----- Original Message ----- From: sbshai - sbshai@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: In response to Reuben's message (Digest # 299) The HOTS issue is not just a financial matter to be haggled between the Irgun (the only union that's trying to help, as far as I know) and the MOE; much more is at stake than that -- the most important point being the fact that our professional concerns about the program have clearly NOT been addressed. By now, everyone is surely aware of the inevitability of the program and the fact that the Ministry is not going to back down on something it has invested in so much. However, their insistence that the program is immutable (beyond whatever token changes have been made to date in the original design) should disturb us more than anything else because it reveals how we're viewed by the policy makers. It's as if our realtime experience in the Israeli classroom counts for naught and whatever enthusiasm and "high order thinking" we have motivated while teaching literature long before this (so-called) innovative program came on the radar screen is inconsequential. The questions we have repeatedly raised relate to the weaknesses in the program, for which, apparently, there exist no satisfactory answers. Many teachers are dissatisfied, but feel powerless to do anything about it -- so they prefer to go along with this fad and stay on the good side of the VIPs. (Of course, this is why we get increasing workloads without proper remuneration.) It will be interesting to see how long this new program lasts before another 'new and improved' program comes along to bring plenty of work for teachers but no particular benefit to EFL students! CoMISERatinglY, Batya ----------------------------------------------- ** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org or - http://www.etni.org.il ** ** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx ** ** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** -----------------------------------------------