I moved and never updated. It's not a great conspiracy.
The bafflement suggests you learnt critical thinking in Lakewood schools...
Which schools have a strong department? That the Hanhala and the rebbeim and thenstudent body are machshav English and it's not viewed as some big game?
You can find them if you look hard enough.
(I know that would mean that they’re not easy to find, but that’s life. Have to work hard to get the gold!)
I heard that Orchos Chaim has a decent English department, or at least had in the past.
I also heard recently that תלמוד תורה דלייקווד (kalmanowitz) has a serious English.
My boys elementary school has a very decent general studies department. I don't think they graduate at a lower level than the typical Brooklyn yeshivos.
Boys mesivtos are a different story. My experience is limited to one mesivta which is high level in limudei kodesh and has a sort of outsourced general studies dept. It is totally up to the kid and his parents to opt in or out. The benefit is that for the most part, kids who opt in are interested in gaining the knowledge and take it (semi) seriously.
Even though they might graduate on a similar level as Brooklyn boys elementary schools, boys high school English on the other hand (for those schools in Brooklyn that actually have English,
the Brooklyn Cheder for example) will be a lot higher than almost all high school English in Lakewood. Since they have to take the regents. (That’s what I see from friends and family)
I personally had barely any English in elementary, and zero in high school, but have better overall knowledge than guys I know from oot, who did have a solid English. While I may not be able to quote Shakespeare verbatim, or rattle off the table of elements, I for example have a higher English language comprehension & a better understanding of mathematics than guys from oot that I know (queens, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Chicago…).
This may simply be because I enjoy gaining knowledge, have read a lot, and the way my brain is wired, but if that’s the case, why is it that important for the high school to have English as a major focus?
I’m not saying it isn’t necessary in life to have a
basic education that’s only taught in the English department, as I would have wanted more English in elementary, and at least a
solid optional English track in high school, but in the end of the day, it boils down to each person individually.
Some kids wouldn’t apply themselves more than the bare minimum, while others would throw themselves in all the way.
While I would take additional courses/study for the sake of gaining more knowledge, my brothers would not.
And as an aside, the boys in my family have much higher math skills, English etc. than the girls, and from what I hear, the girl don’t walk out after graduation with any more skills than the boys.
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