Critics question how alleged abuse at publicly funded private school went unnoticed

There are new concerns about abuse allegations at an ultra-Orthodox private school in Rockland.

News 12 Staff

Oct 30, 2019, 9:28 PM

Updated 1,882 days ago

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There are new concerns about abuse allegations at an ultra-Orthodox private school in Rockland.
A viral video appears to show a 14-year-old Yeshiva Shaar Efraim student in Monsey being kicked beneath his desk by a teacher in 2016. State education officials confirm that the yeshiva has received more than $3 million in public funding since 2000.
Critics now question how the incident, at a publicly funded school, went unreported until now and question who's responsible for overseeing teaching methods there.
State officials say instances of abuse should be immediately reported to the Department of Education and police.
School officials the teacher is no longer there and that it is under new administration.
Ramapo police are now investigating the incident as a result of News 12’s report on Tuesday.
Sources within the insular Hasidic community say corporal punishment in ultra-Orthodox yeshivas is common and often goes unreported by students and their families out of fear of retribution.
The now-17-year-old student seen in that video tells News 12 he has similar concerns and declined to be interviewed as a result. He says although he wants to remain anonymous, he shared the recording to shed light on widespread abuse in ultra-Orthodox yeshivas.