Painting a portrait of school in Jerusalem

June 13, 2011 - 11:23 AM by David

art work on display at a Jerusalem high school

School is winding down here, with primary schools only having a few more weeks left until the end of the year and middle and high school students already having one foot out the door.

Earlier this month, Education Minister Gideon Saar announced that the annual school summer vacation, which traditionally ended on September 1, would be cut by a few days and school would begin on August 26th instead.

After an outcry from teachers and parents, many of whom had already booked summer trips for their families that would only return to Israel after the 26th, Saar backed down a few days later and said that the new schedule would only take effect in 2012.

At my son’s art high school in Jerusalem, the students are busy with final projects and bagruyot (matriculation exams that as long as I live in Israel, will never really understand how they work). As each test is finished, the class in question no longer meets, so each day it seems he has to attend fewer and fewer classes.

However, his class was busy preparing for, and displaying, their end of the year art exhibition which his currently on display in the school’s foyer. So, knowing that they have until September 1st to frolic on the beach and sleep late, their final vestiges of academic life are in full bloom for all to see.

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