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Jewish schools beg for teachers, while 8,000 Arab teachers beg for jobs
By Or Kashti
Tags: Jewish, School, Israel News 

Nearly half of unemployed Israeli Arab teachers would be willing to teach in Jewish schools and over half of Israeli Jewish parents have no objections to Arab teachers in their children's schools, according to a poll published yesterday. The survey was conducted by Merchavim, a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting shared citizenship in Israel. Its findings were presented at a conference at Tel Aviv University on ways to integrate Arab teachers into Jewish schools.

Merchavim researchers cited Education Ministry figures according to which about 8,000 Arab teachers are unable to find work at Arab schools in Israel, while Jewish schools report staffing shortages. Only a few dozen Arab teachers work at Jewish schools. Most teach Arabic, but some teach sciences, English and math.

Of the 170 unemployed Arab teachers who were surveyed, 47 percent said they would be willing to teach in Jewish schools, and an additional 34 percent said they would consider doing so. Only 19 percent said they would refuse.
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Among Jewish parents, about 500 of whom responded to the survey, 56 percent said they would be willing to have their children taught by an Arab teacher, while 27.8 percent said that they would not. The researchers said the answers appeared to be influenced by the religiosity of the responders. While 100 percent of the ultra-Orthodox parents said they would only agree to have their children taught by Jews, this response was given by only 43 percent of the respondents who defined themselves as "religious" Jews, 31 percent of those who defined themselves as "traditional" and 16 percent of those who defined themselves as "secular."

"The Ministry of Education needs to become more flexible and to invest more in employing Arab teachers," the founding director of Merchavim, Mike Prashker, said.

"Integrating teachers from different backgrounds will make a number of contributions to both communities. Openig more workplaces will strengthen the Arab community economically, and highly professional Arab teachers can increase the achievements of Jewish students."

"But the greatest achievement will be the bridging between the different groups," Prashker said. "The Israeli reality of segregated education systems creates ignorance and fear of the 'other.'"

Prasker said Merchavim was working toward integrating about 500 Arab teachers into Jewish schools within a few years.
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  1.   A question of priorities 08:03  |  Colin Wright 21/05/09
  2.   Not necessarily a paradox. 08:26  |  HAL 21/05/09
  3.   shame...shame 08:37  |  navin 21/05/09
  4.   integration of teachers 09:18  |  Laurie 21/05/09
  5.   the only democracy in the ME---Sure it is 09:25  |  Labhras 21/05/09
  6.   Well, well, well 10:11  |  john 21/05/09
  7.   56% of polled Jewish parents would agree to Arab teachers ... 10:20  |  Maureen Ann 21/05/09
  8.   bigotry 10:23  |  potobac 21/05/09
  9.   non-native speaking EFL teachers 10:25  |  Laurie 21/05/09
  10.   "teaching?"what book would they be teaching from and who wrote it 10:45  |  glenna 21/05/09
  11.   Jewish and Arab Public Schools 11:28  |  David 21/05/09
  12.   Why not? 11:53  |  Susan 21/05/09
  13.   If this is Zionism, why isn`t it racism? 12:55  |  Michael 21/05/09
  14.   There is nothing to surprised at in a societey, where even 12:58  |  Andreas 21/05/09
  15.   "there is also the right Israelis to study in their own ... " 13:00  |  Andreas 21/05/09
  16.   Fifth column no, my jewish sister yes 13:49  |  Jewish brother 21/05/09
  17.   More than 40% of Israeli Arab claim the Holocaust is a lie 13:53  |  Jewish brother 21/05/09
  18.   Racism... 13:58  |  Che 21/05/09
  19.   Jew teachers in Muslim countries 15:15  |  Enrico 21/05/09
  20.   # 2 hal 18:08  |  Axel 21/05/09
  21.   # 19 enrico 18:22  |  Axel 21/05/09
  22.   Michael.This is a different case because the arabs as a group 01:36  |  ks 22/05/09
  23.   professional criteria only 08:32  |  Sima 22/05/09
  24.   ks 22 13:26  |  potobac 22/05/09
  25.   The problem is language! 20:58  |  Al 23/05/09
  26.   ARAB COUNTRIES SHOULD HIRE THEM 04:45  |  Brazilian 24/05/09
  27.   to #3 navin 10:40  |  Hector Bonifacius 24/05/09
  28.   #19 Enrico 10:46  |  Hector Bonifacius 24/05/09
  29.   To Hector 19:08  |  Jessica 05/06/09
  30.   Potential benefits enormous 08:29  |  Pat 12/08/09
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