Figure 1.--Here we see the infant group with their metapelet at Kibbutz Ramat HaShofet durung the 1940s. The same metapelet stayed with them for 3-4 years. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the group.

The Kibbutzim founded as part of the Second Aliyah was an entirely new institution. There were some influences from Eastern European villages, but no real institutional predecesors. As the Kibbutzim members set about building a new life, the general approach to child care was communal. This reflected thge strong socialist ideology early Zionism. It also reflected the needs of the community. Women, both young women and married women, were needed to help build the Kibbutz in an often hostile enviroment. It simply was not possible for women to stay home and keep house. There was all kinds of labor needed. The system that emerged varied from kibbutz to kibbutz, but in general was to collectivize child care. This essentially put the children with their mirad problems out of the way while the adults built the Kibbutz. This eventually went beyond Soviet practices. The system developed over time. The approach in the first kibbutzim founded as part of the Second Aliyah (1905-14) the children were cared for during the day in comminal day care facilities. After work the parents would pick up the children in the afternoon and would be cared for by their parents in the evening and at night. Parents in the early Kibbutzim did not have separate houses, but rather rooms in communal facilities. The parents would then deliver the children to the day care facility in the morning. This changed after World War I with the growing influence of Socialist ideology as part of the Third Aliyah (1919-20). The children began spending the nights in communzal dormitories. [Tiger and Shepher, p. 162.] Thus as the Kibbutz Movement developed, the children from birth were raised communally. They grew up with their peers with a metapelet (caretaker) in a children's house. Interactions with parents who were busy working was limited. Common the parents after the days work would spend 2-3 hours with them and then tuck them into bed. For some time the system was extolded, primsrily wiyhin the Socialist world. One author explains that Kibbutz child care was considered among the best in the world. A major factor was that same metapelet stayed with her infant group for 3½ - 4 years. [Marcus, p. 203.] At the time scientific studies concerning parental bonding did not exist. [Lopata] Of course the children did not know that they were part of an experiment. Some looking back describe the expeience as 'inhuman'. After World War II, a range of psychological studies determined that such separation from parents was harmful in developing well adjusted adults. As a result, Kibbutzim gradually began changing their child care practices. One respected author explains "Israeli Kibbutzim are rapidly dismantling their collective child-care centers because both the families and the community established that even a limited disassociation of children from their parents at a tender age is unacceptable".

Chronology

The Kibbutzim founded as part of the Second Aliyah was an entirely new institution. There were some influences from Eastern European villages, but no real institutional predecesors. The system that emerged varied from kibbutz to kibbutz, but in general was to collectivize child care. From the very begiining of the kibbutz movement, the approach to child care was communal (1900s). One author describes it as a virtual 'founding tenet' The childre were to be reared in communal houses and brought up by professionally trained staff rather than parents who for the most part had no real training other than their family expoeriences. This essentially put the children with their mirad problems out of the way while the adults built the Kibbutz. The system developed over time with aange of approaches being favored over time. A key factor here was the overall development of the kibbutz movement. The kibbutz and agriculture was a major part of the early development of Zionist Palestine and the economy of Israel in its early years. Gradually Israel developed a more urban society and diversified economy. As this occurred, some kibbutes were disolved and those that survived changed. The kibbutzes diversified into other areas besides agriculture. Some members found jobs in the cities, but wanted to live on the kibbuyz. Parents began demanding individual homes. Gradually kibbutz day care evolved into more standard day care systems. Here the relevations of academic studies as well as the oreferences of the parents were important factors.

