Beis Rivkah High School Students Told To Delete Facebook Profiles

March 28, 2012 1:37 PM

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Students at a Jewish high school for girls in Brooklyn have been ordered to delete their Facebook profiles for allegedly violating school policy.

Beis Rivkah High School president Benzion Stock said students signed a contract and knew they weren’t supposed to be on the social networking site.

“In religious communities they don’t want anybody to have the Internet, especially not Facebook,” Stock told 1010 WINS. “They all knew about it before, they were warned about it, they were told about it, they were taught about it and some girls ignored it.”

The ban has apparently been in effect for two years.

Stock said having a Facebook account violates a religious code of modesty.

“It’s not a modest thing for a religious Jewish man or woman to be on,” Stock said.

According to CrownHeights.info, students in the 11^th grade with Facebook accounts were taken out of class and told to delete their accounts and pay a $100 fine or face expulsion.

What do you think? Sound off below…

Beis Rivkah High School Students Told To Delete Facebook Profiles

Oakspar

The school wants to promote modesty, a longstanding virtue among women that empowers them to be free from social pressures to denegrate themselves as sexual objects.

Facebook is about self promotion, and does not line up with the virtue of modesty.

The school has a standing policy, in effect for years, that bans Facebook, and likely other similar social media. The girls signed on to this policy. The parents agreed to the policy by putting their child in this school. There was consent from all involved.

The girls broke the rule and were punished.

Nothing at all here makes this unusual. Those arguing that teens should be able to exspress themselves however they want should realize that teens are still children and do not have unlimited rights. Parents have the right and legal obligation to cencer and educate their children. There is no law against putting your beliefs on your children, there is an obligation to do so. If you believe your children should not have any beliefs put on them – that is itself the belief that you are putting on them. Leave other parents to choose superior belief systems.

To those arguing that homeschool is the only answer to protect your children from this intrusion – realize that this school was the choice of those parents. It is to be expected that if you put your child in a Facebook free school it is because you believe that having your child Facebook free is a virtue – otherwise you would not choose that school.

After all, there are cheaper options if you want your child to be “like everyone else” and in line with mainstream culture – they are called public schools.

Ellennemm

“If you believe your children should not have any beliefs put on them – that is itself the belief that you are putting on them. Leave other parents to choose superior belief systems.” “Superior”? Really? What an incredibly arrogant thing to say.
Darcy

Your “superior beliefs” apparently didn’t teach you how to spell censor.
marc

My daughter has a facebook and doesn’t “denigrate” herself into a sexual object. What the parents have done, by agreeing to this, they have granted the school their parenting responsibilities. It should be MY decision, whether my daughter has a Facebook page or not, based on MY evaluation of her maturity. And I must continually monitor to ensure she is staying within the bounds of what I consider moral. I wouldn’t expect a school or an educator to do my parenting job for me.
Kate

The cheaper option of public schools (nice put-down, very subtle) is what most people do in this country. In fact, it is where I met people unlike myself while still adhering to my parents’ values. Funny how that can work…that a family can be strong enough to withstand a little outside pressure. And, mainstream culture makes all of the rest possible. We provide the infrastructure for everyone else. We serve in the military, staff the hospitals, run the subways, build the buildings. Try doing that with one little religious group that thinks the rest of the world is “secular” and “immodest.”

Ms Kelly

So the administrators can be on Facebook and the internet monitoring what students and others are doing but no one else can??? Hmmmm sounds like hypocrites.

Darcy

Sounds about right for ancient attitudes.
mother in ch

nope- children are not mature enough to access adult content- sounds right to me!

hbcc

thought this would count as violating a person’s right to free speech??

AMcBride

The government can’t violate your First Amendment rights, but a private institution can make its own rules about what is accepted in their organization and what is not.
mother in ch

since when did kids have free speech- I went to public school and if I did something against the school’s policies (in or out of school) I got to face the music!

Keith

The First Amendment of the Constitution actually gives kids the right of Free Speech.

Now the mistake that some people may may is that Free Speech is absolute ,when in fact there are limits to Free Speech. Screening fire in a movie theater would be one example of limits. There are also laws against a person slander, defamation,verbal threats of physical harm, public verbal profanity are some other limitations to Free Speech.

As far as age, there is no age limits to a persons Constitutional Right to free speech.

Susan

The $100.00 fne is probably for his pocket. The parents should fine out where he is putting it.

mother in ch

read above- he is holding it til the end of the year- If they stay off facebook – they get it back- mostly this is the honor code- these are good girls

actually-

actually- all of the girls have deleted their accounts, and most of them are in full agreement with the school policy. at the beginning of each school year there is a “contract” signed by the students that states that they will follow certain key rules, one of them being not having a facebook account. The girls understand that they broke their own word.
the advantage of a religious private school is that most of them have the maturity to admit that they were wrong.
Ross

What a bunch of idiots…lol. Oh well, it was a good laugh. I like the comment about the world being flat too. That made my day!
Jon Anthony

I’m all for religion in schools – but there has to be a balance. I went to private school for 8 years and we had it jammed down our throat. There are more kids incarcerated, dead, (OR WORSE) that went to my school than you can imagine. The school may have good intentions here, but there wont be a lot of ‘lived happily ever after’ stories.

mother in ch

nope- this school has produced some of the finest young ladies- some of which are grandmothers by now- you have ever seen. They care about the whole child- not just the scholastics – they help kids who are having problems with making friends, etc- not just the IQ but also the EQ-

Kat

I think that the school should not be able to do this, but like the article said it is a private school so they can do what they want. However, I think the $100 fine is a bit much…
schmitthead13

is this a new way to raise money, this is one of thousands of reasons why i will home school my baby, how is this fair and why do schools get to rule what my child does?

