Hasidic schools reported to be open
Some schools in the Hasidic community are accused of being open for classes despite the general lockdown till January 11. Their PR guy says the kids don’t have computers or tablets so they can’t learn from home.
Update: The Journal puts snarky scare-quotes around “école” in the headline on their version of this story.
Ephraim 22:09 on 2020-12-30 Permalink
And apparently they don’t have photocopiers, paper, books, pencils and the ability to drop off and pick up paperwork for their children either.
Kate 10:30 on 2020-12-31 Permalink
According to this Radio-Canada piece these schools are exploiting a government exception that says that students can still go to school if they live in areas where internet connections are not available. I imagine this was written in to allow for education in remote regions, not to permit city dwellers to break the rules because they deny their kids access to the internet on principle. The ministry shouldn’t let these groups play casuistic games with the rules.
CTV headlines its version of the CP story “Ultra-Orthodox Jewish council explains that schools can remain open in Quebec” which is misleading.The council doesn’t explain anything. It presents its very particular interpretation of the law, which the government should firmly dismiss, although somehow I doubt anyone in the CAQ is as well equipped to debate fine points of law as a Haredi rabbi.
(“Of course they live in areas where internet connections are not available. Their homes.”)
Bill Binns 13:22 on 2020-12-31 Permalink
If these events were hockey games or bachelor parties, the government would be more than happy to knock the doors down and issue a press release about the thousands of dollars in fines that were given. However, when it involves the spooky and mystical world of religion, the government wrings it’s hands in indecision or simply does nothing.
DeWolf 13:45 on 2020-12-31 Permalink
You say that, Bill, but one topic that came up this summer in the Mile End community discussion groups is that the police always showed up to break up gatherings outside synagogues, but they wouldn’t bother to show up to inspect big backyard parties, even after neighbours made noise complaints.
Chris 15:38 on 2020-12-31 Permalink
What ever happened with Eglise Nouvelle Creation? Remember the SPVM said the Criminal Code prevents them from breaking up religious services.* Since Hasidic “education” is mostly religious, is the SPVM similarly powerless here I wonder?
I tried to find what this might be, best I could find is: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-41.html
Mark Côté 15:52 on 2021-01-01 Permalink
Rinks are open here in NDG… Saw some people seemingly playing hockey just the other day.
dwgs 19:16 on 2021-01-01 Permalink
Where was that Mark? The only one I know of is the Bleu Blanc Bouge and there’s no hockey allowed, just stickhandling and you have to book 48 hours in advance and you need a library card to book.
Mark Côté 22:34 on 2021-01-01 Permalink
It was the Bleu Blanc Bouge. I admit I do not know the difference between a game of hockey and stickhandling; I just noticed that it didn’t seem to be the skating-in-a-circle pattern, and I heard some hockey-like noises.