Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 08, 2008 Sivan 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:52 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Education experts slam cuts in new school culture plan By Or Kashti Education experts have slammed an Education Ministry decision to teach a pluralistic Israeli culture program for just one hour a week in seventh and eighth grades. The heads of the public committee that drafted the curriculum, Professor Avi Saguy of Bar-Ilan University and Dr. Ron Margolin of Tel Aviv University, say it is impossible to teach the material in so little time. "Have principals and teachers been told that the presented plan cannot be implemented because the ministry has given up in advance on making it practical?" the pair wrote recently in a letter to Education Minister Yuli Tamir, adding: "We will not be willing to cooperate with a failure foretold." Advertisement Two and half months ago, the ministry presented the new curriculum, which is slated to replace "100 concepts in heritage, Zionism and democracy" - a flagship project of Tamir's predecessor, Limor Livnat - next year. Tamir, like many teachers and academics, never concealed her criticism of the 100 concepts plan, in part because it focused on rote learning rather than deeper understanding. Thus about a year ago, the ministry appointed Saguy to head a public committee to create a new "Israeli culture" curriculum. According to the committee's report, which the ministry adopted, schools were to choose a few major themes that would be examined via traditional Jewish texts, including biblical verses and commentaries, as well as via Hebrew literature, poetry, essays and journals. "Our point of departure is cultural and not religious, so we adopted an egalitarian approach to the texts," the report stated. "No particular canon was granted preferential status. Students in state schools will meet the entire Jewish cultural spectrum in order to create their own relationship with the totality of the sources." When the plan was presented, Tamir said it would "bring the student closer to the Jewish library while creating meaningful discussion. Learning in an experiential, intriguing and challenging manner will create graduates who feel at home in Israeli culture and have tools for critical analysis. I am certain the curriculum will help students develop a Jewish identity from within the values of tolerance and pluralism." However, Saguy and Margolin say the change the committee sought to implement is now in danger. "Our willingness to head the committee was based on a commitment to a two-hour study program over seventh and eighth grade," they wrote to Tamir. "We emphasize that had we known in advance of the reduction, for budgetary reasons, to a one-hour program, we would never have gotten involved in planning a curriculum that cannot be implemented." They added: "Due to our acquaintance with you, we believed you planned to seriously implement this important turnaround. Due to our acquaintance with your academic work, we believed you were willing and able to bequeath a Jewish, Israeli and national culture to a generation whose cultural references are becoming more paltry." Tamir stated in response that "the direction charted by the committee is proper and appropriate, and we are beginning to implement it in the existing classroom hours, with plans to add hours in the future." Tamir added that other efforts for educational change, like a failed reform of the elementary education system, shows that implementation in the field is critical. "It is impossible to create real infrastructure overnight. It is a slow process." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terrorist donuts U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh. All the way to hell Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.

Read & React Bradley Burston: Leave it to Fox News to elect Obama Responses: 232 Olmert: Broad Gaza military operation closer than ever Responses: 199 U.S. rejects Mofaz remarks on Iran strike seeming 'unavoidable' Responses: 369 Obama's pro-Israel speech before AIPAC riles Arab press Responses: 96 More Headlines 02:01 IAEA slams Mofaz remark that attack on Iran seems 'unavoidable' 02:30 ANALYSIS / Mofaz's Iran jibe too high a price for party politics 02:45 Talk of a major IDF operation in Gaza is premature 00:30 Clinton halts presidency bid, endorses Obama 00:27 Report: Syria foiled attempted coup by Assad's brother-in-law 01:56 IDF troops fire tear gas at EU dignitaries during W. Bank protest 00:30 Sports broadcaster who covered 1972 Munich massacre, Jim McKay, dies at 86 18:21 X-Men mutant survives the Holocaust in new Marvel Comics miniseries 19:20 Muslim clerics back Saudi king Abdullah's interfaith meeting 12:46 Author Thomas L. Friedman: Military leverage on Iran only short-term option 17:48 PA officials say they want Abbas to run for re-election in 2010 17:50 McCain calls for moving U.S. embassy to Jerusalem 01:17 Leftist groups gather in Tel Aviv to protest 41 years of occupation Previous Editions Select Day 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved