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Opinion | In education and at home: in the absence of deterrence, violence pays off Israel today

2021-12-26T06:50:42.069Z


A direct line connects the violence in the education system to the violence in the family: in both phenomena, the system does not produce effective deterrence and it is the victims who are required to pay a continuous price.


We were all shocked by the video recently circulated in the media featuring girls abusing their classmate: pouring dangerous detergents on her, combing her hair with a broom, and laughing and mocking her with unimaginable cruelty.

They did not heed the protest of another girl who said in a weak voice: "Poor thing, leave her."

And even after they finished abusing, the girls "increased" to do and uploaded the documentation of their actions to the net.

Violence between boys and girls has become a fairly common and alarming phenomenon.

Many hear about teens suffering from boycotts, abuse, verbal violence, and harassment and sexual assault by other teens.

Violence haunts them even outside of school - for example, in WhatsApp groups, where curses, humiliations and sometimes even shameful videos are transmitted.

The ease of violent behavior, without proper punishment, is outrageous, downright unbearable, and its consequences are often disastrous.

The girl, mentioned above, acted bravely - she was exposed and shouted "no more".

Although she was praised, and invited to media events as an expression of support, with the media's involvement in it she was forced to look for an alternative educational framework, while the abusive girls returned to school as winners.

The problem begins when the method of punishment does not convey the message it is supposed to convey. As a former teacher, I remember the slogan that was smeared on the walls of the school: "Zero tolerance for violence." Sanctions were then imposed on students who used violence, the most severe of which was a total suspension of only three days. In most cases, the suspension was perceived as a reward - a vacation from school, from which they return as heroes. The education system tries to deal with the violence, but does not take effective measures to deal with the wide scope of the phenomenon to the issue. Therefore, unfortunately, the violence not only did not decrease but increased.

Ineffective punishment is also found when it comes to domestic violence, especially that directed at women.

This violence, which translates into an average of 24 homicides a year, should be recognized as a direct continuation and outcome of violence that begins from childhood and does not receive thorough treatment.

Like the education system, so is the law enforcement system in Israel.

For example, when a woman is in a violent marital system, she knows that in many cases the treatment of her complaint will not be taken seriously.

The expulsion order?

If given, it will be for a few days and after that the violent spouse will return with an orderly plan of action, which may end in the picture of the woman in the newspaper.

When violent men enjoy mitigating sentences, and when battered women flee with their children to an emergency shelter - a kind of prison that is supposed to ensure their safety - it is not surprising that the epidemic of violence continues and even spreads.

On top of all this, when the violent man goes to jail, he is not forced to be treated, and he goes out, in most cases, determined to complete the mission and perhaps even murder the woman.

I, as mentioned, come from the world of education, and I believe that is where the key to significant change lies.

In order to reduce the phenomenon of violence, and to address the factor that turns a child, adolescent, into a blow and mercy and peace - a potential female killer, values ​​of human dignity, mutual responsibility, involvement, caring, compassion, acceptance of the other and the different, patience and tolerance must be included in the curriculum.

At the same time, in order to thoroughly address the phenomenon of violence in general, and domestic violence in particular, I call on the government to allocate resources in all areas and especially to focus on education.

All parties must raise awareness and work together: parents, teachers and students.

Because the commandments "thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbor" and "love thy neighbor as thyself" are the basis for a reformed and strong society that engraves on its banner the promotion and realization of "equality between the sexes."

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2021-12-26

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