Learning Together: Chapter VIII - Conflict Resolution and Personal Values

Conflict resolution training and development of caring and nurturing interpersonal relationships are topics of considerable concern to Americans as the rate of violence increases and as communities seem to disintegrate. Several Israeli programs have been designed to develop conflict resolution strategies and personal commitment and to nurture caring, helping relationships. One project involves integrating senior citizens into a high school's educational and social activities as a means of linking older and younger generations with mutual responsibility.

The Rules of the Game: Understanding
and Implementing Democratic Procedures

Contact:

Prof. Chaim Adler
NCJW Research Institute
School of Education
Hebrew University Mt. Scopus Campus
Jerusalem 91905, Israel
Tel. (02) 882016, Fax. (02) 322545

Objective:

To facilitate and enhance co-existence between Israeli Arabs and Jews by presenting and analyzing democratic concepts in the context of Israeli reality.

Target Population:

Jewish and Arab Israeli high school students and their teachers.

Program and Activities:

Jewish and Arab Israeli high school teachers jointly developed a curriculum and materials on democracy for use in their 11th grade classes. The curriculum is aimed at acquainting students with the universal principles of democracy; the significance of human and minority rights within the principles of democracy; the historical and comparative background of democratic ideas and practices and the ways and means through which an informed and involved citizen is able to influence governments' decisions and actions.

The Rules of the Game allow Jewish and Arab Israelis, as well as secular and religious Jews, find a common denominator. Stressing the themes of democracy, human rights and coexistence, "The Rules" can be adapted to any context in which there is stress and conflict.

Teachers from diverse backgrounds, working in various kinds of schools with students of different ability levels and values, were involved in the development of "The Rules of the Game" from the outset. Consequently, the curriculum is designed to examine "democracy" from an interdisciplinary point of view — history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, logic, political science, communication and legal studies. A cognitive approach is stressed, appealing to human reason rather than personal sentiments and feelings, distinguishing empirical findings from value judgments, evidence from hearsay and a logical argument from an emotional one.

The program employs and teaches two kinds of strategies — knowledge-based and experiential-based. Knowledge-based strategies include an interdisciplinary curriculum, logical interconnections, rational orientation and a multivocal text. Experiential-based strategies include simulations, role playing, encounter groups and student self-government.

New teachers are trained annually and the curriculum is updated and revised within the framework of the Ministry of Education's curriculum in civic studies.

Personal Commitment — Helping Others

Contact:

Ruth Yitshar
Division for Social and Youth Education
Ministry of Education and Culture
1 Devora Hanevia Street
Jerusalem 91191
Tel: (02) 293155/6 Fax: (02) 293886

Objective:

To prepare youth to develop a commitment in a free and democratic society through community-based service, to educate pupils about the importance of developing a greater than usual sense of responsibility and community involvement.

To strengthen the feeling of commitment of youth to their communities.

To familiarize youth with community life and needs that are not covered by state and local functions.

To instruct and advise youth about their personal obligations to the community.

To strengthen youth's capability for taking personal responsibility and help individuals make better decisions and choices based on past experience.

To improve the communication capabilities of youth.

To help youth understand their own capabilities and limitations.

To familiarize youth with career education opportunities in the community.

Target Population:

Ninth and tenth graders in Jewish and Arab Israeli High Schools.

Program and Activities:

Changes in Israeli society in the 1970s led to a reevaluation of the matriculation examination (bagrut) and its negative effects on schools that devoted most of their time and efforts in preparing students for examination.

Begun in 1981 in 80 schools, the project now functions in 250 Israeli High Schools (including Arab schools). The program is voluntary in nature and is intended to involve all students, not just a select few. The project started with 10th graders and was later extended to 9th graders. For the latter, more time is devoted to acquainting them with the community and its institutions. School and community educational staffs identify community needs and prepare and assist students with choosing activities that fit their personal choices. There is constant contact with the community organizations and groups that receive these voluntary services.

Project NOAH: Youth Studying Their Community

Contact:

Prof. Chaim Adler
School of Education
Hebrew University Mt. Scopus Campus
Jerusalem 91905, Israel
Tel. (02) 882016, Fax. (02) 322545

Objective:

To help high school students from at-risk populations better understand their community, learn social-science methodology and become familiar with the university as an institution.

Target Population:

High school students from at-risk populations.

Program and Activities:

In each project group, 10-20 high school students from at-risk populations carry out a series of small individual studies in their own communities as partial fulfillment of their bagrut (matriculation) requirements. The students are instructed and guided by a researcher from the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education at The Hebrew University. The instructor helps the group to develop as a cooperative, mutual support team in undertaking their projects so they acquire these skills as well as research skills.

Following an evaluation in 1990-1991, the project was modified so that each group focused on a common subject relevant to their specific community, with each of the individual studies branching off from the general topic. Young researchers are given opportunities to present the results of their studies to the appropriate audiences in their communities.

Developing the Values of Helping and Caring Relationships

Contact:

Dr. Rachel Laor
11 Hashoshanim Street
Zahala, Tel Aviv
Tel. (03) 647-5380, Fax. (03) 917027

Objective:

To provide teachers with a curriculum and teaching strategies for engaging students in a process of developing the universal value of helping and caring relationships in an atmosphere of mutual trust, openness and awareness.

Target Population:

Secondary school students and their teachers.

Program and Activities:

This program consists of two books (in Hebrew only at this time) — one for teachers and the other for their students. The volume for teachers provides them with a curriculum and a set of competencies and sub-competencies and teaching strategies for nurturing positive values and developing caring relationship behaviors in students. The student volume provides a curriculum and activities for developing values and caring behaviors. The program can be integrated with the regular social studies program.