In a demonstration this evening in front of the municipality, some of the parents, who oppose the transition of the bilingual track to a beach school, said that they fear manifestations of racism and maybe even violence against their children. The parents fear that as a result of the transition, many students will leave the track
A demonstration was held this evening by parents from the bilingual track opposing the move to the Hufit school. The coup was held in the town hall square shortly before the council meeting. Alongside the parents were also students, who played together and chanted: "We are friends and we don't break up."
The parents' main argument was that they did not want their children to study there, that they were not welcome there. "We want to stay together," said one of the mothers, "but we know that there are many families who are about to leave. You cannot force the bilingual track in a school that is not interested in it. Even if there is a small minority in the school that does not welcome us, it is Enough. We don't want to take a risk that our children will be exposed to racism or violence."
Shadi Abadi in an interview with Lahi Fa
Another mother said that there was not enough time to prepare for the move to the beach school. "It is unprofessional to decide on the children's future in such a short time, without checking the area and the population. They put things on us, without preparing us. Maybe if we had known about it six months before, we could have held a series of meetings and it could have been less anti. The parents , who are not opposed, are simply afraid of upsetting the decision-makers. We would like to see the bilingual track already in our own structure like there is in the whole country. People will leave the track and it will hurt. We celebrate according to an annual calendar that is unique to us, we celebrate different national days, and I am worried that the population In the Shaar Alia neighborhood you will not welcome it, compared to what was in Kabvir."
learn in a welcoming atmosphere
One of the fathers added that the parents have nothing against the beach school, but the children should learn in an accepting atmosphere. "It is possible to apply the pedagogy and the social section unique to our community only in a place that allows it."
Fear for the safety of the children
The father of a boy who is supposed to start first grade this year said that instead of being busy with excitement for first grade, he is afraid of what might happen to his child if the route does move to the beach school, contrary to the wishes of some parents and residents.
They don't want us
"I completely understand the parents in Hofit who don't want us," added one of the mothers, "we are 110 students, this will greatly affect the Hofit school. Even so, the school is not big, and part of it will still be transferred in favor of the bilingual track."
Both groups opposed moving to the coast
During the council meeting, mothers from the Hufit school came to the municipality in order to enter the council meeting. The guards did not allow them to enter the city hall and they stayed outside with the parents from the bilingual track. The mothers talked to each other and according to them it was a good conversation. The positions did not change, even at the end of the conversation both groups opposed moving to the coast, but at least a preliminary acquaintance was made.
The parent leadership of the school supports and believes in the way of dialogue
The parents' committee at the Hofit School sent a message today according to which the leadership of the parents at the Hofit School is happy for the opportunity they had to host the bilingual track. "Unfortunately, as with any change, there are opponents here as well. We will be happy to speak and clarify to any parent who fears the change and wants to know more about the track's hospitality. The students of the bilingual track will receive classrooms and a yard and will be run as an independent school within the walls of the Beach School. We are in contact with the parents from the track The bilingual, who also have few parents, who are afraid of moving to the coastal school and they are also working to allay the fear. The leadership of the school's parents supports and believes in the way of dialogue, listening and accepting every student to the school and will continue to act in this way. We believe that together we can Have a successful start to the upcoming school year.
The parents from the bilingual route, who support the school, delivered a letter of support to the municipality yesterday, in which they oppose the protest activity, whose goal is to cancel the transition and hope that the municipality will find a way to complete the transition of the route.
The letter is presented here in its entirety for your perusal:
They come to stay at a Zionist Jewish school and want to bring out my Zionism, you bilinguals are delusional
Bilingual insolent people came to stay with us at the Hufit school and demanded that Herzl's picture be taken down because it does not reflect their way. They are against his vision. His vision is a Jewish state. They do not recognize our flag in our country in our army. They say we are a shameful occupation, hypocritical people. I thought that the My language is supposed to make peace, but it is exactly the opposite
Haifa coexistence is fine until it "doesn't suit" people.
During Yahav's time he opened the bilingual in Chalissa because no one agreed elsewhere.
The municipality probably doesn't really want to support bilingualism, and if they really wanted to invest
So they would have set it up in a normal place in Haifa like in Carmel or Hadar and not in Shapirentsk.
Demonstrating is fine, inciting is not.
what do you want?! That some psycho will burn the bilingual like it was in Jerusalem in 2014?
Unfortunately in Haifa they do not want "Arabs" in certain neighborhoods, this hostility and suspicion and the instigators who raise the hatred on purpose will destroy our city.
Half of the bilinguals oppose the transition and some have already left, the other half agreed without a choice after surrendering
On the other hand, the Shaar Aliya neighborhood opposes and things have reached real threats
Honorable mayor-elect, relations in the city are delicate and a single unusual case while sleeping under guard will set the whole city on fire
It's a shame that as mayor you don't take things seriously