Sowing the seeds of change: educating for diversity in the context of teacher training at an academic college of education in Jerusalem

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze a new educational program introduced on an experimental basis at the David Yellin Academic College of Education in the 2005/6 academic year. The program is entitled ‘Difference and diversity in Israeli society’. The focus is on selected social issues and the relations between different groups and sub‐groups in Israeli society. The program included an academic course studied by a plenum group of 155 students. Each session featured a different lecturer and focused on a distinct topic. In addition, each student also participated in workshops. This paper describes the goals of the program, the fears that accompanied its inception, the numerous difficulties that arose and its development as a program that enabled many students to examine the borders of their own identity by reference to others. This change will be illustrated by means of descriptions of a number of representative incidents and anecdotes. It is worth noting that the program enabled the staff to examine a successful new model for multicultural teaching and instruction. Although the program was implemented in the context of teacher training, we believe that its principles, ramifications and contributions are also relevant for other frameworks that include an intercultural encounter, including academic, employment, organizational and institutional frameworks.