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Not enough education of values
Photo: Herzel Yosef

Israelis think society more violent, punishments too lenient

Survey findings show 83% of Israelis think violence increased in last decade; two-thirds want teaching of values to be entrusted in hands of parents

Eighty eight percent of Israeli citizens believe that Israeli society is more violent then it was a decade ago, according to a survey conducted by Mutagim Research center.

 

The survey, conducted ahead of a convention that will be hosted by Achva College of Education on the subject of education to social kinship and values, includes interesting data about the way Israelis view the society they live in and the institutions in charge of fighting violence and crime.

 

Eighty-three percent of participants said that verdicts given to offenders are too lenient, while only 6% thought the punishments were deserving and 2 % found them to be too harsh.

 

Furthermore, it seems public distrust also extends into the education system. Two-thirds of the participants said they thought teaching of values should be entrusted in the hands of parents, while 20% believed it was the education system's responsibility, and 2.7% believe it is the military's duty.

 

Although only a small minority would entrust the teaching of values in the hands of IDF commanders, more than 52% believe that those who did not serve in the army posses less values than those who complete their service.

 

A large majority of participants saw a connection between the subjects studied in schools and society's downward spiral. 84% said that teaching of values must be increased within the school curriculum, even at the expense of math classes, while only 12% objected the idea all together.

 

Values must be taught

Achva President Professor Eli Zamski said that "the public is of one mind on the questions of principle. The Irresponsibility in regards to values has gone beyond its limit.

 

"When talking about educational values, there is an argument about whether these values can be taught, and what defines universal values. In the state the country is in today there is a manifold importance to the teaching of values," he added.

 

Professor Zamski claims that even tough the academic world ranking of Israeli students is dropping, emphasis must be placed on education of values as part of the school curriculum.

  

"Disciplinary studies must be cut back for the sake of education," explained Zamski, adding that "the system is too busy coping and does not have time for values. I say – stop. In our state we must study values in depth, otherwise We will be headed on a downward facing slope where everyone does what he feels like.

 

"I would expect the police to step in where the education system failed, but it also doesn’t do its job, and neither does the legal system," he said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.10.09, 00:54
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