For educators who wish to advance justice and equality in Israel, the education system poses many challenges. One of these is that the education policy does not permit engagement in national and political issues in Arab schools. Even in the Hebrew-speaking education system, the Palestinian people exist mainly as a dangerous and primitive enemy. The curriculum includes only few references to Palestinian history and politics, and these are biased. In addition, most teachers refrain from dealing with “explosive” or controversial issues such as the status of East Jerusalem residents, the international dispute over settlements, Israeli war crimes and the Nakba. Educators who are aware of the political reality are faced with challenges arising from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the asymmetrical relations between Palestinians and Jews.

Two graduates of the School of Peace, Urwa Sidawi and Ido Gideon, are setting up a group for teachers who will discuss, analyze and suggest ways to deal with these challenges. In the group, we will discuss and study together the professional and personal issues arising from national identity. Our purpose is to create a framework for the learning and professional development of teachers, researchers and teaching staff from a variety of backgrounds and professional contexts. Among the topics to be discussed in the program: professional and political identity, research and analysis methodology, the presentation of the Nakba in Israeli pedagogy, and place-based education.

For additional information in Hebrew / Arabic, see those versions of the material.