I must admit a certain degree of surprise at the course of the conversation regarding how best to ensure female educators receive the same degree of respect as their male rabbinic counterparts. Equal pay is critical, but the larger question was hardly addressed by any respondents to the original post.
Rabbi Spolter did mention his opinion that so long as a disparity in titles exists, women will not receive esteem equal to their male colleagues. Speaking as a former student, I have to disagree from my own experience since I still respect several female teachers I had throughout my education while very few of the Rabbis lay equal claim to my respect.
As a teacher (and parent), I think unfortunately, but importantly, the disparity in respect has a lot more to do with implicit disparities in our attitudes that no title or pay raise will resolve. Schools and communities need to take an honest look in the mirror and examine how they may communicate messages that minimize the importance of female staff, and women in general. In our school, I hope my students understand that our female limudei kodesh teachers are as or more important and respect-worthy compared to any Rabbi, and any student that has implied otherwise has been corrected immediately.
Jeffrey Schrager
Ramat Beit Shemesh/Dallas, TX
