not necessarily. There is a path out of that rat race. A path that may at first seem difficult to choose but be more fulling than what one will find in the status quo of crowded cities and towns. Which is to relocate to places that are not overpopulated like Lakewood or Monsey are. For those that might be seeking greener pasture in Monsey or Lakewood, they might find even greener pastures elsewhere.
No matter how attractive Lakewood or Monsey might seem to be because of their religious infrastructures there are other locations not as crowded with plenty of religious infrastructure. Moving ‘out of town’ is not the end of the world. There are beautiful communities outside of the New York / New Jersey area that are not overcrowded. Where a newly school built can accommodate most anyone.
These ‘out of town’ communities may not have it all, but surely have enough to satisfy the religious tastes of most Orthodox Jews. Chicago is one community like that. And there are others. It isn’t easy leaving the cocoon of the East coast where every possible religious need and desire can be accommodated in spades. But the gain of not having to worry whether your daughter will have a school to go to next year will surely be worth the reduction in the overabundance of religious infrastructure. and they won't even be giving up that much since that infrastructure exists in places like Chicago too, only on a bit smaller scale. How many restaurants does a city need to in order to feel comfortable?
If enough people are willing to consider this option it could work out well for everyone. If on the other hand if too many people prefer toughing it out in places like Lakewood and Monsey… all I can say is, Good luck with that!
