[etni] Fwd: re: antiHOTS lists and number

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rafi beigel <rafitalk@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: antiHOTS lists and number


Reply to Avi Tzur

Why are you insisting on nit picking about numbers here.

Many people do not vocalise their opinions, do not have face book and
did not attend the ETNI conference.

300 teachers just in Jerusalem represent THOUSANDS of children.

Does that mean anything to you?
 Or are you stuck on minutea?

It has been proven to you that there are many vocal dissenters and
more, if not twice a many people who do not feel it is appropriate to
soap box and scream and shout ,but who, nevertheless, are deeply upset
and frustrated and unhappy to even consider implementing this program.

You and the ministry are remaining completely  oblivious to the whole
problem and sticking plasters of "forums " and saccharine sweet wishes
for a happy new year will not make the "boo boo" go away.

 This is a seriously bruised populous here and you fail to recognise
that there are entire schools that are not  implementing the program.
what does that mean to you way up there in your ivory tower?

 Don't just bury your  head in the bureaucratic sand and declaim that
you are a professional educator-(we are all professional educators and
that is sanctimonious,) don't wait for those nice polite Anglo Saxons
to cave in.-wake up please.

WE AREN'T IMPLEMENTING IT-WE AREN'T GOING TO THE HISHTALMUT AND WE
AREN'T BEING LISTENED TO-
 NOW WHAT?

Don't give us platitudes about how  hard we work. LISTEN TO US

Rafi
 and many many  other disgruntled, frustrated and  angry teachers.

(Doesn't that make for a positive work force and a representative
sample of the English teachers of Israel. Are you and the ministry
proud of that?-eh?)


Avi wrote:
> Eleanor shalom

> I fully agree with your point that English teachers are and always
> were a very "obedient group" obedient and hard working, the best!!!

> You write:  "In the past 18 years numerous  --yes, numerous -- changes
> have been made in the curriculum from a total overhaul to types of
> tasks on the oral bagrut.  Some have required major changes in our
> thinking, our methods, our ways of assessment;  other changes have
> been less demanding. Besides the changes, we have had ADDED to the
> curriculum:  5 book reports, sustained silent reading and  projects."
>
> As a professional educator I am proud to have seen any and all of the
> changes that took/have taken place as I see teaching as something
> dynamic. I have also seen how all the mentioned changes improved the
> standard of learning the language. Many (if not all) the changes were
> in line with teacher requests and the field was involved in helping
> the inspectorate and the advisory committee to reach decisions.
>
> Do English teachers work harder than most other teachers?? My personal
> opinion - YES. Much, much harder. This is the issue. How can/should
> English teachers be reimbursed for all the extra work that is expected
> of them? Working with "Students with Special Needs" and Preparing
> "projects" with our students is extra. Every student is a deserving
> person and so YES we continue as an "obedient group" to do what we
> know best, teach. Which brings me to the issue of teaching literature
> through thinking skills.
>
> You write: "Over 150 teachers have sent me their emails in the past
> month. Some have signed up on Facebook but not all. Last year 60
> RAKAZIM signed up on behalf of their SCHOOLS --this represented over
> 300 teachers. Regretfully, I lost their their addresses because of an
> OUTLOOK overload problem. I wish people in power would take notice NOT
>  of whether or not there are more in favor of HOTS or are against
> HOTS.  This isn't a beauty pageant or a referendum."
>
> Note that the only person giving numbers all the time is you and the
> group of teachers you "so call" represent. I don't want to get into
> figures of how many teachers have or haven't done the course, how many
> like or dislike the program, etc. Your numbers are I am sure accurate
> but alongside these numbers why not write how many (total of) English
> teachers there are?
>
> "There are many in favor of HOTS, sure.  BUT -- there are many angry,
> frustrated teachers against HOTS and it is not a question of
> whether we are bigger or stronger or weaker and more vulnerable.  We
> exist and our concerns are being minimalized at best .  This is
> demeaning and demoralizing and I would like my Inspectors and the
> their superiors to recognize this and its implications."
>
> It is unfair to write that your (plural) "concerns are being
> minimalized". The inspectorate is a caring and sensitive group of
> educators and we too have feelings. We hear and listen to the field,
> wde are aware that there are teachers who are not happy with the
> program, we will continue to fight for what we feel is the best
> interests of the teachers (and pupils), we are after all, ALL
> EDUCATORS with education at heart.
>
> As a representative of the Ministry of Education and not of Irgun
> Hamorim I want us all to understand - the program of teaching bagrut
> through Literature is compulsory as of this year for all students in
> 10th grade. You may not want to teach accordingly, you may feel upset
> that this is now in effect. 10th grade students as of this year will
> be assessed according to the new program unless the Ministry decides
> otherwise.
>
> To all my friends and colleagues, SHANA TOVA.
> Take care and all the best,
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