The Unspoken Threat of This War |
Over the last few weeks, many are bemoaning the fact that our kids are growing up with years of interrupted schooling- between corona, the weeks following October 7, Iran War 1.0 and now, Iran War 2.0, bouts of zoom have become an expected way of life. As every parent and teacher who has witnessed kids disguised with Mickey Mouse ears and mustaches while upside down (in elementary school) or cameras turned off (in high school), it is clear that zoom learning just isn’t effective. As a principal, however, these few weeks of useless learning actually do not concern me in terms of missed material. With the hopeful assumption that we will return to in-person learning after Pesach, the academic damage done from these wars is a lot less than stated, at least for high schools. The June war effectively cancelled one week of learning last year (and the last week of school at that)- and thus far, in practice, we have missed two and a half weeks of school between Purim and Pesach, which often includes tiyulim and programs. The underlying damage though is far greater: for some teenagers, it’s the lack of structure, which is terrible for their emotional health. For others, the exposure to the concept that life can actually be quite fine- and in fact, possibly more productive and compelling when they don’t go to school, can actually lead to more sporadic attendance afterward- and more students who won’t return to school at all.
While there are many teens today with clear goals of working in high-tech and other spaces that require rigorous academic learning, those who aren’t driven by academic success or have a harder time envisioning long term goals, are far more compelled by the immediate gratification that comes with earning a paycheck of minimum wage. During these bouts of zoom, parents are understandably encouraging for their children to be productively contributing to the workforce rather than sitting in front of a computer screen, in pajamas from their beds while they are hardly learning anyway. And I kind of agree. The trouble is the long term effects: In a teenager’s head: why wake up early every morning (when that already goes against a teenager’s circadian rhythm) to sit in endless classes that are largely spoon-feeding them for a Bagrut degree when material can often be made up by AI on their own (if they are even motivated to do so) when they can work instead and earn money that pays for technology, skincare and travel?
Long before this war, I was astounded by the amount of stories I have heard of kids who have been home for months- if not a year- because they just don’t go to school. Many are solid kids who are bright and capable, but are just not motivated to go to school. And they aren’t just older students- but more and more 9th graders and even 8th graders. It is happening at schools across the country. How, I wonder? Where are the parents? Where are the kabasiyot? (truancy officers)?
There are many answers. As always, phones and social media play a large role, offering kids something more entertaining to do (and a “social outlet”) when they aren’t at school. Kids are on their phones at night, leading to less sleep which makes it harder to wake up in time for school. 30-second reels with constant movement makes it all the harder to focus at school on your average teacher even when they are trying their best and that makes the material all the less interesting. The success of influencers makes kids realize that one can achieve prominence and fame without a degree or even knowledge. In a world of declining mental health, parents often prioritize a relationship with their children over asserting authority and they don’t always feel they can push their kids to go to school. Left to their own choices, many kids choose what makes them happy in the short run without understanding that they might regret their choices 5 years down the road. The kabasiyot- truancy officers- who are meant to deal with the issue of kids avoiding school- are overworked and largely powerless. Their job is meant to fight a system that is broken.
This was all happening before the current war. But each taste of “freedom” makes the problem worse.
But just like our realization that we need to stop fighting mini-wars against proxies and fight the Octopus of Iran instead, it is time for us to stop complaining about the small issues of short term zoom learning and realize we need to work on making an educational system that is compelling enough to make it worth going back to. We need schools that offer warmth, emotional support and inspiring programming. A curriculum that isn’t geared towards merely passing tests for a degree but that offers education that is practical and speaks to this generation- not just for those who will be motivated to enter prominent fields but also offers classes that speak to inspiring life goals, cultivating interests, and nourishing the soul.
This starts at the highest echelon of government: Netanyahu may be excellent at fighting wars but he classically awards ministerial positions to the highest bidder (or rather- he or she whom he needs the most to form a coalition) with little connection to their level of expertise. As a result, his ministers have little experience in their portfolios ( the “best” one was when Goldknopf was in charge of the Health Ministry during corona). In contrast, under the Bennett government, many of the ministerial positions were given to those who had some level of expertise in their area, including Yifat Shasha-Bitton who brought her experience in education to suggest reforms. Whether you agree with her suggested reforms or not- it’s important for the person who has ultimate authority over decisions to have some area of expertise. We need to move more in that direction and to create real overhauls in the system in a way that speaks to where our students are at. Maybe another issue to consider at the ballot box.
I don’t have the answers, I wish I did. But in a cacophony of voices raising educational concerns during this war, I share this one. And perhaps this is our opportunity for awareness- and just like we are dealing with fighting the root of terror, hopefully, we can look at the root of our children’s truancy and make some changes in the system. Because no, zoom is not the problem.