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History of the Ilford Jewish Primary School Part Three


IJPS-logoHistory of the Ilford Jewish Primary School Part Three

Although the negotiations with the Zionist Federation were not progressing to the local Committee’s satisfaction, they did make one very useful suggestion namely that a joint approach be made to the Claims Conference for financial assistance towards the capital cost of the school and a draft letter for this purpose was agreed by the meeting. The Claims Conference was a committee funded mainly by Germany to assist with the redevelopment of Jewish institutions in Europe following the holocaust. In order to qualify for a grant it was necessary to show that claimants had directly suffered and we were able to supply proof of this by the experiences of some Ilford residents. In due course something really worthwhile emanated from this suggestion.

          The meeting which David Kramer had suggested, between himself and Mr. Bakstansky, took place on 21st, 23rd and 27th October 1959 in the offices of the Zionist Federation. The following points were made:

  1. The meetings were arranged at David Kramer’s request and were designed to overcome the difficulties and misunderstandings which had arisen.
  2. All the meetings were conducted in an atmosphere of friendliness; ideas were exchanged with complete frankness on both sides.
  3. It was understood that David Kramer was attending in a personal capacity but with the knowledge and approval of the local Committee. He had no particular mandate and that any agreement by him could not, in any way, bind the local committee. It was agreed that negotiations could proceed satisfactorily provided that both sides understood and accepted certain basic principles.
  4. These principles could be stated as follows:- a) Unless the local community can bear a substantial burden of the costs involved, the responsibility for the erection of the school must rest exclusively in the Zionist Federation. b)In any event the responsibility for laying down the educational policy of the school must rest exclusively in the Zionist Federation.

David Kramer accepted these two basic principles without reservation.

 

          Mr. Bakstansky reiterated that the Zionist Federation could not apply any part of its funds for any purpose alien to the policy as laid down at its annual conference. The right to change that policy cannot be shared with any extraneous committee and accordingly acceptance of the above mentioned principles is imperative.

  1. Since the responsibility for the erection of the school must rest exclusively in the Zionist Federation, decisions on the following matters, which had been raised in discussions with the local Committee, can only be taken by the Zionist Federation.
  2. a) The amount of money to be spent on the school. b) Choice and appointment of architect. c) Choice of builder.
  3. Mr. Bakstansky reaffirmed the intention to build a school that would at least qualify for consideration by the Local Authority for state aided status. At the same time funds available for building the school was limited and accordingly it would be unrealistic to consider building in excess of the requirements of the Education Act.
  4. The ultimate success of the school depended on a favourable attitude on the part of the parents of the Jewish children in Ilford. This attitude depended, in the last analysis on:- a) The method and character of teaching. b) The results obtained in academic and secular examinations. c) The inclusion of religious education and the study of Hebrew as a living language with the Israeli accent, Jewish history and Israel.
  5. Since the ultimate success of the school depended on the attitude taken by Ilford parents it was desirable to have a full and frank discussion at all stages between the Zionist Federation and the local Committee. The Zionist Federation would not wish to erect a school involving a large sum of money which would not ultimately meet with the approval of the local community.
  6. Suggestions made by the local committee will be carefully considered by the Zionist Federation, provided always that such decisions, in the event of conflict on matters referred to above, are taken by the Zionist Federation. In this connection Mr. Bakstansky assured David Kramer that the architect would be instructed to consult with the local committee and discuss his plans with them.
  7. Once the school has been built the day to day administration would be vested in the Board of Governors on which the Zionist Federation and the local committee would have equal representation. The powers of the Board would not however be unlimited because certain controls will be reserved by the local Education Authority when and if state aid is granted.
  8. As stated above, the determination of the education policy is a matter to be reserved exclusively by the Zionist Federation. This policy rests on three principles; a) Secular studies are to be taught by competent teachers. b) Religious education is to be governed by the terms laid down in the agreement made between the Zionist Federation and the United Synagogue. c) Hebrew is to be taught as a living language with the Israeli accent. Furthermore it is to be taught against a background comprising the history, geography and general study of Israel.
  9. The Zionist Federation recognises the desirability of appointing teaching staff who would be acceptable to the local community on personal as well as professional grounds, subject therefore to the above, the actual selection of teachers and head teachers will in fact be left to the Board of Governors of the school which will have regard to the wishes of the local Jewish community.
  10. There was some doubt expressed by David Kramer on the question of whether or not state aid will extend to the nursery school. It was decided to leave this matter in abeyance and explore the matter with the Essex Education Committee.
  11. This paragraph summarised the demands of the Zionist Federation and it followed that if the Ilford community wanted help from them it must accept these demands. As an afterthought, Mr. Bakstansky mentioned, that since negotiations had extended over a considerable period of time, the Zionist Federation had found it necessary to commit themselves to other projects of importance. It would not therefore be possible to indicate when the project could be put into operation. This was only a question of time and not of principle.

