I’m sure we’ve all felt it by now: the school is overcrowded. Just this past year, Heschel has added three classrooms, one of which used to be the nurse’s office, to accommodate the increase in student numbers. Don’t get me wrong, I am very grateful that Heschel is growing. It means we’re succeeding as a school, and I’m proud of that. 

At the same time, there aren’t enough lockers for all of us, and the library is now a classroom staple, filled with desks and an eno board. When will the admissions office finally say no? The increase in students has led to the loss of some benefits the student body once had, begging the question: Is Heschel’s student body growing too large? Yes, in my view, it is!

We have lost so many things that used to be core to Heschel. A nurse’s office is considered by most to be a school essential. Whenever students felt ill or just needed a stressful break from their day, they would see nurse Kathy Gable. Although seeing the nurse is still an option, it is much more inconvenient now: students must go to the first floor of the middle school first floor. Hallways have become even more crowded. Classrooms that used to take a mere thirty seconds to reach can now take minutes. We are admitting students at the expense of the overall Heschel experience.

The solution to the problem of overcrowding is complicated. In New York City, Heschel acts as a beacon because it is one of the only Jewish schools that widely accepts all denominations of Judaism. It makes sense that Heschel should want to take in as many students as possible. However, it is time to either expand the school building further or admit fewer applicants. We are at maximum capacity, and it’s time for the administration to start thinking about quality over quantity.