Communal Approach

As the Kibbutzim members set about building a new life, the general approach to child care was communal. This reflected both ideological factors as well as practical neccesities. the strong socialist ideology of early Zionism was a factor. It also reflected the needs of the community. Women, both young women and married women, were needed to help build the Kibbutz in an often hostile enviroment. It simply was not possible for women to stay home and keep house. There was all kinds of labor needed. This eventually went beyond Soviet practices. The Zionist movement included many different threads, but one of the most important was a strong Marxist component. Many secular Jews saw Socialism as not only the answer to centuries of European oppression and descrimination, but a system for constructing a more efficent and just society. Obe observer writes, "The kibbutz system…may meet (Frederick) Engel’s (Marxist) demands more completely than any social system (because) Children of 90 per cent of the kibbutzim who are younger than 14 live in (daycare) dormitories, starting at the age of two to six weeks.” [Tiger and Shepher, pp. 29-30.]

Variation

The approach in the first kibbutzim founded as part of the Second Aliyah (1905-14) the children were cared for during the day in comminal day care facilities. After work the parents would pick up the children in the afternoon and would be cared for by their parents in the evening and at night. Parents in the early Kibbutzim did not have separate houses, but rather rooms in communal facilities. The parents would then deliver the children to the day care facility in the morning. This changed after World War I with the growing influence of Socialist ideology as part of the Third Aliyah (1919-20). The children began spending the nights in communal dormitories. [Tiger and Shepher, p. 162.] Thus as the Kibbutz Movement developed, the children from birth were raised communally. They grew up with their peers with a metapelet (caretaker) in a children's house. Interactions with parents who were busy working was limited. Common the parents after the days work would spend 2-3 hours with them and then tuck them into bed. For some time the system was extolded, primarily wiyhin the Socialist world.

Naturalist Approach

An element of Socialist thought over time was that nationalist states, especially capitalist states, has a corrupting influence on inherently moral man. This was part of a long running phiolsophical debate on the inherrent nature of man. In the Soviet Union authorities set out constructing Soviet Man which unlike traditionalist Marxist visions meant increasing state pressure in shaping the individuals. Marxist educators felt that without oppresive controls, children would develop into more generous, less violent individuals without prejudices. One element of this outlook in the kibbutz child care was a naturalist approach for younger children. This varies from kibbutz to kibbutz to kibbutz, but was adopted by many. At the time there was no concern for ultra-violent radiation that has led to modern sun-safe clothing. Fresh air and sunshine were seen as very healthy for growing children.

Assessment

One author explains that Kibbutz child care was considered among the best in the world. Notable was the good food and medical care that all the children on the kibbutz received. A major factor was that same metapelet stayed with her infant group for 3½ - 4 years. [Marcus, p. 203.] At the time scientific studies concerning parental bonding did not exist. [Lopata] Of course the children did not know that they were part of an experiment. Some looking back describe the expeience as 'inhuman'. After World War II, a range of psychological studies determined that such separation from parents was harmful in developing well adjusted adults. As a result, Kibbutzim gradually began changing their child care practices. One respected author explains "Israeli Kibbutzim are rapidly dismantling their collective child-care centers because both the families and the community established that even a limited disassociation of children from their parents at a tender age is unacceptable". [Etzioni, p. 55.] Because of all the attention that the kibbutz day care received, numerous studies were conducted on the kibbutz children as they grew up. Many in the educational community were shocked when they found that the young people disproportionately from a variety of psychological disorders, including some severe disorders. Researchers reported elevated levels of attachment deprivation traumas, depression, schizophrenia, self-esteem problems, and substance abuse. a 1994 study found that over half of all kibbutz children exhibited symptoms and psychopathologies related to insecure attachment. [Keleman, p.106.]

Sources

Etzioni, Amitai. "Children of the Universe." Utne Reader (May/June 1993). Etzioni is one of the most resopected education psycologists. His findings on communal child care were devestating.

Kelemen, Lawrence. To Kindle a Soul: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parents and Teachers (2001). Kelemen is a respected rabbi.

Lopata, Peg. "Mothering: The infant daycare experiment," (Winter 1993).

Marcus, Joseph. Ed. Growing up in Groups, The Russian Day Care Center and The Israeli Kibbutz (1972).

Tiger, Lionel and Joseph Shepher. Women in the Kibbutz (1975).

Created: 4:10 PM 2/18/2011
Last updated: 5:04 AM 10/12/2011