LETTERS

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Most public schools would almost
kill to have an overwhelming majority
of parents who are not only sophisti-
cated in matters of education but who
are intimately involved in their chil-
dren's educational activities.
Other schools have parents who are
equally involved, but what makes
Akiva's parents unique is their com-
mitment to a Torah-based lifestyle,
while also insisting on participation in
the mainstream of general academic
opportunities.
Because of this commitment, there
is an air of confidence reflected in the
Akiva student. Parents are confident
their children will maintain their
Torah-based lifestyle, even if the fami-
ly decides there are compelling reasons
for the child to transfer to Cranbrook
or Roeper. They are equally confident
that their children will remain
engaged in the academic pursuits of
society, particularly in scholastic, cul-
tural and professional arenas, if they
have reason to transfer to a yeshiva,
i.e., the Yeshiva in South Bend, Ind.
For this reason, Pat Bassett's com-
ment about judging a school by those
who return to it doesn't apply. In fact,
the transfers of students, both in and
out of the school, represent strength.
Strength in the willingness and ability
of Akiva to admit and absorb Jewish
students from many backgrounds, and
strength in the belief that even stu-
dents who do not remain for the full
course of training at Akiva gain from
their experience.
Akiva's administration or students
do not suffer bouts of antagonism
from the right, left or center. You
might note that pluralism at Akiva
means anyone willing to adopt the
standards the school sets can, and will,
be accepted with equality.
Bassett failed again on the issue of
faculty turnover. Akiva has always had
its pick of part time, master teachers,
who are full time in other systems.
This is due to Akiva's longer school
day. There are usually no shortages of
teachers who wish to teach one more
section in their specialty, on a part-
time basis. Turnover is experienced
with this kind of personnel but the
trade-off is worth it. It gives the
school flexibility and is of great value
to the student. Perhaps other students
have the opportunity to develop better
laboratory skills in high school but
Akiva students know what it takes to
be a "quick study.
Rabbi Karmi Gross himself is a
unique resource for the entire communi-
ty He spoke between Minchah and

)7

Mdariv at Young Israel of Southfield last
Sukkot when the shul offered a program
on "Combating the Missionaries." His
message dealt with intellectual challenges
at the religious level and his talk was riv-
eting. If you need a reference as to the
merit of Akiva's principal, to me the best
testimony came from an Akiva graduate,
Shim Weiss, who told her parents'
friends, "Be sure to come hear Rabbi
Gross speak this afternoon. He's great."
They came. They agreed. So do 1.

STOREWIDE

Erwin H. Posner

SAL
E
'50 - '200

Yeshivat Akiva, past president
Southfield

Off All Jackets

Akiva Not A
`Scandal School

Is it necessary to kill the patient to
cure the illness before the patient's life
is even threatened? Shades of Jack
Kevorkian.
Your article about Akiva Hebrew
Day School was so far off target that
it calls into question the motives of
the author, The Jewish News and many
of the interviewees.
When my family relocated 12 years
ago to the Detroit area from Chicago,
our decision to move was based on
the presence of an Orthodox Jewish
day school that offered a Jewish edu-
cation, espoused Jewish values and
was also college preparatory. The fact
that Akiva was small meant that the
number of advanced courses would be
necessarily limited because the num-
ber of students interested in a particu-
lar course was necessarily limited. It
also meant that the brand of Ortho-
doxy within the school would neces-
sarily evolve with the community and
not be perfect for everyone.
Were it not for Akiva's existence, I
would not have accepted an otherwise
excellent career opportunity in
Detroit.
Your article turns the reality of
being a small school into some kind
of scandal. Many potential Detroiters
who are modern Orthodox are likely
to be turned off to Detroit and Akiva
by your article and your irresponsible
editorial. More disturbing is that your
publication has been used in an
attempt for people with particular
personal axes to grind to kill the
patient rather than nurture her.
That The Jewish News has allowed
itself to be drawn into the personal
vendetta of Ed Codish and his adher-
ents against Akiva after the dismissal
of his lawsuit calls into question the
paper's journalistic integrity. That

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