Why Student Voices Matter: Voices from Israeli and Israeli Arab Students

In light of the war in Israel, I have collaborated with Steven Aiello, Director of Debate for Peace, to give high school students the opportunity to build and nurture a safe space to process the intense feelings and challenges that they have experienced since the war broke out on October 7, 2023. This space is for both Israeli and Israel Arab students looking to process their shared experiences in a caring and empathetic community. I will be facilitating on-going zoom sessions providing strategies for peer discussions and journaling. At this critical time, many of the youth in Israel are experiencing much trauma and uncertainty – they need a community to share feelings. 

Rationale

Students have so much to share about their lives but are rarely encouraged to share what they are thinking.  Teachers need to provide authentic opportunities for their students to write about their lives. Students need time to talk and listen to their peers, express feelings, fears, aspirations, opinions, and personal perspectives freely and without judgement. Allowing avenues for self-expression encourages critical thinking and a space to be heard. This is never more needed than in times of struggle, frustration, trauma and feelings of loss of control – when their country is at war. As students experience war in Israel, they need a pathway to share their feelings and for their voices to be heard.

Journaling is one of these pathways that can help articulate and process personal

experiences and help students make sense of their lives. Through a structured strategy of journaling, you provide students with an opportunity to create a personal narrative that is about them – one they can own. Through personal writing, sharing and discussion, their lives of lives others take on a new meaning. Writing about one’s life is empowering, helps process challenging feelings and emotions and allows for a better understanding of oneself and others. 

It is important to develop an atmosphere of trust, confidence and support between you

and your students, as well as among the students themselves. Building a safe community is never more important than when students are feeling everything is out of control. Sharing one’s personal narrative can be overwhelming for some – so always give students options for not sharing work until they are ready. Give them time, they will eventually want to share and be part of the group. Many times, students allow others to read their work – allowing them to feel safer.