Purpose

Educators are recognized as key agents of social change, responsible for shaping future citizens. Beyond imparting knowledge, teachers are crucial in addressing societal challenges such as sustainability, democracy and social equality. This study aims to investigate the attitudes of Jewish and Arab students toward democratic values and how they perceive their role as educators in a multicultural society.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explores the attitudes of majority and minority group students in an Israeli teacher training college towards realizing democratic values and promoting shared citizenship. The sample included 382 Jewish and Arab students, who answered a questionnaire about attitudes regarding education for democracy and shared society, and their perception of their role in promoting this education.

Findings

The investigation delves into students’ civic perceptions, shedding light on the moderate and pluralistic stances held by both Jewish and Arab students. They advocate for cross-cultural exposure and interaction, with Jewish students demonstrating slightly more moderate views than the prevailing norms in Israeli society. Interestingly, Jewish students exhibited a willingness to engage in discussions on conflictual topics, whereas Arab students tended to avoid them.

Social implications

This study underscores the potential of teacher training colleges in shaping the upcoming generation of educators as advocates of tolerance, and democracy, and promoters of a shared society.

Originality/value

This research gains heightened relevance in a contemporary landscape where numerous nations, especially those comprising diverse cultures, grapple with surges of nationalism that threaten democratic values. Teacher training colleges hold the key to forging a more harmonious future by becoming beacons of transformative pedagogy. These institutions can shape a new generation of educators who are poised to catalyze authentic social change.

中文翻译：

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教育者在民主和多元文化社会中的作用：以色列师范学院学生的看法

目的

教育工作者被认为是社会变革的关键推动者，负责塑造未来公民。除了传授知识之外，教师在应对可持续发展、民主和社会平等等社会挑战方面也至关重要。本研究旨在调查犹太和阿拉伯学生对民主价值观的态度，以及他们如何看待自己在多元文化社会中作为教育者的角色。

设计/方法论/途径

本研究探讨了以色列师范学院的多数群体和少数群体学生对实现民主价值观和促进共同公民身份的态度。样本包括 382 名犹太和阿拉伯学生，他们回答了一份调查问卷，内容涉及对民主和共享社会教育的态度，以及他们对自己在促进这种教育中的作用的看法。

发现

该调查深入研究了学生的公民观念，揭示了犹太和阿拉伯学生所持有的温和和多元化的立场。他们提倡跨文化接触和互动，犹太学生表现出比以色列社会普遍规范稍微温和的观点。有趣的是，犹太学生表现出愿意参与冲突话题的讨论，而阿拉伯学生则倾向于回避这些话题。

社会影响

这项研究强调了师范学院在塑造下一代教育工作者作为宽容、民主的倡导者和共享社会的推动者方面的潜力。

原创性/价值

这项研究在当今的环境中具有更高的相关性，在当今的环境中，许多国家，特别是那些具有不同文化的国家，都在努力应对威胁民主价值观的民族主义浪潮。师范学院成为变革性教育学的灯塔，是打造更加和谐未来的关键。这些机构可以塑造新一代的教育工作者，他们将促进真正的社会变革。