Classes at the BaMaale state religious school in Yehud-Monosson began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the Teachers Union announced on Monday, citing repeated, severe cases of violence by a student against her teacher and other students at the school.
On Sunday, a student at the Agamim School in Atlit attacked a pregnant teacher, sending her to the hospital, according to KAN News. The student, who reportedly has a history of violent behavior, started attacking the pregnant teacher after she tried to stop him from hurting a different staff member. Similar to the case in Yehud-Monosson, classes at Agamim began at 10 a.m. the following day.
"Violence against teaching staff is becoming an everyday phenomenon that we must not normalize," Teachers Union Chairman Michael Pinto said in a statement on Monday. "The Teachers Union will not remain silent in the face of attacks on [educators]. Anyone who raises a hand against a teacher...undermines the entire educational system."
"The Teachers Union will continue to stand alongside teachers, support them, and not allow any harm to come to them."
Last week, two additional instances of violence at Israeli schools led to delayed openings, according to a Walla report. The Navon School in Kiryat Motzkin opened at 10 a.m. on Thursday after the father of one student entered the school grounds on Wednesday without permission, physically attacked a staff member, and threatened several others.
On Tuesday, at the Shabazi School in Kiryat Gat, the mother of one of the students threatened a pregnant teacher so intensely that she had a panic attack and had to be taken to the hospital. The school opened at 10 a.m. the following day.
Lapid's plan to improve conditions for Israel's teachers
Opposition leader and Yesh Atid leader MK Yair Lapid announced on Thursday that his party would demand the Education Ministry portfolio in the next government, naming MK Meirav Cohen as his appointment for education minister.
Lapid presented the national education plan during a press conference, which he said is intended to address “Israel’s education crisis.” Cohen later outlined the main components of the plan.
The proposal is divided into five chapters and centers on improving conditions for both teachers and students through an investment of billions of shekels in the education system.
To confront the nationwide shortage of educators, the plan calls to allocate NIS 10 billion ($3.2b) toward raising teachers’ salaries and improving their working conditions.
Keshet Neev contributed to this report.