|
Background:
|
The decision of the College's founders to build its permanent campus in Yaffo indicated that MTA had to become involved in community affairs and to strive to become a lever for social change. To live up to these expectations, MTA takes advantage of its considerable human resources (students, faculty), its expertise in relevant fields (psychology, education, economics, etc), and its ability to attract partners and to obtain material resources.
Familiarity with the community is essential for the success of social interventions. Hence the physical presence of MTA in Yaffo and its close, ongoing contact with the community make its communal commitments trustworthy and effective.
Projects: |
|
College for All
|
A project conducted, jointly, with College4all, an NGO established ten years ago by students at MTA.
Children with potential for excellence join the project (following careful screening) in second grade. For ten years, 52 weeks a year, 16-20 hours a week, they receive intensive tutoring in Math, English, Humanities, and Science. In addition they are exposed to a “rich diet” of art and culture. By the time they graduate from high school, they should have the skills and qualifications that will assure their admission to any college or university, to any course of study.
|
|
Training Social (Community) Entrepreneurship
|
A project designed to foster and promote social entrepreneurship among young Yaffo residents. The objective is to develop a cadre of young Yaffo residents who will act to bring about social change within their own community.
About twenty students a year, all residents of Yaffo and south Tel Aviv, half Arabs and half Jews are screened and selected from among MTA freshmen. In addition to their regular studies they participate in a special program that trains them in the design and management of community interventions.
During their studies they are expected to become involved in community activity, starting with projects designed and carried out by the college, followed with projects initiated and implemented by themselves.
Every participant receives an annual scholarship of NIS 20,000.
|
|
Municipal High School "Yud Bet" – The Pedagogical Class
|
|
"Yud Bet" municipal high school established, years ago, a "pedagogical" class. This class draws its name from its unique curriculum that includes advanced courses in Psychology and Education.
In general, the level of study of any subject in Israel's high school system is measured by their number of "study units" (1 being the lowest and 5 the highest). Students of the "pedagogical" class are required to take 5 units of psychology and 5 units of education. These specialized studies are spread over three school years, from grade 10 to grade 12.
In the past the "pedagogical" class at "Yud Bet" enjoyed a positive reputation and attracted the school’s better students. The prestige of this class may have been attributed to the relatively better employment prospects of those who pursue a career in education in the Arab sector, compared to job opportunities in other occupational fields. Over time, however, the status of the "pedagogical" class declined, partly because the school shifted emphasis and encouraged the more advanced students to undertake advanced studies in science. Needless to say, the importance of attracting talented young people to careers in education did not diminish and might have actually increased.
Having recognized the importance of the "pedagogical" classes, the school and MTA agreed on a collaborative effort whereby the two institutes take joint responsibility for the core curriculum in psychology and education taught in the "pedagogical" class. Senior MTA faculty are be involved in the management, curriculum design, evaluation processes and teaching of the class.
| |
|
Municipal High School "Zain"
|
Israel's education system is quite centralized. This excessive centralization has considerably lowered individual teachers' involvement with, and influence on the curriculum and on teaching methods. The center is currently developing a project designed to empower teachers and to encourage them to take a more active role in the educational process. A pilot project is already under way with the school's math teachers with encouraging results.
|
The Weizman Elementary School
|
The Weizman elementary school is located in the vicinity of the College. Changes in the demographic composition have threatened the continuing existence of the school so the school management approached MTA with a plea for help. MTA enlisted the assistance of the Kibbutzim Teachers MTA and the two institutes will support the school jointly.
The assistance provided will consist, mostly, of special activities for the school's pupils, the involvement of student-tutors, and a variety of activities designed for the parents of the school's pupils.
|
|
Sampling Academia
|
This is designed to acquaint Yaffo high school students with MTA system and with academic disciplines, it includes:
- A lecture series for high school students, held at the College, by MTA faculty.
- Individual courses, taken for credit (free of charge) offered to high performing Yaffo high school students.
|
|
Better Parenthood
|
A lecture series given at MTA, by the faculty of the School of Behavioral Science. The series, designed for parents, focuses on topics in education, developmental psychology, early childhood, adolescence, coping with dysfunctional behavior, and learning disabilities, amongst others.
|
|
Small-business Entrepreneurship
|
A project conducted with the Korett Foundation, designed to promote small business entrepreneurship among Arab and Jewish women. A 10-month course acquaints the participants with the rudiments of small business management. In addition, volunteer business people coach the participants in developing business ideas and business plans.
The foundation also acts as a guarantor when a participant’s business idea matures and requires financing.
|