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

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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