A heated debate in New Jersey over the planned expansion of charter schools is turning the state's attention toward the religious nature of some proposed schools, like Tikun Olam, which would be a Hebrew-language high school.
In Highland Park, the difficult issue of religion simmers barely below the surface. Although Tikun Olam supporters say the school will be open to everyone, opponents believe the aims of the school violate the First Amendment.
"This is clearly an infusion of religion into the public sector," said Chris Rodda, an opponent of the school. "The school is just trying to find a way to accommodate the needs of all its students," says Marc Herman, a supporter of the charter.
Frances Wood, Highland Park’s superintendent, says the board is negotiating with Tikun Olam’s sponsors to keep it from filing a third application, but the negotiations themselves raised questions about separation of church and state. To fend off the application, school officials are talking to the charter applicants about offering Hebrew in the high school and occasionally serving kosher food in the cafeteria.
