Middle East in schools - can it work?

[mids2019]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/14/parallel-histories-israel-palestine-schools-children-charity-appeal?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I am split on this.

It is a good thing for young people to debate contemporary issues with respect and due consideration of historical events. It is good for a new generation to maturely consider different perspectives and the causes of conflict.

However is that Gaza Israel conflict just too controversial to be held in schools? It is shown on these threads with even well educated women the passions involved in the subject does lead to heated debate.

One suspects that it takes a high degree of separation from current events to look at this subject objectively. It is interesting that we can get Muslims viewing the Israeli perspective and vice versa but does this form of debate reflect the passions at the current time which are from dispassionate?

One problem with these debates is that if school children are allowed to debate the Balfour declaration the debate can easily slip into removing the legitimacy of the Israeli state and that is anti Semitic (hopefully those involved in school debates would be warned about arguments about suggesting Israel shouldn't exist as state).

Too soon in my opinion but see how it goes?

are you jewish?

No. Surely though all students would be encouraged to debate if they so wished

One problem I think is the potential for bullying if for instance a Jewish child made an impassioned speech for the Israeli perpespective or similarly a person with connections doing similar for the Palestinian cause

I think the question is this a subject that is too controversial for school children to debate or can it be done in mature rational way?

I think you also have to make sure this is indeed a debate and not an opportunity for 'education' about how the formation of modern Israel was an illegal colonial exercise as this would just encourage those that believe Israel shouldn't exist as a state and therefore acting as some sort of perverse reason for attacks on this nation.

Too contemporary and controversial for school children for me but maybe I am underestimating the students?

I'm just speaking from experience; I wouldn't touch it. Some years ago I taught a History GCSE Paper, The Arab Israeli Conflict. I wouldn't do that now.
It's become too difficult. Our student population is 40% Muslim, and things have got very impassioned over the last year or so. It's been critical to keep things on an even keel and deal with very strong feelings.

@mids2019 a better knowledge of history would give people a better understanding of the arguments on both sides - whichever a side one happens to agree with.

They will already be exposed to the notion that Israel shouldn't exist from social media. School putting the other side (and getting them to argue both sides) seems like it can surely only be a good thing in my view. We need to train kids in plurality of thinking in these polarised times.

@OlympicWomen

I agree a debate couldn't be held sensibly at the Oxford Union so how do we expect school children to wrestle with this?

I don't think we are denying children an opportunity to debate if these debates weren't held but actually due thought is given to student safety and avoiding the debate treading into anti semitism or anti Muslim sentiment.

We are not going to get a child with family from Gaza suddenly becoming enlightened about the Israeli perspective of the conflict and realising it is nuanced and there are two opposing narratives. This is disingenous

In fact can you safeguard children who for example made a case to look at Israel sympathetically or God forbid a student who tried to argue October 7th was an act of resistance?

Indeed, @Daftasabroom .
I would agree. Let me give you an example. Teaching a yr7 class about the Romans and uprisings against them. One of which of course was the Jewish uprising in Judea. Several students argued, and were absolutely adamant- there were no Jews in that area before 1948.
Good points too, @mids2019

From the article in the link, it seemed like a positive experience for the students.

@Alwayslurkingsometimesposting

I see your point but if you are predicating any debate on the existence of the state of Israel which quite rightly shouldn't be questioned you then introduce reasons why Israel has continually had to defend itself militarily including combating Hamas in Gaza? There may be many who simply are not in the position to try and see why Israel is taking military action as the subject maybe is just to polarised to allow meaningful debate?

I agree that the establishment of Israel was an imperial colonial exercise, but the history behind that decision is complex. The history also doesn't dictate the future.

We need our children to be making informed decisions, which means they to be informed.

I'm not particularly comfortable with approaching it from perspective of opposing sides & using a conventional debating structure which is confrontational & potentially has a winner/loser. That doesn't seem the best way to build undrerstanding especially when the two 'sides' are in no way monolithic I would start from what people have in common and build understanding of why things have developed the way they have. Its hard to tell from a short article how they do it, though.

Sigh.

I feel quite strongly that this issue should not be being discussed in schools.

@Daftasabroom

I agree entirely with you in principle.

However I just feel you need to be very selective about students entering a debate where a lot of people can't really see the other sides perspective? If we can get students to see why Israelis feel threatened and have invested heavily militarily due to the complex history of the region then great - but is this really happening?

Similarly if you discuss how Palestinians are resistant to the idea of Israeli expansion into the west bank and Gaza with a respect of international agreements all well and good - but again can this really happen?

I think the article is very vague - perhaps deliberately so

The problem with common ground is that some may argue there is not a great deal of common ground (perhaps I am wrong though). I just feel an informed rounded discussion about the history of the middle East is very difficult to have without resort to polarised opinion or some just saying if Israel didn't exist there wouldn't be a need for the discussion (which again I would very much hope would not be a debating point!)

The article talks of one student who is strongly pro-Palestinian but had to research and argue from the Israeli perspective. Isn't that a positive? @mids2019

I do have my concerns though and would be interested to know the procedures. Do students choose to take part? What is the process.

@Comedycook

It is a real challenge.

I suspect the motivation to host debate is motivated by the fact schools do not allow protest or political gestures for very good reasons

The fear for these debates though well intentioned (?) is to allow a means of protest surreptitiously

Good points, @SharonEllis .

@Whatsinanamehey

I think greater understanding is good and the student experience seems positive- it is not mentioned though whether the student in question had particularly strong feelings in the subject prior to the debate/discussion. There are of course those that will say if someone comes out of a debate more sympathise to Israeli action then someone is feeding them Israeli propaganda.....

@mids2019 children don't actually need to be taught about the current situation in the ME. They need to be given the tools they need to form well thought out opinions. There are enough conflicts with their roots in centuries of history to not need to choose quite such a polarizing topic.

What kids really need is to learn to be inquisitive.

Yes it clearly says that he has strong Pro-Palestinian views

Arguing for Israel did not come naturally to Zain: “I’m very pro-Palestine. I have family working there,” he said. “But it is interesting to see from another perspective how other people think, and it is valuable.”

@Whatsinanamehey

Woops missed that bit. Then it does seem a mature young person.

@Daftasabroom

I agree there are many other topics of discussion that young people could use to hone their debating skills and I completely agree with promoting the development of critical thinking and debating skills.

Again it is really to much of a decisive topic to be debated universally at schools. I suspect there may be many who would be upset with their children being encouraged to see the Israeli perspective for instance