WITH REGARD TO THE SAFETY OF THE CITY'S STUDENTS
A boy was raped in Raanana
The case of sexual assault that transpired in Raanana is a highly irregular and a very serious event. Raanana is a safe and serene city, and no such case is known to have occurred in the history of the city.
From the moment the event was reported, the municipality's emergency teams have been available to the boy and his family, as is necessary. The day after the event, the Municipal Education Division and the Welfare Services instructed all the city's early childhood and school teachers and educational counselors to conduct discussions with the students regarding the case. The object of the discussions was to provide the students with basic information regarding the event, to enable them to express their feelings and to help them find methods of coping with the subject. The discussions were conducted based on the principle that the victim is never guilty and the accountability belongs to the assailant, and that it is important to report such cases to a trustworthy person and not to keep it a secret.
Security Measures
All the city's security measures are conducted jointly by the Raanana Municipality and the Israel Police. The municipal security patrol has been doubled and currently, 7 security units patrol the city 24 hours a day. The Israel Police has also augmented the number of its units that patrol the city's streets.
The Police are currently conducting a rigorous investigation in order to apprehend the rapist. The Youth Division at the Israel Police and the entire system is involved in the effort, which includes intelligence and surveillance activity.
The Mayor is in contact on a daily basis with the Police command center and receives regular updates regarding the police activity.
A case of abuse in the family was discovered
Following the discussions that were conducted at the schools, one of the girl students complained that she had been sexually molested by her father. From that moment on, the matter is being handled by the welfare department and the psychological and educational services, and the matter is under police investigation.
When the matter is handled properly, cases such as these are discovered. Such abuse is a terrible phenomenon which occurs all over the world. In Raanana, the subject of violence is discussed throughout the year, and discussion on the subject is encouraged, so that we can be of assistance when necessary.
Regular Municipal Activity on the Subject of Violence
Raanana's educational philosophy considers school to be an educational institution which instills values and provides the student with a safe and protected environment. The Municipality also considers itself responsible for its students after school hours and outside of the school framework. It provides the best tools and locates the best professional institutions and individuals in order to cope with various issues, such as the use of violence, drugs and alcohol. As part of this framework, the Municipal Education Division works in full cooperation with the Department for the Advancement of Youth; the Culture and Youth Division; the Welfare Department and the social workers, in order to identify, locate and handle these issues.
Unique Activities:
· The School as an Educational Institution: The Mayor's vision is to return the school to its rightful place as an educational institution which instills values, provides a sense of security to its students, and to do whatever it takes to prevent verbal violence, bullying and teasing in the educational institutions.
· Preventing Violence and Providing a Positive Atmosphere: The Municipal policy on the issue of the prevention of violence in the schools has been expanded and in addition to the focus placed on preventing physical violence, there is also a focus on preventing verbal violence and bullying. This year, we are conducting a special survey among children aged 12 -18, on the issue of the personal safety of Raanana's children 24 hours a day: at school, in places of entertainment, on the streets and in the public parks.
· Volunteering and Social Involvement as Builders of Social Trust: Volunteering and social involvement constitute an integral part of the municipal education system. Volunteer activity is considered a lifestyle, and an effort to instill the value of giving as a lifestyle has led to the creation of a special program in which all the city's children, from nursery school age until high school make their contribution to society, each according to his/her abilities and talents.
· Non-violent communication taught in early childhood programs – "The Giraffe Language". Some of the early childhood program teachers work according to the Dusso method which focuses on emotional content.
· In 8 kindergarten classes, the "Flower for Love" Program is being implemented, in an effort to develop a work method and skill building for the early childhood staff. The program was developed by Raanana's Psychological Service and is conducted by psychologists and psychology students.
· We are implementing the municipal policy to prevent physical violence in all the elementary schools and we will expand this policy to include the prevention of social violence including: bullying, teasing and verbal violence.
· Elementary school principals and teachers are participating in a seminar on the subject of: "Complex Students", which will provide them with the necessary tools to cope with students who are difficult and who have difficulties.
· The "Gift for Education" Program – At six elementary schools, there is a volunteer system in operation, comprised of senior citizen volunteers, which works in conjunction with the "Shalem" Movement (National Service for Volunteers) to help reduce violence.
· The middle school and high school system has developed a policy with regard to discipline, based on the setting of clear and unequivocal behavioral rules along with conducting lessons, discussions and seminars on the subject of developing tolerance, preventing violence and encouraging mutual listening.
· In all the middle schools, the "colleagues" program is being conducted in conjunction with "Al-Sam". This systemic program teaches young people about the expected dangers and damages that result from the use of drugs and alcohol.
· At all the high schools, the "Retorno" program will be implemented to improve the school atmosphere and to reduce the use of drugs and alcohol among students. The program will include lectures; a visit to the Retorno –rehabilitation village; a meeting with people undergoing rehabilitation and joint work programs with "Al Sam".
Safety Survey
The survey has been carried out among the city's young people (7,000) in grades 7-9 at the city's religious and secular state schools. The survey, the first of its kind in Israel, was created together with Beit Berl and approved by the Ministry of Education. It surveyed all the youth and measures the young person's sense of safety throughout their lives while on the city's streets: to and from school, at public parks, at entertainment venues, during afternoon hours around the city and their general feeling. The questionnaires were collected and are currently being analyzed and the focus groups have been completed. The results will be ready in about one month.