The Education Committee in Haifa has approved: swimming lessons and familiarization with the sea for Haifa children, already in the current school year
The topic of introducing swimming lessons and getting to know the sea for the children of Haifa came up in the education committee yesterday (Monday 28/12/20), when all the participants, without exception, agreed that swimming and getting to know the sea are necessary and are extremely important life skills for children , and in particular for children who live in Haifa, which, by virtue of being a maritime city, has wonderful beaches that are a popular place for recreation. The municipality intends to start operations already in the coming school year, as far as this is possible under the restrictions of the Corona epidemic and subject to the necessary approvals and training hours from the Ministry of Education.
As I recall, in January 2020, a member of the city council raised Hila Lauper (Greens of Haifa), a proposal to order "Swimming lesson subsidy for Haifa children" And this in reference to the fact that Haifa is blessed with a natural and beloved resource - the sea, which, along with its obvious advantages, can certainly also be dangerous, certainly for those who do not know how to swim.
After a discussion on the issue, it was decided to forward the proposal to the Education Committee, which voted in favor, unanimously.
The proposal as submitted to the Haifa Council in January 2020:
City Council member Hila Laufer gave a speech following the decision:
I'm happy! Haifa is a sea city and if we manage to save the lives of children thanks to the tools and knowledge we provide them, to enjoy the sea while understanding how to be careful of the dangers inherent in it, we have gained our world. The committee consisted of a team of highly respected and expert people in their field, all of whom, including the holder of the education portfolio Sigal Tsioni, They agreed, without exception, that learning to swim and getting to know the sea are a must and an extremely important life skill, which we must provide to the children of the city. Swimming is not a luxury club but a life-saving life skill.
Sigal Zioni, member of the city council and holder of the education portfolio in the Haifa municipality, told Lahi Fa:
Haifa is a sea city and therefore the municipality considers it important to promote maritime education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, among the city's students. In promoting maritime education, the municipality will make use of municipal infrastructure such as the maritime center and will include professional training in schools on various issues related to the wonders of the sea, alongside the dangers inherent in it.
The municipality intends to start operations already in the coming school year, as far as this is possible, under the restrictions of the Corona epidemic and subject to the necessary approvals and training hours from the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, the municipality sees importance in learning to swim and this was even expressed in the education committee. However, it is important to note that the education committee held a professional discussion and did not discuss the financial issue and did not deal with subsidizing the lessons, which are usually financed by the parents.
The plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Education for instructional hours, and the municipality will help, as much as possible, to provide a response by subsidizing swimming lessons for children from low-income families, as is done in all other activities in the education system.
Out of shock it took me a minute to realize you were being cynical
Kudos to Mrs. Segal Etzioni. Doing wonders in Haifa, and a wonderful woman!!