Because of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which can lead to a tense climate or, for example, lead students to provoke their classmates, polarization specialists are currently in demand to intervene in schools.
• Also read: Here are some tips for addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict without escalating tensions in the classroom
“It’s very, very polarized at the moment,” notes Dr. Cécile Rousseau, member of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal polarization team, which offers its services across the province.
“We had numbers until September, but then it exploded,” summarizes Ms. Rousseau, who cannot precisely quantify the increase in requests.
It must be said that only a month has passed since the conflict in the Middle East flared up again on October 7th. Since then, she estimates that her team has supported around twenty schools.
Dr. Cécile Rousseau, CIUSSS photo courtesy
At the Center for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV), we are also seeing an increase in concerns, particularly in schools.
“It often comes to light here because many stakeholders are present and can raise the alarm,” explains Louis Audet Gosselin, scientific director of the center.
In fact, the two specialists have already noted an increase in the need for schools since the pandemic due to debates around conspiracy or gender identity. But since October, the Israel-Hamas conflict has added another layer.
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Provoke by impotence
These tensions can lead to arguments in the hallways, explains Ms. Rousseau. Some young people may feel that their community is under attack. For others, the conflict reactivates past trauma.
One of the effects of this conflict is the creation of helplessness. Young people withdraw or become anxious. Others will try to provoke in order to get out of the swoon.
“These will get the most attention. Of course they are punished or called to order,” she explains.
Also employees
Sometimes it is the employees who experience disagreements among themselves. “This can lead to people who don’t dare to speak remaining silent. They have the impression that they are being called terrorists,” she explains.
The aim of the support is to help schools curb the current polarization. “It’s not about people changing their minds, but about preventing this from leading to the legitimization of violence,” explains Ms. Rousseau.
“Even though we have different positions, we have a common goal: that our children feel comfortable and can learn at school,” she summarizes.
What complicates everything is not only the subject itself, but also the fact that schools are already overloaded, notes Louis Audet Gosselin. “Everyone is overworked.”
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prevention
In many cases, experts are called in as a preventive measure. For example, teachers want to find out information to avoid slip-ups. According to the Ministry of Education, the topic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is expected to be covered in the 5th secondary school.
In addition, a webinar entitled “Middle East Conflicts: Mitigating Impacts in Schools” was offered to school staff several times in October.
An educational resource was sent out to all parents at the Montreal School Services Center on November 2, offering ideas for dealing with sensitive topics.
Overall, the schools do a good job of maintaining a peaceful climate within their walls, notes Ms. Rousseau. “There are many who do very good work,” she admits.
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