Behavioral Problems of Palestinian Children at the Lower Basic School Stage Through Al-Aqsa Intifada in Nablus District, as Perceived by Teachers and Their Relation with Some Variables

The purpose of this study was to define behavioral problems of Palestinian children at the lower basic school stage through Al-Aqsa Intifada as perceived by their teachers. The main variables of the study were: (1) sex (2) type of educational system, (3) class level, (4) school site and (5) school distance from the intifada events. A (41) item questionnaire has been developed by the researchers to measure children behavioral problems at the first four classes of the basic cycle in Nablus educational district as perceived by their teachers. To test the study hypotheses, the researchers used the independent “t” test, one way ANOVA, and LSD methods of statistics. The results showed that many behavioral problems have occurred by Palestinian children through the Intifada, such as the fear from the sound of jet fighters, anxiety, aggresiveness and low achievement level. There were also statistical differences: between male and female pupils in favour of female pupils; and between the school site (city, refugee camp and village) in favour of the city; and between the school distance from Intifada events in favour of ones close to these events. At the same time there were no statistical differences between pupils according to the educational system (governmental or UNRWA schools) and according to the class level (first, second, third and fourth) levels, in the basic cycle.