[etni] Fw: literature and textbooks

From: "Ask Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
To: "Etni" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 11:40:26 +0200
----- Original Message ----- 
From: laurie ornstein - laurenmadeline@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: literature and textbooks

Hi All,

I'd like to relate to a few points raised here.

First, many teachers choose to teach the "traditional" or maybe "worn out" 
pieces of literature in the textbooks for 2 reasons:
1. If the school has a book program, it must keep reusing the books; they 
can't be changed frequently - only every few years (don't remember the 
number!) We have such a program and when we do make changes, due to lack of 
budget, the lit. books do not get priority and we change only a textbook 
here and there. I believe, that the Ministry regulations also forbid 
changing textbooks every year. We can't just go out and buy novels, books 
we'd like for our pupils.

2. Many teachers feel insecure, don't know how to prepare their own 
materials or just don't want to spend the time required to do so. The books 
do it for you!

That said, I do bring modern and more interesting pieces to my class and 
encourage my teachers in the schools where I work to do the same.  Just 
yesterday, a teacher in El Hoashallah school taught a very relevant poem, 
"Incident" by Countee Cullen, an American poet from the Harlem Renaissance. 
We often photocopy behind the backs of the administration at times to do 
this.

Bottom line, the publishers are making a pretty penny out of this (much more 
than us!)  and I'm sure we'll very soon be seeing the publication of the 
newer than new editions of some of the lit. books, all packed and packaged 
with HOTS.

Laurie


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[etni] Fw: literature and textbooks

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