An event at the Mandel Leadership Institute to launch a new book by Prof. Miriam Ben-Peretz, Israel Prize laureate in education: Policy-Making in Education: A Holistic Approach in Response to Global Changes


“An approach that brings together theory and practice,” is how Dr. Eli Gottlieb, director of the Mandel Leadership Institute (MLI), described Prof. Miriam Ben-Peretz’s new book in his opening remarks at the book launch at MLI. “We are here to make possible a serious, forward-looking dialogue in an attempt to take another step toward translating these ideas into practice.”

The new book by Prof. Ben-Peretz, a long-time faculty member at the Mandel Leadership Institute, argues that a an adequate response to globalization challenges requires a holistic approach to several different dimensions - immigration, technology, economy, and environment.

As well as, effective collaboration and coordination among the central domains of education: curriculum, teaching, and teacher education. The book presents selected cases of policy-related processes, from which Prof. Ben-Peretz draws guidelines for developing a holistic model of policymaking and policy implementation.

Linking practice with theory, policy with reality
Prof. Lee Shulman of Stanford University, a guest scholar at the Mandel Leadership Institute, spoke about the "Paradox of Policy Potential" — the disparity between the policy as planned and its implementation. According to Prof. Shulman, Prof. Ben-Peretz’s innovation in her book is that any policy that is too solid and absolute, however inspirational it may be, cannot achieve its goals, and will not be implemented as planned. Essentially, only a deliberately fluid policy can succeed. Like the Ten Commandments, which were general guidelines with no detail, a policy that includes general guidelines that enable dialogue with the complex real-life situations will do better than a structured policy set forth in minute detail.
 
Prof. Shulman mentioned several principles that come up in Prof. Ben-Peretz’s book. One of the most important principles is the idea of human imperfection. Wisdom and experience are not limited to an individual or a closed group. Consequently, policymaking requires collaboration with other people through in-depth discussions. Another principle concerns the constant, inherent gap between policy planning and implementation. To say “The only thing that is certain is that the policy will not be carried out as planned” is an acknowledgment of reality.

The relationship between practice and theory is manifested in the book in empirical cases of educational policymaking in Israel and abroad; for each case, Prof. Ben-Peretz presents the policy, the original plan, and the way the policy was actually carried out. Policymaking and implementation revolve around reality and around day-to-day life.
Prof. Ben-Peretz’s approach is refreshing,” said Prof. Shulman, “in that she constructed her theory—a holistic approach to policy—based on practice, unlike many studies that construct the theory first.”

From policy to making the world a better place
“It’s a great privilege to have someone read what you write and take it another step forward. It’s a gift,” said Prof. Miriam Ben-Peretz in response to the remarks of Dr. Eli Gottlieb and Prof. Lee Shulman. She added that she thinks the difficulty in formulating a policy that will leave enough room for further discussion and deeper study and will not be too solid and clear-cut has to do with the self-image of the policy planners.
Addressing Prof. Lee Shulman’s point about the lack of an ethical component in the book, she said that indeed she did not offer any answers regarding who should be the representative of ethics. This is an almost unsolvable question. Perhaps, then, all ethical problems that have to be addressed should be raised in every policy discussion.

Prof. Miriam Ben-Peretz summed up her remarks by saying, “When we overcome the problems, maybe a gate will open, or maybe just a crack, to make the world a better place.” To illustrate the plight of policymaking in view of current global problems, she quoted Rabbi Tarfon: “The day is short, the work is abundant, the workers are lazy, the reward is great, and the master of the house is pressing.”

Selected videos from the event:
Eli Gottlieb's opening remarks
Prof. Lee Shulman's lecture: The Paradox of Policy Potential
Prof. Miriam Ben-Peretz