[etni] Save Dovrei Anglit
- From: "Kindersite Joel" <joel_josephson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 10:53:38 +0200
Dear List
Below please find minutes of the meeting held yesterday 5/6/07 in Hod
Hasharon.
Please be aware that the problem still exist country-wide including
Ra'anana.
Below is a copy of a letter to Yuli Tamir and list of contacts for this
letter be sent. Please send it to your local muncipality as well.
Thanks
Meeting Summary: Cancellation of English-speakers' program
At Olam Keren, Hod Hasharon
June 05, 2007
Contact info
Nicky Maor: 054-7791124 E-mail: bestn@xxxxxxxxxx
Lisa Segelov: 052-2544239 E-mail: lisa@xxxxxxxxxxx
Heather Maimon: 052-3594783 E-mail: maimon@xxxxxxx
Background
· It appears that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is going to cancel
English-speakers programs in elementary and junior high schools nationwide,
starting in September.
· At this point, no official word has reached the school, however in
speaking with the supervisors ( ??÷???( ) both regional and of the English
programs, they seem to have gotten official word
about it.
· In general, the ministry and the workers are being obtuse about giving a
final word however; it appears they are going to try to cancel the program
at the last minute, when it is too late to do
anything about it.
· In light of this, English-speakers nationwide, and in HH specifically,
have decided to start making a full effort to ensure that the program is
not cancelled in September.
Background of why the program is illegal
English speakers programs initiated by the parents have been running in
elementary and junior high schools for upwards of 30 years, and the MoE has
let it slip. However, the programs are not allowed for the following
reasons:
· The program is funded by parents at more than 370 shekels a year, which is
the maximum allowed by MoE. In some schools (not Tali HH), children are
excluded if they cannot pay.
· The program does not have an official curriculum approved by MoE.
· The program does not use official MoE approved teachers
· It takes place during school hours on school grounds.
· Thus, potentially, having the program after hours would be a workaround –
but this is not a workaround parents want and it still does not solve the
problem of bored children sitting in regular
English classes they do not need.
· In schools where there are enough students to form a complete class of
English-speakers, and where an official ministry teacher is teaching, the
program will continue. Thus, the highest-density English-speaking areas are
not affected.
· It cannot be considered "Talan" for all these reasons.
Attendees:
· The effort is being led by Nicky Maor, Lisa Segelov, and Heather Maimon
from the Tali school.
· Meir Halawani, Chair of the Citywide Parents' committee attended.
· Approximately 60 parents attended: all registered on contact list
· Approximately half of the parents were from Tali schools
· Another 2/5 were from the other HH schools, representing all schools that
have English-speakers' programs.
· A number of participants from Kfar Saba, Tel Mond and Ra'anana schools
attended.
City of Hod Hasharon Representatitive: Yossi Bayer, Director of Education
and Sport Department
Yossi Bayer addressed the group at 20:00 before the meeting started, due to
his own time constraints.
· The mayor and the city are opposed to closing down the program unless an
alternative is found by the MoE
· The city is doing what it can to investigate its legal options, but as a
government body, the city cannot condone anything that is not legal within
its institutions.
· Yossi expressed willingness to reach into the city's funds to help the
program survive, if that is something that can be done
· Yossi suggested that the parents work on the short-term to find a
temporary solution, which the city will help with.
· Yossi suggested that for the long-term, parents need to push for an
official, recognized program, and said the wisest way would be through an
NGO that already has a record of having created recognized programs.
· The long-term solutions are not going to solve immediate issue of
September.
· For the purpose of trying to prevent the program in HH from being shut
down, Yossi has created an action team including parents, and they will be
meeting this coming Thursday with the supervisor of the English programs in
the area, to see what can be done.
· Yossi has not seen an official document or gotten official word regarding
closing of the programs.
Report from Benjy Maor, chair of parent's committee of Tali
· The Citywide parents' council is also part of this effort and the issue
was brought up in the meeting last week.
· The mayor was clear in stating his opposition to closing the program and
stated he is willing to make whatever efforts he needs to in order to ensure
it continues
· The city put together an action committee, including Benjy and Nir Cohen
to work with the city on this issue.
· The action committee will be meeting with Ann Sagie, the English
Supervisor for the region, on Thursday.
· Summary of this meeting will be distributed by email to the list of all
registered from the meeting.
· For the intents of this meeting, there are at least two representatives
from each school in the city that has an English program.
· The school has not gotten a directive yet from MoE but in conversations
with the supervisors, it is clear that they are aware that it is the
intention of the MoE to stop the program starting September
1st.
Meeting actions: Adv. Nicky Maor, Tali School parent's committee
At this point there are three areas of action that the parents are taking:
1. Letter writing to various authorities. A draft is available for anyone to
use, including contact information of any relevant people we know of.
