[etni] Fw: Mass meeting in Kfar Blum about Dovrat

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shoshana Dann" <sdann@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Edit Chazan" <chazaneg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: [etni] Mass meeting in Kfar Blum about Dovrat


> Dear Edith,
>
> wellllllllllllll, you asked for it! [See the dare at the bottom of the
> page].
>
> There are many, many recommendations for reform in this report, but for 
> some
> strange reason, the teachers have decided to fight it, tooth and nail. 
> This
> guy may pay lip service to the report, that "it may have good points", but
> he's panicking, and taking the whole profession with him.  His tool - a
> supposed concern for "equality in education".  Well, folks - it doesn't
> exist now.... let's see HIS alternative.  We live in the "periphery", and
> believe me... there is no equality.  And sending a kid to boarding school 
> is
> NOT THE ANSWER, it's a built in cop-out.  Kids belong at home, with their
> parents.
>
> The most vocal opposition to the report is a recommendation for the 5-day
> week.  This is such a marginal, technical issue - but it's the main one in
> the news - probably because it can cause unthinking panic.
>
> As a PARENT, who cares about education, I think that what really scares 
> the
> teachers is something new - ACCOUNTABILITY.  Whereas no one expects 
> teachers
> to have all students get wonderful grades all the time, and always have 
> fun
> learning - for the first time there will be some accounting of teacher
> success - and an end to crappy, tired teachers staying in the system just
> because of technical things like vetek.  Yahoo!  Finally a way to liven up
> the profession.
>
> Example: our physics/math teacher has been torturing generations of kids, 
> in
> many case ruining their chances for all kinds of things. I know of some 
> kids
> who just don't take advanced math because of him, and for others, they 
> learn
> to HATE it. At the very least, they have to make up these subjects before
> going on to higher education.  EVERYONE knows this, NO ONE will get rid of
> him, or convince him to leave.  Kids who do pass bagrut, all have private
> tutors or grandfathers! who tutor them.  What SHIT.  And the Ministry of
> Education won't even answer letters.  There has got to be a better way.
>
> The Dovrat report also gives more power to the local community, to give 
> them
> (US PARENTS) somewhat more say.  And it gives the principal more power.
> He/she can finally get rid of crappy  teachers.  Be in charge of school
> budget, and be really in charge.
>
> I'd like to point out that a few years ago Canada was concerned about
> declining educational quality, and they did exactly this - they 
> established
> criteria for accountability, and gave the regions automony for
> implementation.
>
> And concerning Bagrut, I would go even further than Dovrat - and eliminate
> it altogether.  I identify it as the source of all evil in the system. 
> Too
> much effort is paid to LEARNING TO PASS TESTS, rather than learning
> material, and learning how to learn so that when people grow up, as they
> eventually do, they will know how to learn.  I spoke with a Hebrew Lit
> teacher - she LOVES HER SUBJECT, and knows what she would teach if GIVEN
> freedom to do so in her own way.  Instead, she had to teach boring things
> like Pere Goriot (sp? I never read it), told the kids it's boring... and
> that's what they then learn by heart.  To love books? HAAA.
>
> So here is the benefit for the teachers: you joined the profession (let's
> make an assumption here) for 2 reasons: you believe in real education;
> there's some subject that you particularly love.  So let's allow you to
> teach it in your way.  Believe me, teacher interest and love can be 
> spread,
> even by body language, to the kids.
>
> I will go back (again, and again if I have to) to my son's comment at the
> beginning of 12th grade.  I asked him if, maybe, this year, doing 
> "megamot"
> in subjects he chose, he would apply himself to getting better grades.  He
> looked me in the eye and simply said, "Mom, don't you know I've been bored
> for 12 years.  Why should I?!"
>
> Bottom line - if people become responsible for results, they care more. 
> If
> they are free to do things their way (establishing general criteria) -
> they'll do it better, have more fun, etc.
>
> And finally - why don't I hear teachers complaining about the fact that
> according to Dovrat, teachers will finally get real pay, GOOD SALARIES?
> Could it be because too many (women, oh no) just chose to teach for the 
> long
> vacations, money being secondary.  I hope not!
>
> Remember the old saying: those who can, do; those who can't, teach.  Well,
> if "market value" means paying good people good salaries so they will be
> good teachers... what's wrong with that?
>
> Ok - now my dare to you.... Pass this back up the line to whoever sent it 
> to
> you in the first place, and let's see the reaction.
>
> Your loving cousin
> (who made aliyah at 18, and of all things and worries, did NOT expect my
> future kids, in a Jewish country, to get a crappy education)
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Edit Chazan" <chazaneg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Shoshana Dann" <sdann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 10:55 AM
> Subject: Fw: [etni] Mass meeting in Kfar Blum about Dovrat
>
>
>> what thinks you my clever cousin?  shabat shalom Edith
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Barry Praag" <bpraag@xxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 6:37 PM
>> Subject: [etni] Mass meeting in Kfar Blum about Dovrat
>>
>>
>> > **** ETNI on the web http://www.etni.org.il   http://www.etni.org 
>> > ****
>> >
>> > I have just come back from a mass meeting of approx
>> > 2000+ teachers from the north. Whilst the Dov rat
>> > report does have a lot of good points we must all wake
>> > up and realise the danger of this reform being made
>> > law.
>> > Apart from the very serious repercussions for the
>> > teaching profession it will in effect, mean the end of
>> > equal education for all. It is the privatisation of
>> > the education system. I for one do not want to see
>> > this happen here in Israel.Without a doubt there will
>> > be a long and bitter struggle which we must win at all
>> > costs otherwise the gap between the haves and the have
>> > nots will increase ten fold.
>> > I was very impressed with the union organisation of
>> > the meeting and the standard of the speakers. 2000
>> > teachers sat for 2 hours and did not get up or
>> > interrupt, that, for me says it all.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > __________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
>
> 


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