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A Glimpse into a Mixed Ethnic Elementary School in Jaffa, Israel. Dr. Tamar Margalit Center of Critical Pedagogy, Kibbutzim College of Education April, 2008. Outline :. Arab and Jewish Segregation in Schools Jaffa and the Neighborhood The Weitzman School Dilemmas at the School
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A Glimpse into a Mixed Ethnic Elementary Schoolin Jaffa, Israel Dr. Tamar Margalit Center of Critical Pedagogy, Kibbutzim College of Education April, 2008
Outline: • Arab and Jewish Segregation in Schools • Jaffa and the Neighborhood • The Weitzman School • Dilemmas at the School • Trend for Change • Critical Pedagogy • Projects at the School • Conclusions
Arab and Jewish Segregation in Schools • 20% of Israeli citizens are Arab citizens • Segregated educational systems • Jewish-Arab conflict Inequality • Budgets • Gaps in scholasticachievements • Preconceived attitudes, fear and animosity
Jaffa • A part of Tel Aviv metropolis • Tel Aviv-Jaffa population: 371,400 • Jaffa population: 45,000 • Jews and Arabs (Muslims and Christians) • Jews: 30,000; Arabs: 15,000 (third are Christians) • Low socio-economic status • Historical significance (an ancient port city) • Gentrification
Weitzman School • Israeli - Jewish “state school”. • 316 children (Pre-school – 6th grade). • 50:50 Arab to Jewish children ratio. Arab include Christians and Muslims. • Marginalized community.
Dilemmas at School Religious holidays Culture and heritage Identity Language Israeli-Palestinian conflict Equality Violence Low scholastic achievements
Projects at Schoolby Student Teachers from theCenter of Critical Pedagogy • Principles: • Arab and Jewish student teachers work together • Multi-aged groups • Children select their projects
Projects at School • The Projects: • Bilingual School magazine • School Design • “I am from Jaffa” • Children’s Rights
Friendships(From the Weitzman school magazine) Achmed: “There is one boy in the class, his name is Eliraz. He and I are almost like brothers.” Cristin: “My two friends, Lina and Cristina, and I belong to different religions. Despite this, our friendship is wonderful. I believe that if you want to feel belonging, religious issues don’t matter, what you really feel is in your heart.”
Thank You “We are all children of life” Translation from a painting by children from Weitzman School, Jaffa, 2008