[etni] Fw: ETAI Newsletter 16 - January 2009
- From: "Ask_Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "ETNI" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 21:04:43 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: ETAI office = etaioffice@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: ETAI Newsletter 16 - January 2009
ETAI is getting better and better!
Newsletter 16: January, 2009
Dear Readers,
At the time of writing, everyone both here in Israel and in the neighbouring
Palestinian territories is preoccupied and distressed by the ongoing events
in Gaza and the surrounding area. We all pray for a solution that will
enable both sides to live in peace and security, without threat from
rockets, guns or bombs.
The solution, when it comes – as I said in my opening words to the Beer
Sheva Conference – will need to be negotiated in English: hence the small
but significant contribution which our profession can make towards a better
future. We can't negotiate ourselves: but we can, perhaps, help to improve
the main tool which the politicians use to communicate with each other.
Back to ETAI news.
There was a lovely mini-conference at Hatzor on December 14th: Elisheva
Barkon gave the brilliant presentation on reading that we have come to
expect from her – and the other presentations were also top-rate.
Congratulations to the organizers – Debbie Gabai, Elaine Coleman, Nitzan
Tigger and Fran Sokel. We are thinking of holding the next northern
mini-conference in Kiryat Shmonah to reach out to teachers in the Galil and
Golan. Any comments?
Then there was the Beer Sheva Conference on December 28th. A major
achievement, in the circumstances. The night before the conference we were
in touch with the security authorities to get assurances that we could
safely hold the conference, which we got; but the day after, I doubt if such
assurances would have been forthcoming.
In the event, we had over 300 participants, and some excellent sessions.
There were problems: because of the fewer-than-expected participants due to
the security situation, some sessions had very small audiences. The
gymnasium which we used for plenaries did not have very good acoustics, and
it was difficult to see the screen. Nevertheless, the speakers apparently
succeeded in getting their messages across effectively, and were very much
appreciated. Thanks particularly to Prof. Batia Laufer and Dr. Richard
Curwin, who gave brilliant plenary talks, and to Dr. Judy Steiner, who
discussed some important current issues.
To sum up, the overall verdict was: an excellent event, with a 'buzz' you
get at all the best conferences. Mitzi Geffen and her team deserve loud
applause and cheers from the virtual audience who I hope this newsletter is
reaching!
OK, on to the next events!
This month (January 14th, see the ETAI website) will see a mini-conference
in Kfar Saba (it'll be the first I've missed, sorry, I'm teaching until late
that day!). And on February 3rd another one at Beit Yerach in the north.
And we have three committees busily planning three further big events: the
Spring Conference at the Arab College in Haifa on April 16th (note it in
your calendar); the National Summer Conference in Jerusalem on July 7-8th at
Himmelfarb High School; and the International Conference in July 2010.
One final announcement: the Board has decided that there will be a special
offer from January 1st, 2009, to April 16th: you may join ETAI, or renew
membership, for NIS 130 instead of the usual NIS 175. Download the form
from the website now, and send it in with a check: unfortunately, we cannot
yet accept payment by credit card (but we're working on it!).
Penny Ur, ETAI Chair
Our website: www.etni.org.il/etai/
Tel: 02-500-1844
mailto:etaioffice@xxxxxxxxx
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