Songs, ceremonies and backpacks

First day of school is time for optimism, but problems remain

Alan D. Abbey|Last update: 09.01.05 , 16:01

The new school year began in Israel today, and about 2 million children tramped off to their classes, new backpacks bursting with schoolbooks, pencils, erasers and assorted other paraphernalia.

The day went smoothly, by all accounts, with only a handful of school buildings not opened, places for virtually all of the Gaza evacuees' children and no strike hanging over our heads.

The teachers and the government reached a last-minute agreement on Wednesday that sweetened retirement packages for teachers let go, reinstated some that had been scheduled for firing, and a test of the much bandied-about education reforms, which include a five-day (instead of six-day) school week for students in secular state schools in about three dozen communities.

There's a lot to say about education in Israel, especially from someone who had experience both as a student and as a parent in the Old Country, but for today I would prefer to dwell on the positive aspects of school here.

Shalom, kitah aleph

We have a son going into first grade, and that is a BIG DEAL in Israel. For those of you who don't know, kindergartens are not part of grade schools here, but are freestanding and independent operations. Kids tend to scatter to a variety of schools after kindergarten, at least in larger communities, where there often is school choice.

Kids here are also not pushed into reading in kindergarten. That's what first grade is about. Kindergarten is more of a year of socialization, both cultural and behavioral, than it is a year for learning. Of course, much of that depends on the "ganenet" (kindergarten teacher).

Our first son had a teacher with a commanding presence who lectured her charges one hour a day in stories from the Torah, the Midrash and aggadot. It wasn't until he was in about third grade that he actually learned something he hadn't already picked up in "gan" from Chasida (like Madonna, Chasida was enough of a presence to be known only by one name. To this day I don't know her last name. OK, call me a terrible parent….).

But back to first grade…the day began with candies and "Shalom kitah aleph" (Welcome, first graders) signs, and continued to the heartwarming and tear-inducing ceremony where the second through sixth graders welcome the newcomers to their school with song and dance.

No spitting

Kindergartens and other pre-schools also started today, and our youngest was back in her little pre-school, and was already repeating the lessons she has learned there: No pushing, no biting, no kicking, no teasing, and, most important of all, no spitting. Isn't that about all you really need to know in life?

Not to end on a downer note, but it may go downhill from here: classes are generally too big (30 to 40 is the norm, compared to half that in many U.S. schools), teachers are not as well trained as they could be, and they are certainly poorly paid.

School violence is a continuing problem, and many Israelis tend to shrug their shoulders at it: it's what they knew in school, it will toughen them up for the army, school is something to survive, not savor, they should just hit back. It's something of a shock for an American oleh, to be sure.

But for now, the kids are singing, the backpacks are clean, and the year ahead is bright. We can only hope it will continue.