Not in our school \\ 
a documentary theater project

Education is inherently political. It shapes narratives, creates values, and influences society’s moral compass. In the wrong hands, it can distort reality, suppress dissent, and train generations to demand less freedom and democracy. In times of political unrest, the classroom becomes a battleground for truth and control.

We created Not in Our School to examine the role of education in undemocratic times. The production tells the stories of Israeli educators who resisted government policies and paid a heavy personal price: a principal who spoke out against war and faced dismissal, a civics teacher arrested for publishing data on war casualties, and a literature teacher attacked by students after calling for refusal to serve in combat. These educators embody the responsibility to foster critical thinking, even at great personal cost.

The production also incorporates testimonies from students in Nazi Germany, reflecting on how their education shaped them. Some remember classrooms as safe havens; others describe schools as instruments of indoctrination.

The most striking voices are those recalling teachers who resisted, inspiring their students to think critically despite the risks.

Not in Our School reveals the universal and timeless role of education: to question authority, nurture independent thought, and empower individuals to resist oppressive systems. This exploration of education as a political force connects the past to the present and underscores its relevance in shaping the future.