 

          The next two meetings of the local Committee took place in November 1959 and March 1960. At the first meeting David Kramer’s report was discussed at length and he was congratulated on the preparation of his report which had been prepared with skill and patience. The Committee, after careful consideration of the report recommended acceptance although realising that this would change the purpose and scope of the local Committee from that originally envisaged.

          Mr. Kramer was asked to refer to Mr. Bakstansky as there were several important points which still needed to be clarified with regards to the nursery school, e.g. state aid, its minimum requirements and its separation from, or combination with, the day school. The next practical step is for the Zionist Federation to appoint an architect so that an outline plan can be submitted and it was hoped that the discussions which had taken place had not seriously delayed the project.

          At the second meeting Avi Gerecht reported that he had had a meeting with a representative of the County Land Agent and discussed the price of the site at Barkingside. The regulations stipulate that any land sold by the Council must be at full market value as the Council must now make their purchases in the same way. Of the area allocated for our use, approximately two thirds was scheduled as parkland and one third building land, valued at £1000 and £9000 respectively. Avi Gerecht informed the County Land Agents that we were not prepared to pay building land prices for any proportion of the site and asked that they should reconsider the matter. He had also both spoken with and written to Mr. Miles, the newly appointed borough Education Officer requesting his help. One suggestion was that the placing of the site be slightly altered so that it was all parkland.

          Between the two meetings several letters had passed between the local Committee and the Zionist Federation and there was no change in their financial position. The Zionist Federation had still not enough funds available to commence the project and Mr. Bakstansky was consulting his honorary officers. He would advise the local Committee within the next few days whether or not they would be able to proceed with the project in the near future.

          The Chairman said that it would appear that our plans were in cold storage for the present but that we do not abandon our scheme and if necessary would try to find other sources of finance. There had been various moves to get a kindergarten started. As a result, the Honorary Officers and Board of Management of the Beehive Lane Synagogue had agreed in principle to make the old synagogue hall available, at no cost, for this purpose, mornings only. The hall had been inspected by the local health and sanitary authorities and had been approved, in principle for 27/30 infants.

          It was proposed that an Ilford Jewish Kindergarten Committee be formed and this Committee is to conduct its affairs independently and report to the main Committee from time to time. The kindergarten is to be independent, self-supporting, with funds for its establishment to be raised locally. It was proposed to ask Reverend Black and Reverend Nodel to be Joint Honorary Superintendents and the following were elected to the committee:- Joe Rose (ex officio), Harry Goldner, Bernard Rader, Evelyn Abrahams and Yetta Young. Invitations would be sent to both synagogues’ Boards of Managements and to the Education Committee and parent’s association of Beehive Lane synagogue inviting one representative from each. Dr. Issy Segal would be asked to handle publicity and Dr. Sidney Gold would be invited to become its medical officer. It was hoped that the kindergarten would open within two months, fees must be economical and the staff would comprise one principal teacher and three helpers.

          The Honorary Officers of Beehive Lane had referred us to a Mrs. R. Cohen who had applied to start a private kindergarten but when approached Mrs. Cohen was quite prepared to co-operate with our Committee. Further information on progress was to be circulated and the Chairman thanked the members for two or three years of hard work and said that this kindergarten was a constructive way forward. He was pleased with the interest it aroused and it was to be hoped that it would be a prelude to the day school.

          Nothing more was heard from the Zionist Federation; an end to an episode. They were already heavily involved in other Jewish day schools and no doubt wanted to build their own empire but were short of funds. Their excuse that because negotiations had been protracted, funds had to be diverted elsewhere does not bear scrutiny. In reply to their suggestion that because they were putting up the bulk of the initial funds they were entitled to full control of the project should have been countered by the local Committee. If the school was to be state aided, 85% of the building costs would have come, via the Local Authority, to the Ilford Jewish community thereby giving it the right, equally, to share in the control of the project. We didn’t counter their suggestion, but even if we had I believe that the outcome would have been the same.

Woolf Abrahams

September 2003.