The bad news is that our Limmud publicity printing is stuck in the Christmas post.

The good news is that we’ve two sessions planned for Limmud Conference. Limmud is not only an amazing educational conference with something for everyone, it also tends to have lots of teachers attending.

We hope to meet lots of them at our sessions

Monday, 19:00 - 20:10
The Social Staffroom: Jewish Teachers (and Wannabe Teachers) Networking
Location: Rootes Bar

This will be the 4th annual Limmud teachers’ get together. This is the chance to meet, chat, network and share stories about how great the life of a teacher is, how we never take work home and how our pupils always do everything we tell them. We look forward to meeting old friends and new faces. Student teachers or those thinking about becoming teachers are also very welcome.

Wednesday, 19:00 - 20:10
I’m the Only Jew in the Staffroom
Location: Rootes Chancellors 1
Up and down the country, in every kind of school and educational setting, Jewish teachers are attempting to educate our nation’s young people. How does being a Jew affect your life as a teacher? What are the issues, benefits and responsibilities? Teachers and student teachers will be especially welcome as the presenters delve into the Limmud staffroom.

Please see the poster for our latest event

Thursday 7th January Winter Term Networking, 7.30pm, Don Fernandez, Hendon.

January Events

We look forward to seeing you at our Networking Event on Thursday 10th September at 19:30.

Event Flyer September 09

In May last year, Jewish teachers met to exchange and discuss ideas and resources for teaching pupils and staff about the Holocaust. The outcome was a range of suggestions for using novels, creative writing, music, drama, art, exhibitions and museums to enrich our understanding of the Holocaust. Please see the resource list attached to help you with your own ideas. We would like to make this an even more comprehensive guide to resources and welcome further suggestionsor references of material you might use this year that we can circulate. Just email us back and we’ll add your ideas to the list.

supporting-teaching-and-learning-about-the-holocaust.pdf

We have published some guidance on dealing with the current conflict in Gaza and Israel. This guidance comes in the wake of our recent survey of our membership on how the conflict is affecting schools.

The guidance is available for download here - advice_for_teachers_and_schools.pdf

We welcome any feedback or resources to improve this guidance.

We also recommend the excellent resources and similar guidance at the website of the Three Faiths Forum titled Teaching about the current conflict in Gaza and Israel

Between Thursday 8th January and Tuesday 13th January, 32 Jewish teachers were surveyed on the effects of the conflict in schools.

The following results were noted.

• 53% of respondents had seen the conflict discussed in their staff rooms.

• 41% of respondents had seen the conflict discussed formally or informally in classrooms.

• Over 50% of respondents either did not feel comfortable discussing the conflict in school or avoided doing so.

• Only 41% were happy to discuss the conflict with colleagues

• Only 28% were happy to discuss the conflict with pupils

• Only 19% of respondents felt they weren’t informed about the conflict

• 50% of respondents felt well informed or very well informed.

The survey was run as a result of individual problems brought to the Jewish Teachers’ Association. The aims were to find out; if problems were more widespread; if the conflict has caused problems for Jewish teachers either with colleagues or with students; and if it is something they were happy dealing with.

The results show there is unease amongst Jewish teachers discussing the conflict in schools despite most respondents feeling they have good background knowledge. This was particularly noted where there was only one Jewish staff member in the school. This is something all schools and teachers should be aware of. It is also worth noting that if Jewish teachers feel uncomfortable it can be extrapolated that this may also apply Jewish students.

On a positive note teachers who were happy discussing the conflict reported some positive outcomes and overall there were no reported confrontations or serious incidents. Some respondents felt that there was no issue to worry about.

As a result of the survey the Jewish Teachers’ Association will be publishing some brief guidelines for schools on working with Jewish students and teachers with regard to events in the Middle East.

Full report available to download here Israel/Gaza Survey Results Report Download

Dealing with conflict inset 3 Feb. 2009, St Ethelburgas Centre, London EC2

Education Resource & Unique Training Day Opportunity for Teachers and Teaching Staff
Citizenship - Community Cohesion - Mediation - RE- History - Conflict Reduction
“A conflict education resource that provides an international outside perspective of ethnic, religious and cultural conflict to students, whilst teaching at the same time how to deal with conflict on a micro-local level.”
Organised by Neve Shalom - Wahat al-Salam village of Peace in Israel.
For more information see
http://www.oasisofpeaceuk.org/5-dwc-01.htm or contact Daniel Zylbersztajn at daniel.z@oasisofpeaceuk.org

Among the great sessions at Limmud we’re once again running two session where we would love to see you and meet you there.

1. I’m the only Jew in the Staffroom - Wednesday, 12:30 - 13:40 (Lunch ‘n’ Learn) - Eng 2

2. Jewish Teachers’ Get together - rearranged for Tuesday 7pm at the Limmud bar!We are looking to reschedule this to earlier in the day (we’ll let you know) but currently this is scheduled for Monday, 22:00 - 23:10 (Limmud Late) in Rootes Chancellors 1.

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