Speaking to a Rov or Mashpia about nuance in which books to read is great when talking about an individual’s reading choices in his free time. This would help him grow at his pace while not crossing red lines.

However, this article is not talking about individual choices, or blanket prohibitions (“no student is allowed to read secular books…”)

This article is talking about school curriculum and what the schools are instilling in our children.

We expect our Mosdos to encourage high standards and they do in many areas, but unfortunately many Lubavitch schools *require* all their students to read certain ‘clean’ secular novels as part of their English curriculum. Many of these students would not read a secular novel otherwise, and to think that they’re being introduced to our children by our own frum Lubavitch schools is disheartening.

Not to mention the hypocrisy they see in our schools when in the afternoons they are required to do the exact thing that in the mornings they learned why not to do.

There are incredible Chabad books that I WISH we could’ve been discussing in English class (or even any frum novel) instead of the pigs in Animal Farm and the violence in Lord of the Flies..

Now what are we doing moving forward? I know beis Rivka a few years ago had a teacher with this expect idea and wanted to make curriculum surrounding it. Does anyone remember who it was? It was an event and one teacher got money for her idea and she was one of the ideas. I voted for her! As her idea seemed like the one that was so desperately needed.

Should we send an email to schools? Should they be signed by parents? Jewish schools should mean Jewish literature.

Lubavitch, we are on the front lines in welcoming Moshiach- let’s not keep quiet anymore with this!

The Rebbe is waiting to see our children’s daily schedule in school- I am not proud to show it to him.
I’m officially sending my children to a lubavitch school, which perhaps teaches all the right things in the morning…
However when it comes to tachlis, unfortunately money comes first, so there goes all the afternoon subjects :// – Contaminating the minds and heart of our Geuladike kinderlach- Just like the yevonim…

Principals, parents lets make a change!!

The author may actually be spot on accurate, and not exaggerated in the slightest.
As the author quoted from Tanya, Goyishe ideas are metamtem es hamoach, just like forbidden foods.
In that vein, the comparison of Goyishe literature to Chalav Akum may just be to ignite the Lubavitch passion, while in truth, they may be more correctly comparable to pig…
Did you speak to a Rov or Mashpia before writing off the author’s comparison?…

The analogy is actually very, very apt. You are looking for “nuanced” takes which justify goyishe literature, just like an unfortunately large segment looks for and finds nuanced takes on cholov akum!

USDA vetted, clean milk surely doesn’t contain non-kosher milk, they argue – just like vetted, clean books surely don’t contain poisonous, if subtle, ideas and perspectives.

They are both mitamtem the heart and the mind, and Chassidei Chabad have long and forcefully rejected both. This is not a “new restriction,” as you put it.

“Uch un vei” to minimize these matters. The ever-increasing mental, emotional, and even physical injuries and unfortunately fatalities experienced by the world around us as a result of their “wise” decisions and choices (Chochmah BaGoyim Taamin!) show us very clearly what lies ahead for those who follow in their footsteps.

Those who do so themselves – domom b’rosham. Those who endorse, encourage, or far-entfer these incremental steps – yidaihem domim molei’u, no matter how well-intentioned. Those who stand idly by are omdim al dam rei’eihem.

Thank you to the author for speaking up – hopefully not only here but directly to the mosed or mosdos in question. Meihem yiru v’chein yaasu rabbim.

Hurray for speaking out on this important topic!!

One comment though, I don’t see how “They may not be as good as the goyishe books”. The primary purpose of incorporating novels into the schools curriculum is to teach skills such as critical thinking, analysis, empathy, and communication. They are also used as a base for book reports, writing timelines writeing summaries ect.
There is no educational advantage to using goyishe books (unless you want to educate a child to think in a more goyishe way).
I once discussed this with a colleague who teaches English in a crown heights school, and I was told that the reason why they choose goyishe novels is because they can find worksheets online and they don’t have to prepare worksheets themselves!
Not the best reason why to put these goyishe outlooks and ideas into our kids heads…