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Parents with children suffering from autism, living in the Galilee and on the
Golan Heights faced a cruel dilemma. None of the local authorities had the
necessary resources for a school that could cater to their needs. In Kibbutz
Mesilot there was an elementary special school for their children, but no
suitable framework for these children once they reached adolescence.
They could send their children to classes for relatively “high-functioning”
children with special-needs, but there were usually insufficient, and did not
provide the sort of environment that could both attend to their needs and
prepare them for adult life. They could relocate their families, at a significant
financial cost for them and an emotional toll for their children, who are
easily distressed when having to get used to new surroundings. Suitable
schools were over two-hours driving time in each direction, meaning that
one parent would have to become nearly a full-time driver just to transport
the child to school and help them settle in.
So the original initiative which led to the foundation of the Benjamin Rothman
School came from those closest to the children’s needs - the parents.
“We really didn’t have a choice” says Shlomit, mother of a student at the
school. “Our daughter was thirteen and the school in Mesilot no longer
fit her needs.” Together with other parents from the area, they began
petitioning the Education Ministry and organized a conference of parents
to focus their efforts. After long months of lobbying, the ministry finally
authorized in late 2011 funding for the establishment of a new school. The
question of where it would be built, which of the nineteen local authorities in
the north of Israel could shoulder such a project, secure additional funding
and create an ethos for the new school was yet to be determined.
A steering-committee with representatives of the ministry, the local
authorities, and educational experts was formed to draft a plan. A location
for the new school was soon found. Hillel Hillman, the veteran principal
of Kadoorie Youth Village and Moti Dotan head of Lower Galilee Regional
Council both agreed this was a challenge for them.
“When the education ministry came to me saying they needed a place
for a school, I felt it was a privilege” says Dotan. “I insisted that we build
it at Kadoorie. I knew that some local councils were refusing to have
special needs schools in their areas and I thought we have to put out the
message that our people are strong enough to help also the weakest in our
community. And I don’t think it’s just for them – I want also the ‘normal’
children to be educated alongside the special-needs children, to get to
know them and understand howwe all build a society together”. Dr Benny
Fisher, director of the EducationMinistry’s Rural Education and Youth
Aliyah Division, who played a central role in founding the school says “We
understood that in the youth village, where the children live side-by-side, we
can create something unique, where the children of both groups will gain
something that can contribute to their character”.
“When the education
ministry came to me
saying they needed a place
for a special needs school,
I felt it was a privilege”
Moti Dotan, head of the Lower Galilee
Regional Council
“In a youth village the
children live side-by-side,
and we can create a unique
environment, where both
groups can gain something
that will contribute to their
characters”.
Dr Benny Fisher, Director of the
Education Ministry’s Rural Education
Division
Addressing
a need