A new study commissioned by the British government reveals the heavy price being paid by Jewish schools in the country amid the rise in threats and antisemitism. According to the study, Jewish school principals find themselves primarily occupied with ensuring the safety of their students instead of leading their schools educationally.
As part of the study, whose full findings are expected to be published this coming fall, students and staff at Jewish, religious and secular schools and colleges across England were interviewed. The testimonies collected indicate that security issues consume a significant portion of school principals’ daily schedules.
In interviews with the BBC, principals described the day-to-day reality in which they are required to deal with security challenges almost constantly.
“School security has become an absolute priority in recent years and has increased significantly," one principal said. “There have been weeks when 90 percent of my time was devoted to security-related matters. Security concerns follow me even after school hours, and they are among the things that keep me awake at night."
Another principal, who headed a Jewish school for 13 years, described a similar reality.
“I have never spent so much of my time and so much energy dealing with security issues, speaking with the authorities and with parents, and above all making daily decisions about how to ensure that the children at the school are safe. It prevents me from focusing on educational priorities and the development of the school. Instead, my time is devoted to security - something that should be taken for granted for every child in this country."
The study also points to the extent of antisemitism within the British education system. According to the data, of approximately 5,000 Jewish young people included in the survey, at least 20 percent reported having experienced antisemitic behavior at schools or colleges.
The study’s findings are expected to prompt public debate in Britain over the state’s responsibility to ensure the safety of Jewish students and to enable school principals to refocus on their primary mission - education.