Seraphim0

The hundred dollars is more than likely to drive home the importance of the rule to the kids. It’s also a privtae school, meaning you pay to send your kids there.

I always love it when people get on the homeschool high horse. The unfortunate consequence of homeschooling (well, ONE of them), is that kids do not get the social interaction with their peers that they need. Schools help a child mature and grow socially when otherwise they would not.

I have run into children at a homeschool conference (my fiancee did a presentation at one) that had the most awkward kids. They had no idea of social cues or the like. Additionally, what in the heck is a parent doing when an 8 year old has yet to learn to read because he was homeschooled? The latter is utterly true. An 8 year old child was given a puppet pamphlet and had no idea how to read.

crabman

so much for open minds —– so the world is still flat too—
BJB

I do not agree with banning religion but yes they all could be considered a cult
cult/kəlt/Noun: 1.A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.
2.A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.

mother in ch

how can they (we) be considered a cult? If it is according to your definition- 1. a system of religious veneration directed towards a particular figure or object- well then it goes against your second definition 2- a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister. Because the majority of the world practices some worship of a higher power AND the majority of the world regards those who don’t venerate their particular higher power as strange or sinister- see the spanish inquisition see the romans throwing the christians to the lions see etc etc etc etc …so according to your own definition we can’t be a cult (besides our own particular object of veneration isn’t considered a figure as Judaism doesn’t believe in a middle man and our higher power is non-corporal (does not have a body).

Tony

private institutions can do whatever they want within the law…

Clay Vollers

“within the law” would be the key phrase. This “contract” is no more valid than anything else that is a blatant violation of the 1st amendmant of the Constitution of this country. This country is ruled by law, not religious beliefs. The Jews want their “exceptions”, the Catholics want their “exceptions”, the Mornans want their “exceptions”, and the Muslims want their “exceptions” too. But unless we’re willing too wrap the women from head to toe, outlaw birth control, allow multiple wives, and stone anyone who is different than ourselves we might want to stop relying on the superstitions of ignorant Bronze Age nomads and follow the laws of this country.

mother in ch

when is it our RIGHT to have birth control? I can’t pick up any medicine I want off the pharmacy shelves no matter how much money I have. Sorry Jews don’t have multiple wives and to my knowledge Catholics do not either. The only stoning I have seen around here is by ignorant punks against white’ies or hunkies and the only reason I saw it is because it was my car that got stoned. Thank G-d those kids had rotten aim. There is no law in the country that says all children must have access to all social media out there. In fact- to my knowledge- there are laws that say that there are many sites on the internet that are only for certain age groups.
Ben

The courts ruled you can’t sign away your right to free speech… look it up.
Also, children can’t sign contract enforceable by law.

PPTG

Yea! If they ask them to bend over they will how stupid is that FB is the Devil!!! Haha!!

Mike

This is why I disagree with private schools… they believe they can do anything they want to, even if it violates a human’s basic rights. If facebook enables the pursuit of happiness, then who cares? I have seen plenty of chruches (including JEWISH) on facebook! If they can have a facebook page for a church, why can’t these girls?

dougtawa

Yes, the constitution is perfectly clear on this… You have the right to bear arms and have a Facebook account.
S

So what if you disagree with the rules that a particular private school chooses to enforce? You, or your children, are not forced to attend private schools.

I hope that you aren’t suggesting that all students should be forced to attend public schools and learn whatever values the government chooses. Now that would be a violation of basic human rights.

Tj

This is just pathetic! Religion shouldn’t factor in denying the students the right to put whatever they want because the USA Constitution says so. Anyone for region is just plain wrong. By the way, anyone can counter this by putting a fake name through Facebook. Stupid principal!

S

These students agreed to forgo Facebook in order to attend Beis Rivkah, a private school. The Constitution guarantees free speech…not free speech without ramifications or consequences.

Example: if you work in a waitress as a restaurant, I suspect that you would be fired if you went into work and called your employer names.

objetd’pfft

…are these students citizens of the USA or property of a religious organization? An organization can always make whatever rules they want but that does not mean they are not stupid rules. The rule should be challenged, and reason and logic should prevail.
Akr

I’m not jewish…and I agree with policy and the religous concept. they should completely get ride of Facebook its causing more problems then solution. Mankind came this far and I think we can live without our friends knowing what we are doing everyday.Privacy.Lots of people don’t read fine print.

schmitthead13

I dont think they should be allowed to tell someone elses child to what they have to do., BUT i do think your so very right they should do away with this facebook altogether, its evil and is destroying people, I dont want to know what my friends are doing every single day, what ever happend to a simple phn call?…someone at work asked me what people did before the interet, I said they called or wrote a letter.

