"Did you know that Koreen, my friend goes to a different class when we have the religion class" my daughter Nadine, 6 years old, stated.
"That’s OK,” I said, “she is with you in all other classes.”
“I wanted for us to be together in one class,” she replied.
A few days later my other daughter Leen, 8 years old, asked me, “Are you a Christian or a Muslim”
“Why do you ask” I answered back with a question.
“Just wanted to know,” she replied.

I thought that my daughters were just curious about the two religions and wanted to clarify matters. However, I heard similar incidents from other parents. They too have been puzzled by the constant questions concerning religion that their children ask. One mother told me that she was shocked when her 6-year-old son asked her to identify all their neighbours according to their religion. I then realized that children seem to be looking for religious identity to classify themselves and others. I started to ask parents and teachers. Everyone I talked to gave examples of how children push for their religious identity as a basis for distinction. It is even extending to separation in playgrounds at schools. This is a new phenomenon in Palestinian society. Parents and teachers were taken aback by the children’s comments on their religious affiliations. Is our national identity falling apart Who is responsible for this and in whose interest are these stereotypes being projected

This phenomenon is not part of our culture or tradition. All along our culture upheld the tradition of sharing the national struggle under a common identity. Such divisions are not in the national interest. Palestinians certainly do not need more divisions. After all, Israeli policies do not differentiate among Palestinians. Roads are blocked to all and all Palestinians face a common fate. We have always valued our common identity above all divisions. The Palestinian curriculum includes civic education that values the national identity and promotes policies of citizenship. The emphasis on religious identity is an attitude problem and an individual practice. However, this problem is worth the attention of parents, teachers and school administrations alike. We need courage to deal with this issue and not to gloss over it.

Palestinians have been self-critical on many issues and have proven responsible in taking steps towards change and reform. The questions children ask about each others’ identity are a basis for separation. Our national interests require common efforts to counter such a division. The Ministries of Education and Culture have to address this issue and work out methods to promote civic culture in practice. Parents also should work together with their school’s administration to get children to learn about each other and share in common festivities.

On the international level, a similar scenario is emerging at an alarming rate. This has led to a significant interest in rapprochement projects between civilizations and cultures to overcome prejudices. Many Palestinians participate in international programmes that advocate the eradication of misconceptions and stereotypes. Such programmes encourage people to learn more about each other and to avoid prejudiced generalization. The questions that we are asked by our children should act as a basis for inter-faith education at the public and private levels, and I believe the first step should start inside the Palestinian home.

Dr. Nadia Najjab
Assistant professor, Birzeit University
Department of Education and Psychology

Photo by: Majdi Hadid