Uncertainty Whether Students Rolling Eyes, Sulking A Reaction To New Civics Text

The most indicative response has been a shrug of the shoulders and the word ‘Fine’ or ‘Whatever.’

Jerusalem, May 10 – Ministry of Education representatives urged caution today in assessing the behavior of high school students in response to a controversial new civics textbook, saying it remained unclear whether the sulking, shrugging, eye-rolling, and monosyllabic interactions with parents indicated approval or displeasure with the book.

Being a Citizen in Israel: Living in a Jewish and Democratic State, published by the ministry itself after a five-year development process, was released online for download this week, prior to being made available in printed form for the coming academic year. Critics of the book contend it presents a narrow, nationalistic vision of Israeli civic life, while defenders dismiss such criticism and praise its balance and inclusiveness. While the two sides generally fall into familiar right-left political camps, the reaction among the book’s intended audience, the students themselves, remains murky, given observers’ limited ability to decipher teenage communication.

“We’re just not sure, yet, what the students think of the book,” admitted Minister of Education Naftali Bennett. “So far the most indicative response has been a shrug of the shoulders and the word ‘Fine’ or ‘Whatever.’ Further attempts to extract input on the content, tone, and merits of the textbook from the target audience elicited only rolled eyes and slightly open mouths, so we’re still mostly in the dark vis-à-vis student buy-in. Our staff will keep trying.”

Critics pointed to the lack of clarity itself as symptomatic of the problems with the book. “How can these people pretend they know how to write a book for high school students and not be able to communicate with high school students?” asked Zionist Union MK Yoel Hasson. “I mean, not that I have any idea. I couldn’t tell you how anyone could communicate with me when I was a teenager, so maybe there’s no point in having these textbooks at all.”

MK Zehava Gal-On of Meretz disagreed. “Of course we should have these books,” she insisted. “You think it’s for the children? It’s for politicians and pundits to have something to rant about. You think I could look like I’m promoting my constituents’ interests if I don’t have some meaty issue to weigh in on and use as a cudgel to criticize anything and anyone to the right of Stalin?”

Minister Bennett said his office was still exploring ways to elicit constructive, useful feedback from students, and said there might be a need to hire permanent staff members fluent in emoji.