[etni] Re: ETAI as a platform for honest speaking

and get moving.  ON THE CONTRARY - Everyone willing to actually act on
what's being discussed should join ETAI and get together at the conference
and organize a professional advocacy committee under the auspices of ETAI.
ETAI is our professional organization.  Judy Steiner DOES NOT preside over
ETAI.  She gives a talk at most conferences and encourages teachers to join,
because being a member of a professional organization, either as an active
or not so active member, reading the organization's publications, and
periodically attending conferences is part of being a professional.
Professionals belong to and support their professional organizations.  ETAI
is our professional organization and it is affiliated with TESOL and an
associate of IATEFL, both internationally recognized professional
organizations of English language teachers around the world.  One of the
most effective ways to gain legitimacy as professionals is to strengthen our
professional organization by joining and becoming more active.  Organizing a
professional advocacy committee is one way to be active and do something.
      ETAI is a totally voluntary orgainization, run entirely by volunteers.
NO ONE is PAID, except for a part-time offiice manager.  All members, and
any member, can volunteer to be active - contact the ETAI office, make a
suggestion and get the ball rolling.  If YOU do something, something will
get done.  ETAI is the framework in which to do it.
Michele



On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 12:42 PM, Louise - <lu_mmm@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
>
>
> I am reading with great interest all of your thoughts on how to get "our
> acts together." I am also saving all the E-mails from this Forum in case we
> wish to use any of our comments later.
>
>
>
> Re: ETAI's meeting in Jerusalem as the location to discuss the problems we
> are facing, I am not sure that this is place. How many of us will feel
> comfortable speaking in front of Judy Steiner? I have also been in many
> situations where participants do the opposite of what they say they will
> when people of "influence" are present.  Also, these conferences tend to be
> "lets feel good about ourselves" places. What do you think?
>
>
>
> I'll let you into a little secret. For the last few years Ive been writing
> to a couple of Knesset members whom I think may show an interest in our
> situation. In particular I got very sympathetic replies from Ran Cohen and
> Avishai Braverman. Ok - nothing came of it, but I felt better for having
> written. I recently wrote again to Braverman and I hope to get a reply. The
> reason for writing to these individuals was because they had been
> interviewed and specifically talked about their interest in education.
> Unfortunately, I do not see our own English Inspectorate as being able or
> even wanting to represent us. I could be very wrong about this, but I have
> never seen them speak out on our behalf. That being the case, we may have to
> try alternative routes.
>
>
>
> I am a very patient person and I think we must all realize to get anything
> started takes time. We just have to inch forward step by step and not give
> up. Exchanging our thoughts here is one step. The next is to extend
> outwards. Another idea is to ask teachers to just write an open composition
> (120-140 words - ha! ha!) on their experiences as a teacher here in Israel.
> A request could go out as follows (this is just a sample idea):
>
>
>
> " Many English teachers in Israel have expressed a number of serious
> problems within the educational system that not only negatively impact their
> lives but also the lives of their students. Please describe what you see to
> be the most important issues/problems that you would like to be addressed.
> State what the isuues are, when they occur, why it occurs, who is involved,
> and what changes could be implemented to end the situation. Include the
> number of classes you are teaching, grades, # students in the class. Also if
> you would like to share any positive experiences we would be grateful to
> hear about them also."
>
>
>
> From these essays we can then pull out the stats - how many mentioned
> salary, how many mentioned overcrowded classrooms etc. The beauty of this is
> that it can be done immediately and we will have actual statements rather
> than Y/N answers. There is nothing more heartfelt than hearing the emotions
> that come from the words.
>
>
>
> The next questions are (if we are to do this): how will this request be
> communicated to the teachers, who will review the answers, and most
> importantly - what do we do with it afterwards? To Whom do we send the
> results to?
>
>
>
> These are just a few ideas. Throw them away if you want!
>
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Louise
>
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