Violence in Israel’s public school has R”L become a daily reality. Officials representing the schools are heard expressing concern as violence seems to be increasingly commonplace, so much that most teachers have experienced violence in the form or physical or verbal abuse.
Yaffa Ben David, Secretary-General of the Teachers’ Union: “Over 70% of teaching staff reported experiencing verbal or physical violence – we are in a state of emergency”
A discussion was held in the Knesset Law Committee on violence against teachers. It should be noted that a few weeks ago, the Teachers’ Union published a survey of thousands of members of the teaching staff, from which more than 70% of the respondents experienced physical or verbal violence.
Yaffa Ben-David, Secretary-General of the Teachers’ Union, who is on an official delegation abroad at the International Education Conference, commented on the subject: “We are sorry that the discourse has deteriorated to the level we need to discuss in the criminal law. We will not rest until the severe phenomenon of violence against education professionals has disappeared. We are in a state of emergency.”
“Just three weeks ago, the Jerusalem Labor Court accepted the Histadrut’s demand to establish a system for treating violence against teachers and to hold a month to raise awareness. Increasing awareness is not enough, so we are here to ensure that the important bills are promoted,” she concluded.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
I lived in Israel some 50 years ago and I remember the Israelis used to say that if anyone even lifts his hand to strike or threaten another Jew, he is a rasha.
Then came the influence of TV and American violence and in the 70’s and today’s youth (not charadi) are a different breed who do not have the Jewish/Zionistic ideals. Look at the names of stores and products: all American names Baby Center, super pharm, zap
Shame!
My wife is a public school teacher in Jerusalem and she has had students hit and kick her, rip her clothing, shout and scream at her, etc. The parents refuse to do anything about it half the time (sometimes they are just as bad as the kids) and insinuate that the teachers bring it on themselves. The school administrators just wring their hands and say there is nothing to do about it. Working in some of these schools is like walking in the jungle.
Is the article about the schools run by and for the hareidim and/or the religious zionists? If it is only about the secular schools, one might questions if it is truely newsworthy.
@akuperma- IMHO it IS newsworthy, because it clearly shows what life is like when a yid is completely devoid of Torah. It’s a chizuk wake up message to those of us who are fortunate enough to be raised in the frum world.