The Educational Program

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The Educational Program
Israel Democracy Institute Director Dafna Gruber

• Achievements and Goals

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Vision

• Education for democracy has a crucial role in
  shaping the face of civil society. The
  educational program of the Israel Democracy
  Institute aims to place democracy higher on the
  educational systems agenda.

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Goals

• Involving youth in the process of shaping the
  future of Israeli society.
• Working with community leaders to create
  democracy studies and social-civic involvement
  projects.
• Creating a pluralistic atmosphere that promotes
  dialogue among the various sectors of Israels
  multicultural society.

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Goals

• Adapting IDI publications for use in schools.
• Improving the thinking, writing, and rhetorical
  skills of pupils at all levels.
• Creating a community model of democracy studies
  and civic education for K-12.

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Writing and publishing educational materials
Extracurricular programs
Activities
Seminars and conferences
Youth programs
"Living Democracy"
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Achievements

• Growing from activity in 15 schools in 2000 to
  activity in over 170 schools today.
• Cooperation with relevant departments within the
  Ministry of Education.
• Holding a large number of in-service training
  courses, seminars, and conferences for
  principals, inspectors, and lead teachers from
  around the country and from all sectors of the
  population.

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Achievements

• Presenting the IDI curricula to pupils from all
  sectors in Israel Jewish (religious and
  secular), Arab, and Druze, with the aim of
  creating dialogue and interaction.
• Involving law students in teaching the IDI
  curricula in high schools.
• Collaborating with various educational
  organizations including Yesodot Association,
  Rashi Foundation, Adenauer Foundation and others.
• Donating IDI publications to school libraries.

8
Writing and publishing textbooks

• Guide for civics teachers
• Rights, Constitution and Consensus in a Jewish
  and Democratic State
• Freedom of Expression
• Democracy Index Lesson Plans
• (due to be published this year)

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Action

• Developing didactic tools such as mock trials and
  debates.
• Municipal tent to promote dialogue between
  secular and religious youth.
• In-service teacher training courses on
  constitution and consensus, human rights, systems
  of government, role of the media, religion and
  state, and other topics.

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Action

• Conferences on topics such as freedom of
  expression and its limits, a common civil
  language, the image of the state.
• Courses and workshops for groups of youth leaders
  from Israel and abroad.
• Promoting social-civic involvement on topics such
  as road safety, empowering populations with
  special needs, and the environment.

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Flagship project Living Democracy

• This project is being developed by the IDI and
  the Rashi Foundation in cooperation with the
  Ministry of Education, local authorities, and
  school principals.
• Premise
• Consistent long-term investment in democratic
  knowledge and in creating a positive climate at
  school will contribute to a sense of belonging
  and solidarity in Israeli society. The rate of
  violence will drop in schools that maintain and
  respect democratic values.

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Flagship project Living Democracy

• Goals
• Creating a continuum of democracy studies and
  civic education K-12 .
• Democracy studies and civic education for all
  principals, teachers, and pupils from all
  population sectors and socioeconomic strata.
• Operating a program that combines theoretical
  study, education for values, practical skills,
  and social-civic involvement in the community.

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Flagship project Living Democracy

• We launched this project in three towns
• Netivot A developing town in southern Israel.
  Its population is predominately Jewish and
  religiously observant with many new immigrants.
  (Population 23,000)
• Horfeish A Druze village in northern Israel.
  (Population 5,000)
• Tamra An Arab town in northern Israel.
  (Population 24,500)
• Joining the project in September, 2008
• Yokneam A town in northern Israel. The
  population is mainly Jewish and middle-class,
  with many new immigrants. (Population 18,500)

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Flagship project Living Democracy
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Flagship project Living Democracy

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Flagship project Living Democracy