It would be nice if we could custom-design schools for our kids
Institutionalization has its benefits. The institutionalization of education, for example, has ensured that almost everyone in westernized countries is literate. Our own educational institutions ensure a uniformly high standard of religious “competence” within our community.
But there’s also a downside of institutionalization: the obliteration of the individual. Institutions are organized around conformity. The problem is that human beings don’t come in “one-size-fits-all.” And that’s why some parents can’t find the right school for their child.
“Yehuda is a great kid with brains, talent, and a heart of gold. But he has learning problems that make it hard for him to keep up in school. He doesn’t qualify for a special school placement because his disability is fairly mild, but he could definitely use a special class — which our school doesn’t have.
“There is a school nearby that does have such a class and it would be perfect for him, but the school isn’t a good fit for our family. It’s so painful not to be able to properly meet my son’s needs.”
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