[etni] Fwd: Re: ETAI summer conference...who wasn't there.....
- From: ETNI list <etni.list@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Etni <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:01:32 +0300
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From: laurie ornstein <laurenmadeline@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: ETAI summer conference...who wasn't there.....
Hi Everyone,
This is in response to both Randi's and Adele's comments. (see below)
First, Randi, when I was a young mother, there was NO WAY I could go
to ETAI conferences, especially those which were a distance from home.
My kids were home and the cost of babysitters, traveling and of the
conference itself was prohibitive. I imagine the situation is not very
different for young parents today either.
Second, let me address Adele's point about the "glaring lack of
teachers" from the different Arab sectors.
I don't know the statistics, but I wonder how many are ETAI members.
(and also, how many follow ETNI on a regular basis?) ETAI might
consider to conduct an outreach program to those sectors not
well-represented.
Let me explain why many Bedouin school teachers do not attend,
assuming they know about the conference. Tradition does not allow
young women to travel alone to the conferences or be away from home
unchaperoned. Unless round-trip transportation is arranged for them,
each day, they cannot attend. Add to this the same reasons I mentioned
above.
This is where I want to commend, once again, Kaye Teachers College in
Beersheva; the faculty understands the special needs and sensitivities
of their student body and arranges transportation. An excellent
example was their full participation at the ETAI mini-conference at
ORT El Hoashallah School this spring. The entire English Dept., and
all those taking part in in-service courses at the college, attended!
Another point I'd like to make, that is not relevant to the summer
dates, is that the winter conference date did not coincide with the
Arab Sectors' school calendar. It was during Chanukah and the Arab
schools were in session. Most principals were unwilling to release
their English staff from teaching duties that day.
I understand that this date was chosen as Ben Gurion University was
able to accommodate ETAI on that date, due to Chanukah vacation, but
it jilted many participants. This was one of the reasons for my
organizing the mini-conference. I hope that a solution to this
situation can be found and that everyone will have the opportunity to
attend the Beersheva ETAI conference this coming school year.
Hoping this clarifies, in part, questions raised.
Laurie
Randi wrote:
> "One thing made me somewhat sad. .......I had the impression at the
> conference that, in general, the next
> generation of teachers was not well represented. ......."
[Adele P. Raemer] ... I also felt a glaring lack of teachers from the Arab and
> Bedouin sector -of which I saw VERY few!!! I wonder if we can find out why
> this is and if there is anything that can be done to rectify THAT in the
> future....
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