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Cabinet marks new school year
Roni Sofer
Published: 31.08.08, 12:44
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18 Talkbacks for this article
1. Radical Leftist AntiIsrael Tamir should have been kicked out
Miriam ,   Israel   (08.31.08)
head first when she included Nakba in Arab textbooks and proposed to include the 1967 boundary in maps of Israeli school textbooks. Hopefully the next PM will get rid of this shameful minister immediately.
2. Our educational system is a disaster.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (08.31.08)
Anyone talk to students? I do & I'm appalled, shocked. They should have students testify before the Knesset & would they get an earful. Last week, I had occasion to speak with some high school students. Their comments left me speechless. Several told me that their Tanach teacher told them the Torah is BS. Now, I'm not religious - far from it - but the Torah is not to be dismissed as BS. I could go into a long discussion on this subject but suffice it to say, this is really shocking. The kids hate school, disrespect their teachers, think the whole thing is a waste of time. And these are smart kids - not bums or behavioral problems. But the enormous gaps in their knowledge, the attitudes they pick up in school, the murder of their motivation to learn, is criminal. And Netanyahu is right - we have no business teaching our young people that the creation of their country was a catastrophe.
3. Olmert has ruined the education in this country
Jayyy ,   Israel   (08.31.08)
Hiring extreme leftists like Tamir to be the minister of education, is typical of Olmerts pland to ruin this country.
4. #2, Terry
Connie ,   Virginia   (08.31.08)
This article reminded me of going to school in Baltimore. When they threw God out the schools, it went downhill from there. I remember saying The Pledge of Allegiance but I doubt they do that anymore. Maryland is a blue/blue state. That's what's wrong. Too many stupid liberals running it. The debate here in the U.S. is vouchers. Giving parents vouchers to send their kids to a private school or a parochial school. It's been limited because of democrats objecting it but where it has been tried they have had success. Kids need discipline. My youngest son was court-ordered to school this past year. The court order has continued into his senior year.I f he does not comply with it. when he turns eighteen he will be sent to jail not Juvenile Detention.He's not stupid, he just needs to learn to obey authority. For the kids' sake, Bibi should be voted back in. He turned around the economy and I'm sure he would turn the education system around as well.
5. 2 words for Olmert. GET LOST.
ajax ,   israel   (08.31.08)
"Our schools are up to the highest standards." Is this Jewish humor?
6. "New Horizon" is simply an extension of gov't beliefs
Arie ,   BaGolan   (08.31.08)
The kadima/labour government is openly hostile to the Jewish Sate and has been so since Sharon had his stroke.Their concern is NOT our safety or existence, or making sure ur youth knows the truth of our existence. They seek to appease the enemy much the same way the European leaders did in 1939. The 'naqba' is a fantasy of lies perpetrated by terrorists whose vision has no equality with the truth but is revisionism - on the level of Shoah revisionism, which at the rate our leftist ed. minister is going, I am confident would be next if she remained in office
7. The only Nakba in Israel
Raptor ,   Golan Heights   (08.31.08)
is those who claim that 1948 was a Nakba.
8. Teaching Israelis to be Sorry
Bill ,   US   (08.31.08)
Sorry that in 1948, the Arab plan to swiftly annihilate the Jews failed. Sorry that in 1967, the Jewish state again successfully defended itself against Arab aggression. Why is Arab humiliation something for you to be sorry about? Nassir said the Arabs would finish Hitler's job and he lost in six days. Any normal people would be proud. If this amounts to a catasrophe for the Arabs, good.
9. It's Important
Ely ,   Pardes Chana   (08.31.08)
To Educate the Kadima Party that they should step down from office now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10. Sad indictment of Israeli society
Kim ,   Australia   (08.31.08)
Its a pretty sad indictment of Israel society, if you can not even stand to discuss the issue of Al Nakba in your schools. It just goes to show that the Israeli schooling system is not about education but indoctrination.
11. #4 Connie, Virginia.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (08.31.08)
I don't believe in religion in schools, not here, not in the US, not anywhere. So on the praying in school issue, I can't agree with you. Religion or a lack thereof is the business of the family, not schools. This is not to say that the Bible as a document should not be studied - as history, as literature, as part of comparative religion studies, in other words, in a secular & scientific manner. This is particularly important in Israel, in my opinion. This is also not to say that ethics should not be tought in schools. The voucher system seems to work but I'll tell you, I'm in favour of some form of privatization of the entire educational system. I doubt if many people would agree with me. I would certainly trust Netanyahu more than many others to initiate some educational reform. It is sorely needed.
12. What are Jewish students doing
Avi   (08.31.08)
learning about the naqba? The creation of Israel should be is a bright spot in Jewish history and should be treated as such. Tell you what, they should instead create a class for army eligible students on Arab culture and civilization. It's urgent that the students know about who they will be dealing with once they come of age and go into the service. This as well as a general class with regards to the conflict, so they may begin to form their own opinions and ideas about how they eventually want to deal with the issues on the ground. #2 Terry: That's absolutely shocking of what you were told. That a Tanach teacher descredit the Tanach? Incredible. That's something that Ynet should report on. That teacher should no longer have his/her credentials. And it's something the partents need to address with that school. Thanks for letting poeple now this.
13. # 10
Bill   (08.31.08)
Teaching historical distortions and outright lies as the truth doesn't count for an education.
14. #12 Avi. I totally freaked when I heard it.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (08.31.08)
It prompted a two hour discussion while I tried to explain - not in a religious sense - the importance of the Torah as an invaluable historic document, the sociological aspects, the links with other societies of the time, documents & law codes from the ancient world, what philology tells us about each book, the development of ethics, philosophy, etc. as well as the Torah's importance in our national identity. These are bright kids, they were fascinated & interested & didn't try to change the subject. Only the lateness of the hour cut short our discussion. I didn't think I would ever become a Tanach teacher on the Eilat beach eating pizza at 1:00 in the morning with a bunch of kids.
15. Bibi
(08.31.08)
Do us all a favor and get youself elected and do not just cancel the Nakba studies but cancel Tamir as well.
16. #4 Could this ever happen in the G-dless State of Israel?
Miriam ,   Israel   (08.31.08)
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would not pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!! The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, " GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" And he walked off stage... The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class had found a way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
17. #16 Miriam
Connie ,   Virginia   (08.31.08)
Bravo. That was hilarious. It's also sad that they had to do it that way to give some honor to God. The same thing happens here. Nice inspirational speeches just don't cross the line between religion and state or you will have the aclu threatening the school with a lawsuit.
18. #11 Terry
Connie ,   Virginia   (08.31.08)
I didn't say anything about prayer. What I meant was that they deliberately and systematically took any mention of our Judeo/Christian roots out of the school books and replaced it with political correctness and liberal ideas.
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