Why The New York Times’ Smear Campaign Against Private Religious Schools Hurts Their Credibility

The New York Times It’s back at it again. Nearly three years after the mishandling of Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), “they are at it again.”Send in the troopsWhile the “essay” headline grabbed national attention, a second equally shameful campaign is receiving far less media attention. The Gray Lady blames Hasidic Jewish schools in corporal punishment as part of their coordinated attack upon private, faith-based educational institutions.

Let me tell you the story: Last week, a coalition consisting of New York State Assembly members as well as state senators introduced several bills that would make corporal punishment illegal in New York. schools statewide. The proposed legislation, which was banned in public schools from 1985, would be extended to private institutions.

So far, so good. In any school, public and private, corporal punishment is not allowed. However, the practice is still legal. 19 states Across the Empire State, it is rampant. According to Albany Times UnionNew York’s Education Department recorded nearly 18,000 complaints about corporal punishment in charter and public schools over the past half-decade. More than 1,600 complaints were substantiated.

These bills are a response to a pressing need, and they deserve broad bipartisan support.

However, of the total 17,819 cases across the state, over 93% (16,671) were reported in New York City’s Public Schools system. The remaining 7 percent (1,148), came from other public schools districts throughout the state.

The New York Times reported on the proposals in their reportage. Framed legislators’ action as a “response to its [The New York Times’] reporting of the use of slaps and kicks to keep order in some Hasidic Jewish schools,” Also known as yeshivas.

The majority of reported corporal punishment incidents in public schools are attributable to yeshivas. This allows them to boast about their own reporting while also fitting into their narrative.

These same documents were created less than six years ago Times Reporters took the wood to yeshivas. In a expose of 7,000 words, they accused schools of failing to “provide an adequate education” They were also added to the list. “regularly use corporal punishment.”

The Same article They continued by stating that “over the past five years, the New York City Police Department has investigated more than a dozen claims of child abuse at the schools, records show. It is not clear whether anyone was charged in the incidents.”

There are 113,000 Students Comparable to those enrolled in Yeshivas New York City One million Its public school system had a 10x higher rate. If the rate of corporal punishment were equally pervasive, it is reasonable to assume that 1/10 of the total complaints, i.e., a number like 1,600, to have occurred at yeshivas – not “more than a dozen,” The Times reported.

They didn’t stop there. They published at least one book every month since September 2022. 17 articles The anniversary issue published three images that depict yeshivas as a negative place. September 11.

After last week’s reporting, authors of the new legislation that bans corporal punishment refuted the Times’ framing. Democratic state, one of the sponsors Senator Julia SalazarTweeted at the Times reporter: “To be clear: We introduced this bill because the law should *explicitly* ban corporal punishment in all schools. The use of physical or violent methods to ostensibly discipline students has happened in many schools. I haven’t seen any evidence of it being a pattern in yeshivas.” Democratic, another co-sponsor, was also included. Senator Andrew GounardesThese remarks were repeated by a second speaker.

The New York Times – The Distaste It is well-documented that Hasidic schools are popular. its editorial page. For this type of advocacy, the right place is the opinion section. The news section should provide facts.

Newspapers’ reputation is damaged when opinion is blatantly influenced by news. Public data shows the perceptions of news media. Record lows Gallup and Knight Foundation released numbers last month. Half of Americans Believe that most national news organizations are trying to mislead, misinform, and persuade their audience

Blaming yeshivas with corporal punishment doesn’t do much to repair the Gray Lady’s fragile credibility. Let’s pray they reverse their course, or else readers will completely ignore them.

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Awi Federgruen holds the Charles E. Exley Chair of Management at Columbia Business School.

The opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Wire.

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