THE CONTRIBUTION OF NATIONAL SERVICE YOUNG WOMEN TO THE EDUCATIONAL WORK IN PRE-SCHOOLS / בנות השירות הלאומי והעשייה החינוכית בגן הילדים

The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of young female para-educators to the educational activity in kindergartens as it is grasped by the kindergarten teachers, by the assistants and by the para-educators themselves. The study was based on the assumption that adding para-educators to kindergartens housing three year-old children can affect positively the overall educational activity. This assumption needed to be backed up by research since the para-educators in these positions acquire only a limited professional training, and at their young age have practically no previous experience in this kind of work. 33 kindergarten teams participated in this research. 99 participants answered a questionnaire designed specifically for the purpose of this research, and dealt with the organizational and educational aspects of adding young para-educators to the kindergartens. It was found that adding para-educators to the kindergartens had a positive organizational and educational contribution. The partnership model that has been created in the kindergartens is described by the researches as "the family partnership model". According to this model, para-educators with no previous professional training were integrated in the kindergartens in those domains they are familiar with from their own homes and families, although they did not participate in taking essential decisions nor in professional educational activity. According to this study, it is recommended to continue to integrate para-educators in kindergartens as it seems to be a significant contribution to all parties concerned – the kindergartens, the para-educators themselves as well as the community at large.