Growing up in community: Formal and informal education and the significant adult figures in the lives of two elementary school aged girls

Nitzan (10) and Aviv (7) are enfolded with a multitude of role models and educators, in a variety of frameworks, most of whom are members of the same communal movement.

Members of the kibbutz run the local public elementary school that the two girls attend, fulfilling roles as the principal, librarian, a good number of the classroom teachers and more. In addition, part of the school day is run by counsellors from the youth movement, who also guide the girls in their after-school activities at the local youth centres. On top of that, the kibbutz children also have activities run for them in the afternoons and evenings after school, in addition to longer programs during the school holidays.

The presentation will map the circles of belonging and influence, with particular reference to educational settings and the active personalities therein, explore the connections between them, and examine the coherent educational messages that the children that live in the urban kibbutz are exposed to.