From: wallace greene
wmg14@optonline.net
To:
lookjed@mail.biu.ac.il
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 3:24 PM
Subject: How well are we preparing students?
As an adjunct to the discussion about Zionist education I would like to raise an issue that has been bothering me for some time. When our high school graduates spend a year or more studying in Israel, they are for the most part, not exposed to the Israel around them. Most probably never even get to Tel Aviv. They do not read the newspapers, they are not aware of political issues, they have little interest in what's happening around them, and they might as well be learning in Gateshead , Brooklyn or Lakewood. They may attend a rally here and there and they may get some history from tiyullin but a nuanced approach to Zionism is lacking.
Since the year in Israel is unfortunately regarded by many as the fixer upper for all that is wrong in the prior twelve years of day school education, I tried to remedy this situation about ten years ago. After Natan Scharansky's trips to American campuses I approached and had many meetings with his chief of staff. I had a funder who was willing to undertake an experimental program of Zionist education in the yeshivot and seminaries. Knowledgeable presenters would offer lectures once or twice a week so that these students would finish the year armed with information that was intended to give them the background they needed for their college experience. It was not intended to be indoctrination and different points of view would be expressed. The initiative had Scharansk's support but the yeshivot and seminaries were not interested.
Today, some of the newer schools do try to teach some Zionism, but the problem still exists.
Wally Greene