Seraphim0

Another close minded comment. I have a facebook account. I use it to keep in touch with family I would not otherwise see across the country, nor was I able to contact previously.

People like you need to realize that it’s used for much more than just ‘updating every day.’ I also use it to keep in touch with people, and meet new people, within my profession and hobbies.

RML

Agree with Seraphim, How is facebook evil? That statement is ridiculous. If it’s not for you, that’s your choice. I too use it to keep in touch with family all over the globe that other wise I would not be able to.

Anti_Religion Not Anti_GOD

Religious freaks ! A religious freak is a religious freak whether they’re Jewish, Muslim, Christian. Just plain mindless freaks !

mother in ch

how can you believe in G-d without believing in religion? Weren’t you ever taught that there are no free lunches in this world? G-d just put you on this planet- prepared the planet so that it would have what to furfill your needs. and then decided to go for a trip to the restaurant at the end of the universe?! No G-d has an entire list of what He wants for us- we are just lucky that it is in our best interests to follow that list.- He created us so He knows what is best for us better than we do- besides He knows what will happen after we exit this life….
/

Muramasa

Why should I believe in God anyway?
mikey

I do not believe in god. I do not need the threat of gods anger to make me live my life right. I also do not need it to justify me being here. Organized religion needs to die and never come back. The world will be a much better place with out. Think how many wars have been fought over it. Gods and religion both created by man for man.

Joker Jones

Yes, the last thing you want is High School Students having freedom to express themselves and communicate their ideas freely without censorship by their school. Some of them might figure out what a sham organized relifion is.
Maria

Im wondering how the school found out about the accounts.. Wouldn’t someone from the school have to have an account as well in order to search for these kids? Anyhow, if its a rule and they signed a contract then they shouldn’t have opened an account.
its good to know

I guess the students tested the boundaries and failed. A good lesson for all.
Sara

That school president seems like a real leader. He is standing firmly behind the schools policy and has no problem explaining it to a media outlet.
Mr. Stock, I hope you always stand firm in your moral convictions in the face of public scrutiny.
Dina

If you don’t like the rules, choose a different school.

Ben

Rules don’t trump rights.

sbast18

Absolutely Ben. The kids have a right to use whichever resource they choose – and the school has the right to let them vacate and report to a public institution because…they have rights too

Mushky

It is a private school. They can make whatever rules they want.

The students all sign a contract at the beginning of each school year.

Schools enforce rules.

It’s as simple as that.

Ben

Rules don’t trump rights, even simpler.

The Facts

Private schools are free to do as they please in this area. Those who are unable to follow simple rules can avail themselves the services of the public education system.

http://randomthoughts21.wordpress.com randomthoughts21

Yea because Tenakc/Tanach says that no Jew can use facebook… how funny is this.
achasurius

no one is asking how the school found out ??? didi they go on facebook themselves and search for the students ? violating their own policy ?

mother in ch

how could the school NOT find out?!! Anyone on facebook gets suggested people based on common interests and you know what….they girls have many of the same interests as many of the adults….the policy wasn’t against adults having facebook but against kids having it. Kids can’t drink legally til 21- fight that as unconstitutional- after all every 14 year old should have the right to buy booze!

jae

What Nazis.

dougtawa

Pretty ironic… Calling Jews Nazis…

DAVID S

LOL

tarecole

This is exactly why ALL organized religion is crap. We don’t need anybody to tell us they know what is right or wrong. Just ask yourself. If you simply live a life of being good, then you are better than any religion can ever possibly be. Get Good America. God is Good not religious!
gmoney

Oy Vey!
GrizzlyBear

Yes, rules are rules and we need to follow them but try to change the ones we don’t agree with. In this case I 100% agree with the students…the abolishment of Facebook should change. Modest or boastful behavior is not embedded in the tool used, it is in how we use it. Being a slight Facebook user,there should be no reason why these students couldn’t use Facebook in a modest manner. The problem here is the rule makers. They simply do not want to take the time to devise the rules/guidelines for the students to follow nor do they want to have to worry about trying to police them. So instead they take away the liberty!

This is what happens with many things. The ultimate fault is those following the rules who do not stand up for their rights and liberties when they feel they are wrong.
Richard

Try not following the rules of FaceBook and see what happens !!

Herschel Haircutsein

Its not easy running a cult like religion!

David

What cult? There is none.
Jake

Cult? Judaism is a religion, not a cult. Go back to school Herschel.
The hard truth facts

all religion are cults. they should be abolish and banned!!!

JCS74sailor

That sounds like a communist view to me!
mother in ch

The hard true facts

there aint no atheists in a foxhole!!!!!!!!!!! My dad doesn’t believe in religion but when his life was in danger I got the call to pray for him!!!!!! (I was quoting a popular phrase I know two negatives mean a positive- but this means that when your life is in danger all of a sudden you realize who your Creator is and who has been watching your back all this time)