There is nothing uglier than exploiting public sentiment to crush the weak and back up the strong. The horror show of Yonit Levy, the Marciano Foundation and Prof. Gabi Barbash, in an "interview" with Yaffe Ben David, secretary-general of the Teachers' Union, was an example. The "interview" mainly included rebukes for teachers, who must at this time "enter under the stretcher", That is to volunteer in July, and to continue the studies that were interrupted by the Corona.

Public sentiment is understandable. About a million job seekers. The gradual return to work in the economy is just beginning. The economic crisis is at its peak. And we, as parents, have been facing the challenge of distance learning and having children at home for over a month. But the address is not our teachers and teachers - but the Treasury. The requirement for teachers to volunteer, after agreeing to add nine school days on vacation, is a brazen requirement, which is in stark contrast to the simple rule that work must be paid. The Treasury is trying to use the public backwash and get a free job: both distance learning now, and full-time studies in July, at the same salary.

It is worth mentioning: Israeli teachers work in demanding work, with a remuneration that is inversely related to the importance of their role. Nobody who joins the fray wants to really replace them and face the most crowded classes in the West, every day. The OECD reports reveal time and time again: Teachers in Israel work more and are less rewarded than their peers. The latest report, September 2019, revealed that the initial salary of primary school teachers in Israel is about NIS 4,200 a month from their peers in developed countries. Teach more hours of them. A high school teacher earns 50 percent of what is customary in developed countries, and the salary of middle school teachers is about NIS 4,500 lower than that of their peers worldwide. 

There is no reason for these teachers to spend working days. Treasury, as the story of the dog and egg story, demands it because it simply can. And the media helps him, maliciously or misunderstood.

What's our job? First, back up our teachers and teachers. The corona will pass. They are here to stay and continue the educational work so important. And second, to require frameworks for July, at least, from the Treasury. The state needs to invest, to allow us to return to work. We must not succumb to the "divide and rule", fall into the trap of treasure, and find a scapegoat in the form of our brothers and sisters, the teachers. 

And a final word: Channel 12 executives are now approaching the Treasury, demanding the transfer of millions of shekels to the private channel. It is worth asking whether those who preach and require teachers who earn less than the average salary to volunteer for months of work do so themselves before turning to the public fund.

Avi Dabush is CEO of Human Rights Rabbis and a member of the leadership of the Periphery