2. Asking children to write letters, this has already started.
3. Starting a process with the high court. Although this is not simple, we
have people who are experienced in this area, and it is worth trying. For
this purpose, there is a paper in the back that parents should sign allowing
the attorneys to add their names to the petition to the high court, and
anyone who is interested in being part of the class action should sign and
forward to one of the attorneys (Nicky Maor, Lisa Segelov and 2 additional
lawyers who are experienced in this area).
The idea is first to send a letter to the MoE demanding clarification within
15 days, and if we do not get clarification on whether the program will be
continuing or not, then begin the process of a
petition to the high court. We will wait until the meeting Thursday in the
city, and afterwards send such a letter demanding that the MoE clarify if
they are canceling the program or not.
The attorneys are working on a volunteer basis. If anyone knows more
attorneys who can assist on a volunteer basis, please refer them to Nicky or
Lisa.
The only out-of-pocket cost associated with this, if there is a petition, is
a NIS1500 filing fee with the high court. The Tali HH Amuta may be able to
fund this, or with a small contribution from all the participating parents,
we can raise the funds. Any additional petitions will be funded by each
specific group.
Additional ideas that parents suggested for action:
· Working through the Va'ad Artzi. The Va'ad Yeshuvi will take a look into
this.
· Pushing the Mayor to head up this effort on a political level.
· Anyone who has personal connections with politicians or the MoE should do
whatever it takes to get as many people involved and pushing to change this.
· Anyone with personal connections to the media should bring media attention
to the issue. At first it was just in English press, but we have succeeded
also in getting some of the Hebrew press to make it an issue.
· If you have additional suggestions on who to write letters to, speak to
Nicky,Lisa or Heather.
Please make sure you have:
· Picked up a copy of the letter and addresses, and sent out your letters
protesting this decision.
· Signed the contact list. If not, please forward your contact
information to SHARON at: jushilli@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Include name, grade of
children,
school, city, email, address and phone numbers.
· Sign the paper giving the attorneys the right to represent you and attach
your name to the letter demanding an answer from MoE.
If
we do go forward with the high court request, the attorneys will ensure you
also want your name on that before going forward.
Below is a list of contacts to send the letter to. Please send it to as many
people on the contact list and also your local municipality.
The more people that send it the greater the chance to succeed in
maintaining the current Dovrei Anglit program.
Thanks
We need parents and Teachers to send letters to ALL of the following:
Ministry of Education:
Dr. Soli Natan
Manager of the Central Region
Tel: 03 689 6642
Fax: 03-689-6748 and 03-689 6611
Prof Yuli Tamir
Minister of Education
Fax: 02-560-2336
ytamir@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mr. Shmuel Abuav
Director General of the Ministry of Education
Fax: 02-560-2336
Dr. Judy Steiner
National Co-ordinator of the Dovrei Anglit Program
Tel: 02 5603587
Fax: 02 560 3596
Ministry of Education Complaints Dept.
Fax: 02-560-2390
Machoz-ta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Machoz-ta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Machoz-merchaz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Machoz-
merchaz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Members of the Knesset
MK Ronit Tirosh
Tel: 02 6408422/3
Fax: 02 6408912
Email: rtirosh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hod Hasharon Municipality:
Mr. Hai Adiv
Mayor, Hod Hasharon
Fax: 09-775-9580
haya@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:haya@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Yossi Byer
Head of Education and Culture, Hod Hasharon
Fax: 09-775-9622
Tel : 775-9638
Jewish Agency:
Mr. Ze'ev Bielski
Chairman of the Executive
Jewish Agency for Israel
zeevik@xxxxxxxx <mailto:zeevik@xxxxxxxx>
June 2007
Sivan 5767
Professor Yulie Tamir
Minister of Education
URGENT!!
Dear Professor Tamir,
Re: Opposition to cancellation of the Native English Speakers Program
The English Speakers Program has run successfully for more than 30 years.
· It allows for the best and most successful English programs for all
students.
· It allows for smaller, more homogeneous classes of non-English speakers.
· It allows for different curricula and methodologies for non-English and
English speaking pupils (including the provision for English Speakers with a
native English-speaking teacher).
Cancelling this program is retrograde, short-sighted and damaging to all
students.
· No parent (English speaker or otherwise) is in favour of mixing English
and non-English speaking children in one class.
· The level of all pupils' English will suffer and deteriorate.
· Native English speakers may be disruptive in class thru boredom.
· Regular teachers are not prepared to teach them and rightly so.
The principles guiding "Talan" cannot be applied to the English Speakers
Program. The vast majority of parents, teachers, school principals and
municipalities are in favour of the current
arrangement.
There is no logical or budgetary justification to change this.
We call upon the Ministry to cancel any action that would prevent the
continuation of this essential program.
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