[etni] fw: How to relate to recent events in our classrooms
- From: "Ask" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 19:07:25 +0200
From: Barry Silverberg and family - barisil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: How to relate to recent events in our classrooms
Dear Etni members,
A few days ago, someone asked for suggestions how
to deal with the traumatic events of the last few weeks in
our classrooms.
Well, we could certainly guide them to learn about freedom
of speech, and the use and abuse of the media.
There is a great wealth of articles, essays and personal
opinion by people who were caught up in the upheaval,
either because they or their loved ones were among those
uprooted, or because they, like myself, were drawn into the
movement of resistance to the government's plans and bore
witness to the ugly face of our so- called democracy. Much
of the material is written by English teachers in Israel; Hanna
Besser, Leah Wolf and Rachel Sapperstein are 3 names
which immediatly come to mind.
Some of our pupils were actively involved in the struggle; but
the vast majority were untouched, and were just busy being
teenagers. It is vital that they become aware of the issues
involved and the suffering, faith and strength of the victims.
The X-files has a motto: 'truth is out there. ' Well, in the case
of the "Hitnatkut" the truth may be out there, but it sure
ain't in here. It is my belief that the regular media distorts
the news.
But why believe me? Let our students find out for themselves!
Do our students know the answeres to questions like these:
What is a 'legal' and what is an 'illegal' settlement?
How many of the destroyed settlements were 'legal'?
Who founded the settlements? Under which governments
and which prime ministers?
How much land was appropriated from Arabs to build the
settlemets? Who does the land belong to now?
Are the settlers who agreed to leave their homes early
getting better conditions than those who refused to accept
the disengagement?
How much compensation are the settlers actually receiving?
Must settlers continue to pay mortgatges on houses that the
government has destroyed? Must they pay their hotel bills?
Pay for the packing containers that hold their belongings?
PUPILS WILL FIND DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO THESE
QUESTIONS IN DIFFERENT SOURCES. MANY OF THE
ANSWERS WILL SUPRISE THEM -- AND PROBABLY
SURPRISE YOU AS WELL!
THEY CAN COMPARE SOURCES, E-MAIL AND PHONE
WRITERS AND TRY TO DETERMINE THE TRUTH FOR
THEMSELVES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING SITES:
arutz-7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
arutz-7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
http://www.bridgesforpeace.com/
AND ANYTHING BY CAROLYNE B GLICK
HERE is one example of selections from article that brought
tears to my eyes. I got it from "Bridges for Peace," a weekly
newsletter by North American Christian Zionists.
GATHERING TEARS IN A BOTTLE
One simple story tells both sides of the passion that is Gush Katif.
A Jerusalem dentist receives an urgent call. One of the
expelled Jews from Gush Katif needed emergency dental care.
The dentist immediately clears some time and welcomes this
Jew from Gush Katif into his office.
As he prepares his dental tools, the dentist gives his patient
some forms to fill out and walks into the next room. When
he returns, he finds the man weeping softly. The patient had
gotten to the question on the form asking for his address and
could go no further.
A Jew, a citizen of the state of Israel - without an address
and without a home - no one has yet been able to explain
to him why.
As the dentist finishes his treatment, another patient enters
from the other room. This Hassidic Jew rushes over to the
Jew from the Gush. They don't know each other. They have
never spoken. Yet they fall into each other's arms and weep.
( By Moshe Kempinski, http://www.shorashim2u.net,
Shorashim, August 22, 2005)
Note from Barry: the article goes on and is well worth
reading, but I don't want to be accused of using this forum
for a political platform.
TO CONCLUDE: THE TEXBOOKS THAT WE USE CANNOT
INCLUDE CONTROVERSIAL MATERIAL. BUT THIS DOESN'T
MEAN OUR LESSONS HAVE TO BE BLAND; RATHER IT IS
OUR DUTY TO BRING THE CONFLICTING, CONFUSING
REAL WORLD INTO THE CLASSROOM AND OFFER THE
TOOLS TO SORT IT OUT.
BARRY SILVERBERG
##### To send a message to the ETNI list email: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx #####
##### Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx #####
Other related posts:
- » [etni] fw: How to relate to recent events in our classrooms