Yaacov is Director of the Institute for Democratic Education (IDE) and a world leader in developing progressive and participative classrooms and schools. Yaacov founded the first democratic school in Hadera, Israel, in 1987. He also initiated the first International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in 1992. As founder and director of IDE he has helped start 25 democratic schools in Israel and supports over 150 traditional schools become more democratic. IDE also works with businesses and politicians and coordinates important programmes for peace education in Israel.

The IDE web site is at www.democratic-edu.org