A New Way of Looking at The Palestinian/Israeli Conflict
Thursday, October 30 2008
Oct. 30, 2008 Photo is available at www.today.uidaho.edu/PhotoList.aspx Written by Cheryl Dudley MOSCOW, Idaho – Life-altering opportunities rarely come along. For a 13-member research team that recently traveled to Palestine and Israel to study peace efforts, life will never be the same. Immersed in the culture and conflict of the area, the team came home with new perspectives and new ideas for teaching U.S. students about conflict resolution. Backed by a $79,000 Fulbright-Hayes Travel Grant, the team spent an entire month conducting research on the conflict between the two areas within the context of peace and reconciliation. The end goal is to create educational materials for seventh through 12th graders, a documentary film, and online media and presentations. The team included interdisciplinary faculty from the University of Idaho, Washington State University and the University of Hawaii, and a pre-service teacher and teacher from each area’s local school districts. Melissa Saul, Curriculum and Instruction faculty in the University of Idaho College of Education, is co-principle investigator on the project with Michael Hayes of Washington State University. Rula Awwad-Rafferty and Brian Wolfe, both professors at the University of Idaho, also were selected to participate in the Fulbright-Hays travel abroad project. “Our main goal is to educate students in the U.S. and give them a broader-based understanding of the conflict and to reduce media stereotypes,” said Saul. “We hope to create a curriculum that is very balanced, so teachers can use it effectively and students can learn about the various perspectives.” Their days were filled with meeting people, groups and organizations that are working for peace, including the Prime Minister of Palestine, Palestinian diplomats and the Israeli foreign ministry. They also visited refugee camps and schools, and looked at programs for children and some of the work of peace activist groups. The group wanted to see what everyday life was like. “We stayed in a village for two days where Arabs and Jews lived together and we learned about their School for Peace,” said Saul. “We learned how separate the two peoples are and how difficult it is to even meet because of the separation wall between the West Bank and Israel that has hundreds of checkpoints that limit movement.” When not interviewing, they visited cultural sites to get a feel for the way people live. “We floated in the Dead Sea, visited Masada, the Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Holocaust Museum,” said team member Jason Albrecht, a Moscow Junior High School teacher. “There are many groups working together for peace and resolution, but they don’t yet know what resolution looks like,” said teacher intern Matthew Haley. Albrecht and Haley have been developing a new curriculum about the Palestine/Israeli conflict since their return, and will be piloting it in their seventh grade class beginning November 7. Albrecht has been teaching at Moscow Junior High School for 14 years. He was Haley’s seventh grade teacher, and now is a mentor for Haley’s pre-service teaching internship. He received his undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of Idaho. Haley will graduate in the spring with a teaching certificate in social studies and Spanish. When he heard from Saul about the Israel/Palestine trip, he filled out an application and suggested Albrecht fill one out as well. The trip gave them both new ideas for teaching about conflict and efforts for reconciliation. “We tried to get to the bottom of the most confusing conflict in the world,” said Albrecht. “The most important thing in teaching about the conflict is that it be balanced. It’s been said that if you go to Israel and Palestine for a week you could write a book; if you go for a month, you can write a paper; if you go for a year, you can write a sentence.” “The conflict is like an onion,” said Haley. “The longer you’re there, the more complicated it becomes and the less you realize you understand.” The curriculum will, however, be filtered through the light of human rights and social justice – the overarching theme that will help students put events into focus. “We, by no means, have delusions that we understand or can solve the conflict,” said Albrecht. “However, false information is rampant and what we can do is present both sides of the conflict factually and without prejudice. That way, our students can make their own conclusions.” The curriculum will include eight major areas of concern for the region and will allow students the opportunity to suggest methods for resolution. By the time the students complete the curriculum, Albrecht believes they will know more about the conflict than most adults. Not only that, the curriculum materials will apply to other conflicts and teach students ways to resolve complicated and multi-faceted issues. Haley and Albrecht will present the new curriculum and talk about their trip on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Moscow Junior High Multi-Purpose room. The talk is open to the public. Saul’s secondary social studies methods class also will host an Open House for teachers and students interested in learning more about how to teach about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The “Teach-In” will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 4:30-7 p.m. in the College of Education, room 418. “We hope our curriculum and other materials will help students pay attention to world issues,” said Saul. “It’s important to create global citizens who understand complex global issues from multiple perspectives. # # # About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. Media Contact: Cheryl Dudley, College of Education, 208-885-0119, cdudley@uidaho.edu
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.