Religious Schools, Upper East Side

When trying desperately to find a topic to write this blog on, I found myself constantly looking in obvious places, such as around churches or museums. But I found my subject while walking to class one day and realized it was all around me the whole time.

I live on the Upper East side of Manhattan where religion is present in every aspect of the community. Every business establishment has religious artifacts relating to the owners faith present in the window, every street has various places of worship and pious people are as common as taxi cabs. The upper east side has a deep history of Catholic and Jewish groups who  laid claim to this area and built a community which is considered among the safest, wealthiest in all of New York.

When leaving on my walk for Lincoln Center, my street of East 85th tends to be quiet with few people. Unless it happens to be when school is letting out. This is quite a sight to be hold, because my street is also home RaMaz: a Jewish prep School. The amount of security present in the area when the school day is done is truly astonishing. N.Y.P.D officers are posted on each street corner within three blocks while suited security guards with ear pieces patrol the street and entire convoys of black SUV's arrive to pick up children. It is interesting to think about why this level of  security is considered necessary.Hearing people talk in the neighborhood it was made apparent that these security measures exist because of the ISIS threat. What a powerful thought, the presence of another religious group, one that is across the world still finds its way to cast a shadow over the hearts and minds of people here in America. Entire squads of men being employed to see the safe passage of children on their way home from school for fear of a group on the other side of the world speaks volumes about the value this area puts on community and its traditions. The fear of a terrorist attack or child abduction isn't necessarily what this security is defending against, it is the sanctity of mind which this level of security is trying to uphold. An attack or abduction isn't needed for the enemy to claim a victory. Fear, pulling kids out of school or keeping them from attending these religious schools is all that is needed to begin deteriorating the safety of mind these communities fought so hard to create over the past century.

 What is at stake which requires such measures for security? Quite obviously the children of very powerful people, but also their community itself. The community which over the past century has grown to be one of the most prosperous in the country. These schools have taught in the same tradition since there creation to uphold this community and pass and any interference's or alterations may be seen as a threat to their dominance over the area.

The presence of schools such as this is what I wish to point out. These religious schools,  all of which are within eye sight of one another, are various Catholic and Jewish schools known to be among the most prestigious in the country. Among them are Loyola School, Ramaz Jewish prep school, Marymount School of New York and many others. So why do these school all exist so close to one another? Why are all of these schools dedicated to certain faiths? And why do all of these schools receive praise for being the best in the country with extremely high Ivy League school transfer rates. The quickest assumption may be that this is where the money is. The most expensive areas with the wealthiest inhabitants draw the best schools, right? Well it may not be so simple, when doing research I discovered the area where Loyola school currently resides on the northwest corner of Park Avenue and 83rd Street was purchased Pre 1900 for 7,500 dollars. Today the Loyola school complex resembles more of a citadel than a school, but shows that it may not have been the money which brought the schools, but the establishment and dedication to these religions which grew such strong communities and allowed this area to remain a titan into the 21st century.

What is at stake here? Should we look down upon these schools for teaching a curriculum perfectly catered to a specific mindset? I feel as though these education systems are so rigid and structured to adhere to the traditions of the local community and to continue the prosperity of it. While tradition is important, it should be taken into consideration the consequences this may have. Keeping a community tight knit may provide security for tradition but it also may lead to small mindedness and may prevent empathy towards other groups. Similar to the problem Niebuhr presented, where groups may find it difficult to embrace other groups. Another problem brought on by these forms of private education created and catered towards a certain type of persons (socially, religiously, economically) is that it may lead to a trend of focusing on the wrong aspects of a religion. For instance Ahmed speaks about Islam and how its teachings have been misconstrued and the continuation of these traditions being passed on has made these specific ways of Islam take hold as Islam itself .

These religious Schools and the communities they cater too have something worth holding onto. A strong prosperous community which was made possible by dedication to the faiths they claim true. These schools show the power of community, education and tradition, but in a more negative light the strong continuation of tradition could possibly be tied to animosity toward outsiders and a self righteous mindset which is arguably a plague which afflicts this city and nation.