Joseph evidently thinks it will be good for the Jews if the citizens of East Ramapo who must rely on the public schools get as little education as legally possible.
The problem in the East Ramapo school district is that a majority of voters prefer private schools – yeshivas in particular – over public schools, and do not get any direct benefit from school taxes. Hence the school board – which is elected by the majority of voters – proposes low levels of spending on public schools. This is understandable and lawful, but it creates a serious problem for the minority of East Ramapo residents who rely on public schools to educate their children.
There is no easy way out of this dilemma, but Joseph is not looking for one. We should consider funding public schools on a state-wide basis, not district-by-district, to eliminate the disparities between rich and poor districts, and lighten the tax burden on parents preferring private schools.