News
OECD: Israel's education in regression
Tomer Velmer
Published: 07.09.10, 14:43
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
14 Talkbacks for this article
1. actually, a standstill would be an improvement
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (09.07.10)
education in israel is a disaster, the only place to go is up.
2. Let's do something about this
mordehay ,   netanya   (09.07.10)
Robert Kiyosaki- A wealthhy businessman said that it's a shame what we (Israel) pay our teachers. He doesn't understand how they, the teachers, have money to put gas in the car. He said that it's a shame that a people who so long valued learning like his people (Japan) is moving away from its roots and strength. To the readers and the author of this article. It is not enough to report this fact, you have to do something about it. Strikes are not as effective as pressuring politicians to make changes or forfeit their seat of authority. I hope others will take this to heart and get teh ball rolling. Please email me with suggestions. Shana Tova
3. Israeli education at a standstill
roxie ,   Israel   (09.07.10)
That would be an improvement,the elementary schools here leave a lot to be desired,because that is where the problem begins with the educational system here ! When my daughter was in grade school she had a few incompetent teachers in science and math !But at least she got better teachers in Jr high, there they just couldn't add up test scores. She just started high school so we 'll see how the teachers are now. But what the gov needs to do is to pay teachers better that way more people will go into teaching, and parents must also take an active part in the schools as well!
4. the government is not dependent on the people only coalition
Naftlues ,   jeruslaem   (09.07.10)
the government is responsible to its own parties and coalition not the people, the care about what position on the list they are and thats decided by the party. Unlike in America which has what i called local representation, Israel has NO local Representation. A new house like the US Senate that makes laws with the Knesset, a house that is elected by local regions and answers to the local populations would encourage teh politicians to do more for local populations. Thus depeneding on population regions would elect into the house a different number of seats and these seats would answere directly to their local regional constituents
5. Consider the source...
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (09.07.10)
I used to think that US education was pathetic. Having just enrolled at a local university, I'm starting to find out differently. Of course, the fact that I'm 72 years old may have something to do with it, but for every 2 hours in the classroom, I'm looking at 4 more hours of studies and homework, and it's wearing this old woman to a frazzle. As for governmental representation, that seems to differ from that in Israel. I get weekly/monthly reports via email from my reps in the House and Senate as to what legislation is pending, etc. and if there's something with which I disagree, they hear from me. And speaking of school, it's just about time to head out....
6. Even middling schools I went to were better
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (09.07.10)
Growing up in Florida, we had 180 school days (Europe and Japan then had a longer school year). Based on an 8:30-3:00 school day and subtracting for "home room", phys. ed. and lunch, I estimate we had 810 class hours. High school graduation rates among Jews were almost 100%, with the majority going on to college. (Jewish day schools obviously had a longer school day.) Israeli standards are much lower today than they were in the 1970s. "Reforms" pushed out tried and true education methods, education bureaucracies ate up precious funding, discipline collapsed, and the growing haredi school sector pushed core subjects overboard. With all this, it's fair to say it's a "miracle" Israel does as well as it does.
7. #6 the ""miracle" is the IDF
Omri ,   Israel   (09.07.10)
People in high school understand that if they want a good future a good Atoda place in the army can help by a lot so they study hard. Also there are some really good teachers that can take good jobs in the high-tech business but they chose to teach instead. God bless those guys.
8. What do you expect?
Daria ,   Israel and soon out   (09.07.10)
There are far too many points of faliure to count in that sad long saga of Israeli education. 1. How can one teach a classroom with over 40 students? And don't give me that 32 kids average bullshit. In Haredi schools the numbers are as low as 15 at times so it makes the average look better. I graduated in 2002 and I can clearly recall my highschool class having 43 students. A teacher cannot possibly give enough attention to everyone at this rate. 2. Discipline - is the key to all, and discipline starts at home. Children coming to school with none of that from home, much like their parents who simply drop them off thinking it's some kind of daycare and they're the teacher's problem from 8 to 13. Have any of you seen how a class runs in an Israeli school? If the bell rings at 8, it takes another 5 minutes for everyone to kindly seat their behinds, another 2-5 till the teacher arrives and another 5-10 for her (HER, little to no male teachers are to be found - what guy in his right mind wants to babysit 40 baboon whelps?) to get everyone to shut to hell up, turn off their cellphones and take out their books. The rest of the lesson is spent in quieting disruptions, in between explaining the subject. 3. Violence. The amount of violent behavior in Israeli schools is unpresedented anywhere in the western world (and I don't take in account schools with over 50% immigrant population in friggan Malmo or Kreuzberg-Berlin). It starts with the foul language children as young as 7 use, saying things that would make a courtizant lose her face, continuing with total disrespect of the pedagogic staff and ends with physical assault and threats towards other students as well as against school's staff. Vandalism? Find me a schooldesk that isn't filled with scratches and scribbles... 3. Parental interferance. Nowhere in the world parents interfer as much as they do in Israel. Yiddishe-mama syndrome? No, just plain Israeli "hutzpah". Instead of going hand in hand with the teacher towards educating the child, they constantly interrupt. Instead of taking criticizm, they back their child's lewd and violent behavior, moreso, even giving an example, openly disrespecting the teacher and even assaulting her (verbally or physically). They also think a teacher is an insurance agent they can call to even in the middle of the night... 4. Teacher's authority. Teachers, in the recent decades had been totally and utterly castrated from any power or authority over the students. A teacher can't raise her voice against a disrupting student or even throw one out of the classroom. What's worse, if a teacher stumbles upon a violent incident at school, she cannot interfer for she might get sued for using force against a minor - or even be assaulted herself. Where did the good ol' days gone, when a teacher would drag away two fighting children by the ears in shame?
