ubiq:
“to get a kid a basic education required by law, they should have to change theirentire lifestyle, lose their community, home friends, uproot their children.”
Three points, each independent but all important —
a. Satmar parents (while remaining Satmar) sending their boys to Vien, Chasan Sofer, Stolin or another Chasidish mosod that gives the Regents and/or otherwise has a notably more advanced secular studies program than Satmar, is not even close to a major change in lifestyle — and there’s surely no loss of community or friends (anymore than any child changing from one school to another). This IS a practical option.
b. Even if the above weren’t an option (or if you assert that it isn’t a viable difference), the fact of the matter is that being a part of the Satmar community by definition means forgoing any serious secular education. This is part and parcel of being Satmar. Just like you can’t be Satmar and still go to the movie theater to watch (even) “G” rated cartoon/animated Hollywood movies designed for children — because that’s a contradiction to being Satmar; you also cannot send your children to an Orthodox High School that is designed to get the students at an educational level to have a chance to get accepted into Harvard or other universities (whether or not they pursue that option.)
c. If the family changed to another Chasidus, say Bobov, Stolin, Vien or whatever, such a change does NOT entail “changing their entire lifestyle, losing their community, home friends, and uprooting their children.” It, too, is a viable option.