When Freedom of Religion, the Rights of Parents, and the Government’s Education Policies Come into Conflict

In 2018, a group of graduates of ḥaredi schools, believing that their educations had not prepared them for life in American society, let alone for successful employment, sued the state of New York for not better regulating private schools within its borders. The case, and the subsequent controversies that grew out of it, raise important questions about the nature of education, the importance of diversity, the place of religious minorities in a pluralistic society, freedom of religion, the tensions between the rights of parents and the needs of governments, and much else. Jason Bedrick, Rita Koganzon, and Kevin Vallier discuss their recent scholarly work on the subject. (Moderated by Neal McCluskey. Video, one hour.)