9. II
Daria ,   Israel and soon out   (09.07.10)
5. Teachers salaries. Why would anyone with a pedagogic degree work to get a salary lower than that one of a cashier in a supermarket? 6. Problematic students. Violent children or children with studying difficulties, attention disorders and the likes. In the past they'd be kicked out of school or put in an institution more skillful and fitting to treat them and put them on the right path. Nowadays we got this load of PC crap that says we must let EVERYONE graduate, "no child left behind" bullshit that makes the rest of the children be stuck with 3-8 "problematic" children on average in the same class. They will disrupt the lessons on a regular basis and drag down those who actually have a chance. 7. Graduation's a must. Who says everyone must graduate from highschool? If years back a child who didn't want to study could stop after grade 8-9-10, now he's stuck till the end of it, doing, well, mostly not letting others study in peace. 8. Systematic ellimination of professional schools. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer. In the past, children who did not succeed in all subjects, would be sent to a professional school to get some kind of trade that will earn them good living in later life, while their brainy friends went to a Gimnasium and later to University. Now they united all highschools to the same low standards to fit everyone, giving weaker students absolutely no tools in the big wide world. But hey, maybe they'll become storage sargents in the army. You don't need brains or a diploma for that, right?
10. Teachers and pay
Reuven ,   Petach Tikvah   (09.07.10)
Unfortunately a large percentage of teachers in Israeli schools are not worth paying more. The system here is very poor. Culture, such as art and music, are almost non-existant. Many teachers set a bad example to their students by the way they interact with the students and discipline leaves a lot to be desired. It is not all about money. There are too longer holiday breaks - summer should be six weeks maximum - and the educational level requirement of teachers should be set higher. Having seen my own children, and now grandchildren, go through the school system I do not hold up too much hope that things will get better. Perhaps less computer games, tv, mobile phones etc will help and then a little bit more seriuous reading will engage the minds and imagination of our future generation. In the meantime pay really good and experienced teachers more, and lesser trained and experienced teachers less.
11. #8
David Cohen ,   London Uk   (09.08.10)
Israel isn't the only place where all of these things are happening in the education system .All the points you mention make it sound like the schools in the Uk now ,bad behaviour violence poor teaching and even violence from 4 year olds with swearing at teachers (children can start school at 4 years old here) ane the situation is getting worse.You cannot remove these children from the classroom.Teaching is one of the most stressful professions in the Uk no respect for teachers and teachers are paid alot less than other professions for a 50+ hour week.
12. #11
Daria ,   Israel and soon out   (09.08.10)
Aye, you make it sound like every child in UK's education system is Vicki Pollard's lovechild - while the truth is her offspring's image shines their gruisome glory upon the Hebrew plane right here in Israel.
13. To#8daria
thinkagain ,   jerusalem   (09.08.10)
If in Israel we could choose the Golden Midway for schooleducation,i think there would be a better result.We have the Haredi education which is only Tora,and secular education,without Tora.Why not both together?Science and conscience.
14. #13, give me a break!
Daria   (09.08.10)
When I was in Junior High we had 6 weekly lessons of Torah and only 4 (!!!) weekly lessons of Math! I refused to take part in religious classes back then already, having no faith in a higher force. Sorry mate, but if you need some kind of form of organized religion to serve you as a concience, then you're a mere head of cattle. I on the other had have a functional moral compass, healthy logic and analitic sense.
Back to article