Settlers to teach school kids about 'evils' of moratorium

Judea, Samaria schools plan to instruct students on 'damages' of construction freeze.' 'It's important to involve kids in the fight,' Yesha Council official says

Akiva Novick|Published: 11.25.10 , 16:35

A new Yesha Council initiative will bring the movement opposing the West Bank construction moratorium into the classroom: Elementary and high schools in Judea and Samaria will hold a special lesson next week on the "damage and consequences of the construction freeze."

Tens of thousands of students attending 60 Judea and Samaria schools are set to take part in the project. Schools in the Ariel and Ma'aleh Adumim settlements and in haredi towns will not participate.

Homeroom teachers in charge of the lesson will independently convey to the students their own opinions on the moratorium.

"As someone who is very involved in the issue, I will teach my personal truth," said Zehava Tamir, a fifth grade homeroom teacher. "My (female) students pass by the skeleton of my house every day, so it won't be difficult to find something to talk about. It's not about politics, it's about our lives."

As part of the project, Students will write letters and draw pictures to send to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to Knesset ministers.

"We believe that the involvement of children in the fight against the freeze is important," said Yigal Dilmoni, deputy director general of the Yesha Council information office and an organizer of the initiative. Education Ministry officials refused to comment on the matter.