Author Recounts High School Struggles with Strict Rules and Political Extremism

The author, Adi Ben-Ami, reflects on the start of the school year and his grandson's description of school as 'the gates of hell.' This sentiment resonates with Ben-Ami's own difficult experiences at Blich High School in Ramat Gan during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He recalls being a student there, a time when the school was known for its strict discipline and conservative atmosphere.

Ben-Ami recounts a personal conflict with Mrs. Blum, the school's discipline monitor, over his growing hair. Despite his arguments about personal freedom and promises to keep his hair clean, Blum insisted on a strict military-style haircut. This led to a confrontation with Principal Herzl Lamdan, who threatened to expel him if his hair exceeded a certain length.

During Sukkot break in 1970, Ben-Ami, as student council chairman, attended a conference in Jerusalem where he posed a question to then-Minister of Education Yigal Allon about the ban on long hair for boys. Allon responded that he personally had no issue with students having long, clean hair, a statement that was prominently reported in the press.

Upon his return to school, Principal Lamdan reacted with fury, dismissing Allon's statement and reiterating his authority to dictate school appearance. Ben-Ami notes that the school's situation has since deteriorated, citing the current principal's decision to invite controversial Knesset member Itamar Ben-Gvir to speak to students. Ben-Ami criticizes this decision, referencing Ben-Gvir's past and political stances, and recalls students chanting 'We will burn your village' during the event, which he interprets as a threat directed at Arab villages.

Ben-Ami concludes that Blich High School has become a place where 'the gates of hell' have opened wide, suggesting a decline in its educational and ethical standards, particularly in light of the invitation extended to Ben-Gvir and the accompanying student chants.