CHAPTER 7: A HUMANISTIC PEDAGOGY: Rethinking Education for Migrant and Refugee Students in Israel

The Bialik School in Tel-Aviv, Israel became increasingly diversified with an influx of children of work migrants and refugees from the world over. By rethinking and re-envisioning schooling, the faculty worked to create a pedagogy that fit the very special needs and conditions of their students’ lives. This Humanistic pedagogy prioritized the wellbeing of the children (K-6) by addressing their physical, social and emotional needs prior to academics, establishing a long-term foundation for learning. The flexible and open curriculum recognized and included all cultures, nationalities and religions, engendering a feeling of community and belonging that promoted academic achievement across the multinational student body.