Changes in the heart of Jaffa

Youval (Israel) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:54:04 +0000

Hi. My name is Youval, and I teach in a Jewish elementry school in Jaffa.
I’d like to share with you a project I am part of, that we (the teachers) have started in the school.
It all started several years ago, when Palestinian families from the neighbourhood started sending their kids to the school (very uncommon in Israel, as education is highly segregated). They did it because they wanted their kids to be able to integrate in the Hebrew speaking Israeli society, and because they weren’t satisfied with the public Arab schools in Jaffa.
From the beginning the Palestinian kids where not very wellcomed in the school, but still they were intitled to enter by law. Then, three years ago, The school’s principle changed, and suddenly there was a change of atmosphere in the heart of Yaffa. The new principle decided that a school with close to 50% palestinian pupils can not remain “an ordinary Jewish schhool”, so with the help of the teachers she suggested a new vision: A Jewish school that acknowledges and respects the Arab identity.
Since then 3 Palestinian teachers started working in the school, Arabic is being taught, and Arab, Muslim and christain calender is respected. Still, there are many more difficulties and problems ahead, one of them being the language question:
Should all kids study together, or should jewish and arab kids study each his own language.
Much more can be said and written, but I thought I’d see first if people are interested. Youval

Mideast Youth » Youval (Israel)

Changes in the heart of Jaffa