[etni] Fwd: re: the HOTS debate
- From: ETNI list <etni.list@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Etni <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:00:25 +0300
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Avi Tsur <tsuravi@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: the HOTS debate
Shalom Ruthi
Needless to say, I fully agree with Adele as I am sure you and your
friends can understand. I take my hat off to ETAI in general and Orly
Sela in particular for the manner in which the session was held
enabling all present to hear both sides and learn from each other.
Any literature major and for those who have been teaching literature
all along, there are different possibilities of gaining an insight
into the program. You may feel that you know the subject well enough
and with the guiding material that the Ministry has/is supplying plus
the webcasts, publisher's books, etc. - there is no need for the
in-service. We recommend the course which is set in such a way as to
be suitable for most-everyone who needs it.
Your final point about a Ministry representative at the session. I am
a member of the Literature Steering Committe and as you know a
representative of the Ministry. I was at the meeting, listened
attentively and will report back to the Committee when we meet again.
There were a number of inspectors present at the session. I do not
think that the purpose of the session was to have me or us answer each
individual.
Take care and all the best,
Shavua Tov
Avi
Ruthi wrote:
> Dear Adele
>
> Felt I had to respond to a couple of your statements.
> I would like to say that I waited for the HOTS debate because as we
> all know it is one of the key issues now being discussed on Etni and
> in the world of English teaching in Israel generally.
> You say "The thing is, this whole issue has blown so out of
> proportion, and it pains
> me to see this happening. The bottom line is that we are ALL teachers, we
> all want what is the best for our students, "
> The reason why this issue is so hot is precisely because we care
> about our students and want what is best for them.And that is NOT
> HOTs.We do not want a program which is pedagogically unsound, which
> will cause our weak pupils to fail,inspire in them an aversion to
> Literature and cause experienced teachers to hate what they currently
> adore teaching.
> You then say "However, it
> is just as natural for people to be wary, apprehensive and cautious of
> innovation and new challenges "
> I think that Eleanor, Tessa and Eleanor S all clearly stated that none
> of the opponents of HOTs is against a challenge.
> In fact at my school the English teachers are all in the forefront
> when it comes to innovative approaches. The HOTS program is not new as
> Tessa stated, and even if it were, being new in itself would not be a
> recommendation .I think she outlined quite clearly and coherently why
> we object to the program, the pedagogical objections to it and none of
> these was just because it is NEW or a Challenge!
> Maybe you weren't paying enough attention to all the points she so
> clearly stated.
> You say "No one really LIKES to leave their personal comfort zone"
> Who is this addressed to ? this is a slur and I don't know what it means....
> 'Those who objected to it (again... from the impression I got) are
> doing so without having had the opportunity to actually learn and experience
> it"
> This point really annoys me.. Tessa made it quite clear that her
> points were based on feedback received from a large number of teachers
> who HAD participated in the course but were unable to attend ETAI and
> certainly more than one speaker present had taken it. I think that
> many of us who are Literature majors (and in the case of Eleanor and
> myself Literature MA's) feel extremely annoyed that we are being
> required to take a 56 hour course in something we have a masters in
> and have been doing in class for the last 30 years,albeit without all
> the fancy jargon.Eleanor indeed has been presenting at Etai on the
> subject of Literature and poetry in particular for at least 20 years.
> If people feel unable to teach literature let them take the course
> voluntarily. As was pointed out, the Ministry needs to check on who is
> doing the job and not just impose this across the board as a "One size
> fits all "solution.
> Finally I think many of us were shocked and amazed that no Ministry
> rep was there to hear and address our grievances.
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