The Education Ministry and the Tel Aviv Municipality have summoned Ram Cohen, the principal of Tichon.net high school to a hearing, after he published an overtly political article in “Haaretz.” In his article, Cohen attacked the ruling Likud Beytenu extreme-right party and expressed support for Hadash.
Cohen called, among other things, for advancing a fighting opposition that is not afraid of saying the word occupation, and credited Hadash with blocking most of the racist and anti-democratic attempts at legislation.
The Tel Aviv Municipality said that it sees the article’s publication as a very serious matter and that “meaningful” disciplinary measures will be taken against the principal, if deemed necessary. Sources in the ministry said that he broke written rules laid down by the Ministry Director. Tichon.net is a new, groundbreaking high school that opened this year. Most of its classes are conducted through laptops and tablets, as opposed to more traditional means of learning.
Ram Cohen
Hadash MK Dov Khenin said: “This should really worry all of us – the Education Ministry and Tel Aviv Municipality have asked to an urgent hearing a high school principal who dared to say Hadash and Meretz could be considered alternatives to the worsening abuse of the right. This is a violent attempt to silence educators. It is impossible to educate without expressing oneself, and it is impossible to educate for democracy without being involved in democracy.” In response to the possibility that Cohen will be let go, education professionals have circulated an online petition urging Education Minister Gideon Saar to refrain from dismissing Cohen and insisting that firing him would pose a “threat to the freedom of speech.”
The petition, signed by over 1,500 people by Wednesday afternoon, turned to Sa’ar personally, stressing “Your determination frightens us; it reminds us of dark regimes about which we teach our students. We request that you withdraw your decision, thereby proclaiming that democracy is our foundation.”
Related:
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/irresponsibly-voting-with-the-mainstream.premium-1.492966
