Eliezer Yaari – Letter to Israel's Twelfth Graders

Yediot Ahronot – September 1st

Many years have passed since I experienced that sweet, dizzying sensation that the first week of September brings and the intoxicating feeling that I was a big boy and taking a giant stride into that mysterious place that my parents called "life."

The closest thing resembling it that I can think of today is not actually the kids going into first grade but rather those schoolchildren about to finish their time in the education system and are this year starting 12th grade: those aged 17. Those children who were born, more or less, along with Channel 2; those whose parents saw the Prime Minister murdered when they were four and remember grown ups crying; those who saw the first PC come into the home and learned to use them before their parents; those who taught their parents to surf the Internet, to SMS and sent emails to grandma and grandpa so that they would learn too.

At nine, when everything seemed perfect and their future was assured, the war of terror began in 2000 and they went through their first lessons in death, national anxiety, hesitant leadership and swift use of cellular phones. They learned, earlier than is desirable, that those in power could not help them because those in power did not know how to help. They saw unemployment at home and their parents living in fear for their family's daily bread, the children at school, and forgive me children for the pretentious language – fear for the entire nation.

At 15 they understood that the war memories of their grandparents were not to be the same as the war memories of their generation: even if they strive it is not certain that they will triumph; even if they pit themselves against it, it is not certain that the victims will not pile up as part of what the grown ups call "politics." So they escape to second generation and third generation cellular phones, blogs, forums, and anywhere that offers answers though few with the formula: look around, check everything, because everything you see belongs to you: society, the army, the State, the education system, industry and inventions, transport and water, everything will very soon be yours' and your responsibility.

You are those who will have to look after it all: before you understand why we'll ask you to protect us, maybe better than we looked after you. We want you to be the best despite the fact that we didn’t provide you with the perfect example. It’s now up to you and your responsibility.

Don't let your parents' example fool you: we messed up because we have handed down to you dangerous and blurred borders not only with our foes but also our internal enemies. We are leaving you impossible politics, economic inequalities, a lack of water, housing, education, the environment and much more. It will be more difficult for you than it was for us and it is unclear if you will be able to survive without making an enormous effort.

What we can try and do today is to ensure that the right to a public education of an appropriate level will be guaranteed for the next generation. This is not a vague commitment but an attempt to enshrine in law – so that come what may – education will be of the highest possible standard. Those of you who choose a career in teaching will receive a respectable salary, and school will provide a challenging experience that will nourish the spirit, the culture and the heritage of – yes here comes that word again – the nation.

So in your final year try and put your thoughts in order, pass your exams and go out into the world knowing that you are not- alone: We will make every effort so that you can be better than your parents.

The author is a member of the Executive of "Education is Everything" and Executive Director of NIF Israel