In response to questions on the subject of prevention of sexual assault among children, the education division director, Michal Hirsch-Negri has clarified that the municipal education system regularly deals with these issues among children and youth, in cooperation with the Education Ministry and the Psychological Services.  Content is integrated into the curriculum that is suited to children in preschool up to the 12th grade.

In addition, following the shocking case of rape in Tel Aviv, middle and high schools have been instructed to conduct additional activities for informative purposes.

As part of the annual curriculum, discussions and briefings are held regarding the boundaries of sexual behavior:
• The subject of femininity, masculinity and social pressure – What is consent?  What is blackmail?  Developing empathy toward others, who to support?
• Who to turn to?  How to identify distress?

This step joins the regular curriculum on this subject that is suited to different age groups.  The purpose of the program for preliminary prevention is to develop and cultivate coping skills in dangerous situations.  The program is developmental, from preschool to 12th grade, and emphasizes different aspects at different ages. There is an emphasis on the emotional, cognitive and behavioral fields with parental participation.  Main messages include:
• Perceiving others as separate and with their own different wishes.
• The value of exposing the assault overrides the sanctity of the family and the group.
• The child is not guilty for his/her being assaulted.
• It is important to expose the assault using an adult the child trusts.
• One cannot always avoid assault; however, it can be stopped by seeking help.
• Exposing the assault is obligated by the law and is not left up to the discretion of professionals.
• Exposing assault is not tattle-telling.

Prevention Highlights in Preschool and Grades 1 to 4
• Pleasant touching and undesired touching
• Good secrets and bad secrets
• I have a right to say no!
• What is allowed and forbidden between children
• Who to tell, and who will help?
• Channeling anger

Highlights in Pre-puberty Prevention – Between Childhood and Adolescence – Grades 5-6/Middle School
• Information on the phenomenon and its implications for the victim, the assailant, the group and society.
• Recognizing children’s rights and legislation.
• Recognizing risk situations and practicing coping mechanisms.
• Work on secrets
• Help with assistance funding.
• Rules of behavior in the group.

Highlights in Prevention – Adolescence – High School
• Information on the assault and it implications, the victim, the assailant, the group
• Introducing eligibility and laws
• Normative and non-normative relationships
• Warning signs in a harmful and destructive relationship
• Violence in relationships
• Coping methods
• Differentiating between courtship and sexual harassment
• Family violence
• The role of one’s friends in assistance
• Rules of behavior in a group

Safe Internet Surfing:  Assault on the Internet – There are Things You Can Do!

• Making people aware of the positive and negative potential of surfing the net, the difficult implications of sexual assault and the role of one’s peer group as gate keepers.
• The goal is to turn those keeping silent into gate keepers:  One must not harm another and we must stand by the victim and offer support.
• Involvement in clarifying the students’ positions on sexual assault on the net.
• Developing an ability for empathy toward the pain and suffering of others.
• Expanding one’s understanding of the implications of sexual assault for the victim, the assailant and the witnesses.
• Empowering the voices of the peer group that say that there is something that can be done.
• Strengthening and encouraging patterns of help seeking in time of distress.

Examples of Activity in the Municipal Education System:
• Kindergarten + Grades 1-2:  The play entitled “Yael Protects Her Body” and a lesson following the play.
• Grades 5-6:  Life Skills Workshops and the play on sexual assault – “It Harasses Me” and a lesson with the school counselor following the play.
• Middle and High School:  National Week for Safe Internet Surfing.
• Middle and High School:  Special week dedicated to the subject of sexual harassment.