Paschabechachama –
“Are all the teachers from the same background, or do they have real variety? (Because otherwise even without direct hashkafah lessons, they are definitely presenting it a certain way.)”
Stop trying to push your agenda 😉
They have quite a variety actually (which is ironic, based on the fact that it is such a small town) There is Rebitzen Ausband, I was lucky enough to be there while Rebitzen Sorotzkin was still alive (to some being in their presence is enough to come to the Seminary…) There are Rabbonim (pretty choshuva ones, and shockingly open minded) and then there are the women teachers who are all extreme intellects and thats what they do, it was just hard for me to relate…
Whatrutalkinabt –
You are making as big blanket statement as the next person by saying that people grow in E’Y, Seminary level learning rivals that of H.S. …. I dint go to Seminary in Israel but my sisters did (top flight ones I might add) and they said that the work was not harder than in High School and the teachers in H.S. where just as good if not better. I think everyone really has to take a good hard HONEST look at themselves and decide if its what they really need.