Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 390

contributions of the Zionist Organisation to Hebrew Education.. The withdrawal of the kindergartens from the authority of the Department constitutes an impediment in the propagation of the Hebrew language among the children of the poorer classes in the localities of the old Yishub, and these children who are most in need of kindergartens are being neglected both from an educational and a social aspect. The exclusion of kindergartens from the educational system also lowers the educational standard of the elementary schools. The development of the elementary schools which were best cared for during the existence of the Hebrew Education Board, must go hand in hand with the development of the Yishub. Changes must be introduced in the curriculum and more place must be given to agricultural subjects, especially in the colonies. The persistent cuts in the Education Budget precluded the possibility of adequate school supervision, and the number of school inspectors is in no way in accord with the constant growth in the school enrolment and in the number of schools. It is therefore intended, in 5696, to increase the number of supervisors and vocational instructors. The Department also decided to appoint a special instructor for the Scout movement and for work among the youth in the country. In consequence of the great stream of immigration during the last four years, a large number of new pupils from abroad have entered the schools, in some of which they amount to about 20 per cent, of the total number of pupils. The new pupils are classified in two main categories : (a) pupils from civilised countries who possess a systematic knowledge of the general subjects but lack knowledge of Hebrew; and (b) pupils from Eastern countries, most of whom possess neither knowledge of the general subjects nor of the Hebrew language. The Department made efforts to imbue these children with the Hebrew spirit and their efforts were not unsuccessful. On the other hand, a sudden influx of a large number of pupils without an adequate knowledge of Hebrew must naturally have a detrimental effect on the forms and lower the standard of the Hebrew studies. This state of affairs makes it incumbent upon the education authorities either to establish a kind of preparatory class for those who have an inadequate knowledge of HebreAv and the Bible, or to open special schools for children of a higher age who do not fit into the existing forms. It is obvious that the Education Department cannot provide instruction, with the limited resources at its disposal, to all the children of the new immigrants, and for this reason a request has been submitted to the Jewish Agency for an additional £P. 3,000 for 5696, to enable the Department to set up the additional forms required. It is hoped that, provided the Budget is not subject to any unforeseen surprises, the Department will succeed in strengthening 39°