An Israeli first-grade student eagerly waits for his first lesson on the first day of school.
Despite the continued barrage of rockets fired at Israel from Gaza, the school year will start on September 1.
In order to help students who are suffering from the stress of continually being bombed by Hamas, Israel’s teachers have been directed to lead discussions in which students talk about what they have experienced during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Especially for those schools in the south of the country, the Ministry of Education has decided to focus on the summer events in order to deal with the possible emotional suffering among students and to help strengthen their capacity to deal with the continuing crisis.
During the discussions, students will be encouraged to describe their expectations and dreams.
Guidance counselors will also be involved and kindergarten teachers have been instructed to closely observe their children and to look for signs of special needs.
Teachers have been told to help their students to process what they have been experiencing and to seek out those who are having difficulty in returning to their routines.
Various activities have been planned to assist students in regaining a sense of normality, such as participation in field days, tours, visits to historical sites, other youth activities, days devoted to music and culture, debates, talent shows and producing videos. (JPost)
Israeli high school students
In line with this special approach to the conflict, the Ministry has encouraged history teachers to use the example of Joshua from the Bible in teaching students to be “Jewish fighters.” The idea came from the eulogy given by the father of one Israeli soldier who fell fighting in Gaza when he said: “Do as he did. Take the Torah with you day and night and be Jewish fighters.”
Some teachers are objecting to the incorporation of the Bible into history lessons.
“Must we now strengthen the students’ desire to be ‘Jewish fighters’?” asked one history teacher at a Jerusalem school. “Must the Bible and divine imperatives be our guides?” (HaAretz)
Meanwhile, a recent poll reveals that 43 percent of Israeli parents say that they will not send their children to a school that is not fortified against rocket attacks. For those living in the south of the country this figure rises to 55 percent. (Algemeiner)
The poll reports that only about a fifth of those responding (20.4 percent) said that they were willing to send their children to unprotected educational institutions.
Reports also suggest that Gaza students are afraid to go back to school, fearing that the school will be bombed.
One 8-year-old girl said, “I’m frightened of going to school and that they’ll start bombing,” adding, “My friends were killed, my house was destroyed.”
