The education system must be the safest place for our children — a space where they can learn, grow, ask questions, and feel a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, in recent years, the reality in Israel, and in Haifa in particular, has become much more complex. According to national data, one in three students experiences bullying during the school year. Children report boycotts, humiliation, and verbal aggression, while cyberbullying has become a part of everyday life for many. Behind these numbers are real children, whose parents lose sleep over the helplessness that seeps from classrooms into their homes.
Haifa is a city of linguistic and cultural diversity. That’s why responsibility here is especially important. When a child feels they “cannot” speak their native language, when their language or background becomes a source of mockery, it is no longer a “childhood quarrel” — it is an attack on identity and dignity. In recent years, parents have raised serious concerns about bullying and isolation in several schools in the city, including the Leo Baeck School in the Adar neighborhood. Parents reported prolonged boycotts, humiliating remarks directed at Russian-speaking children, and a feeling that the system does not always respond quickly or decisively enough. Similar cases reported in other cities, such as Netanya and Kiryat Motzkin, show that this is not an isolated problem, but a broader trend.
But behind the reports and public debates lies the key question: how do we, as a society, respond? Research shows that chronic bullying does not stop at the school gates. It affects self-esteem, academic performance, and mental health. Teenagers subjected to systematic pressure have a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. When we talk about preventing bullying and racism in schools, we are talking about protecting the lives and future of our children.
This is where Young People for Haifa steps in. For us, supporting youth is not a slogan — it is a responsibility. It is impossible to talk about Haifa’s future and retaining its young generation if teenagers do not feel safe at school. In recent years, we have supported parents seeking help, assisted in directing complaints to the municipal education department, to Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, the Ministry of Education, and Education Minister Yoav Kisch. We have raised these issues publicly, insisting on open and transparent discussions with educational authorities. City Council member Kirill Karetnik brought the issue to the public agenda and the city council session, demanding answers and emphasizing that it is unacceptable to “silence” cases of child bullying. When there is a sense that the system is not responding quickly enough, civil society must act.
We are convinced that the solution is not only about punishment. It begins with fostering values, training teachers to work in a multicultural environment, creating clear mechanisms for reporting and responding to complaints, and strengthening every student’s sense of belonging. A child who is heard, whose language and identity are respected, and who feels supported, grows into a more confident adult. A city where children feel safe is a city that can retain its families.
This issue goes far beyond a single school or an isolated case — it is directly connected to the future of the city. When families lose trust in the education system, they consider moving. When young people feel they do not belong, they look for their future elsewhere. If we want Haifa to remain young, vibrant, and thriving, we must start in our school classrooms. Haifa’s future begins there — at the school desk, in the eyes of a child who is not afraid to raise their hand, speak their native language, go out at recess, and trust the system that is obligated to protect them.
Haifa needs confident young people.
And the path to this begins with education without fear.
