I am writing these words myself. No columnist nor night-desk editor is writing them for me. I am writing from the depths of my heart, to all the teachers and principals, to the heads of the teachers' organizations, and to all those who attended the rally last night. "I also used to be a teacher," and it wasn't even long ago.
This was a truly special rally, of a sort never seen before. For the first time in decades you crowded into the square, many tens of thousands of citizens, and not to protest against the occupation or for it, for the settlements or against them, in favor of some war or against it. It was no Annapolis-shmennapolis that summoned you together, the people of Peace Now and Gush Emunim, but rather a much more serious and urgent security problem. You already have grasped what the cabinet and its head still refuse to understand: With an education system like this one - our crown is not secure for all generations. With weakened teachers and lagging pupils and hopelessly overcrowded classrooms and tattered instruction hours - the country's safety is in clear and present danger.
Last night's demonstration revealed your heretofore hidden faces, which are Israel's beautiful face: You gathered, teachers already longing to return to your thankless labors. Even while on strike you taught a lesson: You did not disdain any temporary work, and in your misfortune, you taught once again that there is no shame in any job. In a place where there are no personal examples, you set an example.
And you gathered, pupils who already miss their teachers, identify with them, and suddenly are saying good things about them, are saying thank-you nicely.
And you gathered, dear and usually-absent parents, who can appreciate better than anyone now the contribution of the educators, who fill in the gaps you leave at home.
Those who did not want to receive a small delegation to the Prime Minister's Office, in Jerusalem on Friday, got a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv yesterday. They got it at the square that bears, and not in vain, the name of a different prime minister, one whose door was always open, even when no one came knocking.
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Once I saw a news paper article saying that, in terms of dollars per student, Israel's education budget is among the highest in the world. So where is all this money going? Why doesent it go to higher salarys to teachers? To special help for children who need it? Why isnt this money translated to good education for our children? It would be very interesting to see a detailed report of our education budget. To examine how much is wasted for paying beuoracrats (all sorts of education ministry supervisors and officials) and how much goes into real education.
Just read that Finance Mins says either new classrooms OR more work hours as cost too much.Is not education an investment for the nation? How is it that officials have not known that teachers get paid so little for such important work, that class sizes of 40 students must be reduced; that more school rooms needed; longer hours to teach necessary? What have they been doing all these years? The gov't is a disgrace and Olmert washes his hands of this. Disgusting. But he has time to give away jerusalem Judea/Samaria and start a badly planned war and have no social policy
something that came upon us as a surprise in the last 2-3 years. The deterioration of our Educational System is something that started 20 years ago and at that time what did Yossi Sarid do as a Minister and MK?? Not much, judging from today's situation. Now he is writing "himself"!!!Wow!! I am impressed.
Thank you for your eloquent words, Mr. Sarid. I agree with Ros that the best way to end this strike quickly is to shut down the ENTIRE educational system in this country and in turn, shut down the entire country. Then we'll all see how fast Olmert gets involved. If only the Histadrut teachers would do so without Vaserman's initiative....
...yes, Israel does sometimes have a very beautiful face.......unity is usually a lovely face .... and I wish for more !
Thank you expressing your thoughts. If only more of our politicans would think like you maybe things would change for the better.
What's with the nasty, mindless responses of, I assume, adolescent students to a real letterof concern? Why are you antagonistic when someone is trying to influence a strike, and enhance the chances of teachers to return to the classroom?
i am quite certain that yossi is on his yashvan as most people do sit while typing. however i digress and do not wish to be lumped in with the rest of the crazies on these talkback forums (check out the haaretz tv segment on the documentary about talkbackers) and would request that you direct you talkback at the content of the letter that yossi wrote and not to my talkback. p.s. way to brown nose up to haaretz with the whole prestigious thing student
If you truly are a student you must have heard of the maxim, "the pen is stronger than the sword". What more do you expect Yossi Sarid to do? He is not a member of the government rather from the opposition. Writing this article in the prestigious Ha'aretz is doing a lot more than you are bitching on the talkback! I wouldn't say that Yossi Sarid is sitting on his Yashvan.
There is no need to be rude to Mr. Sarid. Unfortunately, the only other way to stop this is to put all the primary school teachers and kindergarten teachers on strike. Every office will be disrupted and the whole economy will suffer - then the prime minister and his other ministers will have to do something!
DITTO to #1
thanks yossi your words were very sentimental and i'm sure everyone feels all good inside about themselves and maybe a little good toward you. but how about you do something besides writing a letter. i can write a letter probably as good as you but i won't get any paper to publish it and pay me for it at that because my name is not yossi sarid. but if it were i wouldn't just write a letter of praise that sounds as sappy as yours i would get off my ass and do something. you must know someone or at least someone who knows someone. so how about you get up from your keyboard an do something. student