Jews only kindergartens?
Court orders Lod elementary school to accept Arab student, after city officials told parents that Jewish schools and kindergartens would not accept their children; city: children should study with those similar to 'their culture'
Court intervenes in Lod dispute: The Tel Aviv District Court issued a temporary order instructing an all-Jewish elementary school in the town of Lod to accept an Arab student.
Thursday, the Zevulun Hammer Elementary School refused to accept a seven-year-old Arab student, saying the child would be best served by attending school with other Arab students.
In addition to that incident, the child's three-year-old cousin was refused admittance to an all-Jewish nursery school in Lod, instead being referred to a nursery school more than an hour's walk from the child's home.
Anwar Abu Khassona turned to the court after his three-year-old son was refused admittance to the Sunflower Nursery School Sunday, despite having received written confirmation that his three-year-old son was registered at the school, within walking distance of his house in Lod.
City Hall officials said they refused the student because of "regional registering," and said the child should attend an Arab kindergarten an hour's walk from his home.
In response, the Adalah legal center for Arab minority rights filed a procedural petition with the Tel Aviv District Court. No date was given for a final decision.
City Hall: Child must study with other Arabs
"On the first day of school I walked with my wife and child to nursery school," Abu Khassona told Ynet. "The kindergarten teachers called city hall to verify the list of names of the children registered, according to regulation.
"Even though the department responsible for nursery schools at city hall registered my child and sent me written confirmation, I was informed that the department had made a mistake and my son was not registered."
Abu Khassona said he asked city hall officials for an answer to their "mistake," but was told the child "must be placed in your own framework," meaning with other Arab children.
"I was told to enlist my child in a nursery school where other Arab children attend - a half-hour drive from my house," he said. "I'm not prepared to send my child so far away, to an area known for crime and drugs. I don't understand why I can't send my son to school near my house."
Abu Khassona's nephew had the very same problem. In addition, the parents of a third child wished to register their son in the Zevulun Hammer School near their home, however they too were declined.
School only accepts Jewish students
Adalah spokesman Marwan Athamneh said that the child studied last year in a mixed school far from his home and that there are two schools in the neighborhood where the family resides.
"City hall officials said that according to the family's address the child belongs at the Zevulun Hammer School. However, when his mother wanted to enlist him, she was told that according to policy the school does not accept Arab students," he said. "Officials even said that it would be better for the child if he studies in a school similar to 'his' culture, with Arabs."
Athamneh said that while the Education Ministry decided the child could not be prevented from attending the school, the school principal continues to stand by his stance and will not allow the child access into the school.
Meanwhile, Abu Khassona's child is at home waiting to go to Sunflower Kindergarten.
City Hall officials said in response that, "registration for nursery schools in Lod are carried out according regional registering and residential areas. The child's parents were told to enlist the child at a nursery schools closer to their home."
