Parents of children aged 3-4, who live in the Bat Galim neighborhood, claim that the municipality did not honor its promise regarding the anthroposophical kindergarten in the neighborhood. According to the parents, they were promised that the anthroposophical kindergarten next to the school would first be for the children of the Bat Galim neighborhood, and only after that, if there is room left, for children outside the neighborhood.
In practice, this week the answers were received, and according to parents, children were accepted outside of Bat Galim, while some of the neighborhood's children had to accept another kindergarten in the neighborhood or a kindergarten outside the neighborhood.
It should be noted that the director of the anthroposophical school, Itai Paz, has said more than once that the school is meant to strengthen the neighborhood. The parents claim that it is impossible for parents from neighborhoods on the Carmel to bring their children to kindergarten in their neighborhood, while they, who live near the kindergarten, will have to take their children to another kindergarten.
Publish a petition
The parents published a petition on Facebook in which they claim that The municipality of Haifa renounces its commitment to the children of Bat Galim and gives priority to children from outside the neighborhood in the new kindergarten.
According to the parents, they were told by the municipality that this is a compulsory kindergarten, and therefore, like any other compulsory kindergarten in the city, priority is given according to age, that is, if there are more children, who have registered, than available places in the kindergarten, the children who will receive the kindergarten will be older. According to the parents, they were assured that the anthroposophical kindergarten is primarily intended for the children of the neighborhood and therefore it is not possible for the age criterion to be determined, as in any regular kindergarten. The parents emphasize that this kindergarten is of better quality, and it is important to them that the children of the neighborhood enjoy it, and this was also promised to them, so they have created a petition and intend to be in contact with the municipality, until a solution is found to their satisfaction.
Widespread support for the anthroposophical school
Many of the parents of the Bat Galim neighborhood learned to support during the conversion of the Aliya school to Anthroposophy last September, which was led by the municipality. The parents saw and have seen since then that a high-level educational team was brought to the neighborhood (headed by Itay Paz), who inspired the parents' trust and has already begun to make a difference with the children of the neighborhood .
The kindergarten is a reserve for the school
Following the school's success, during the kindergarten registration period last February, and at the round table meeting held in the neighborhood, many parents raised the issue of early childhood education in Bat Galim.
We asked to receive a quality educational solution for our children aged 3-6 and that an anthroposophical multi-age kindergarten be opened for our children, they say...
This way there will be an educational sequence and the children will continue to the neighborhood school, and will be the reserves for it. After these requests, and with the support of the school staff, The municipality decided to open an anthroposophical kindergarten in areas of Bat Galim, for 4-5 year olds (pre-compulsory and compulsory - two years), with priority for residents of Bat Galim.
The 3 year olds were left out
The 4-year-olds also remained unanswered
Below are possible solutions that are evident in the field
Haifa Municipality has not yet given a response
We will update later