Just before the corona entered our lives in a storm, I arrived at a school as part of my work as a psychologist in the educational psychology service. At this time of year, we are busy with the bureaucracy of distributing limited resources to too many children. This year also began the application of the amendment to the Special Education Law, despite objections from the professional field and the parents. Requested that the teams do meaningful work with the children, mediate, contain and promote tailored programs, different teaching methods, multiple personal conversations within the regular classrooms. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

Only this can not be achieved in a busy and noisy classroom, with children changing needs and with increasing demands; Measurements, pressures and goals. There are tests, certificates, and Mitzvot. In the classroom many children who need personal attention and close attendance of the teacher. Then came the corona, and with it a strange new thing: the "capsule."

This week I visited one of the schools I attend. I usually have emergencies, violence, loads of kids having trouble, and exhausted and helpless teachers. This time I saw a different but unsurprising appearance that confirmed what had been shouting for years. I saw peaceful children, quiet, learning, smiling teachers. They shared their pleasure in learning the children, and said that they could teach hours in succession and enjoyment without feeling the time they finally reached the children. Share that children with ADHD manage dysfunction and show improvement. Then my heart sank. I remembered that it was temporary that, for the first time, classes would return to normal density. 

The reports of what I have seen come from dozens of educational psychologists. Studies reinforce the benefit of a small number of students. Under the conditions of smaller classrooms, when children can be reached, and there is less stimulation and much quieter, mental well-being is created. On the other hand, data on low per-student investment and overcrowding in Israeli classrooms stand in comparison to OECD countries. 

The corona is an opportunity, a kind of experiment. You can simply call a "capsule" a grade. This is how a classroom should be, with an appropriate relationship between children and staff. Problems are likely to be mitigated and addressed in a timely and easy manner. High-quality teachers are unlikely to erode and abandon the system early in their careers. The need for special education resources is likely to diminish thanks to a good, intense and creative response. 

Perhaps instead of shutting down fires, wasteful reforms and cuts, the system will start to hear the professionals, the outcry, and change priorities? Instead of a capsule let's call it a grade. It's time.

Avigel Bar is a Psychologist specializing in Educational Psychology, the Israeli Public Psychology Forum