I’m really conflicted regarding this issue.
As Rabbi Wallerstein says, we don’t want to put kids in a situation where all they have to do is rebel and they’ll get a trip to Israel (all expenses paid), a new suit, and lots of warm and loving attention from adults that otherwise wouldn’t know they exist.
You know, I think he’s right about this. I speak as an atypical Bais Yaakov student- I’ve made some bad decisions in life, and therefore have relationships with amazing mentor type people. I see the jealousy on my good BY friends’ faces every time I get called out of class by my mechaneches, just to chat about things. The only way for anyone in school staff to take any interest in you is to get yourself a boyfriend, or wear a mini skirt.
I’ve seen girls surreptitiously pulling their skirts up every time this mechaneches passes them in the halls, hoping that she’ll notice them if they look like they’re going through something.
But maybe that’s an entirely different issue…