[etni] Log vs test

From: Ariella Kopels <mckopels@xxxxxxxxx>
To: ETNI List <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 08:04:22 -0700 (PDT)
Dear All,
 
I have just completed my second year working on the Log, and after much 
thought, plan to switch to the test with next year's tenth graders. All of the 
problems that I worried about connected to the Log are coming to light and I'm 
not happy about it. I teach the 5 point class, and have several students who 
have not completed part of their Log and 2 who have yet to hand in a thing. One 
of them has already gone to the assistant principal with "crocodile tears" 
about how the log is going to prevent him from receiving his Bagrut 
certificate; and of course, she told him that since the program is not yet 
"official" for his class - of course he can take the "F" exam next year. He 
came back to me with a triumphant grin and told me that he was going to take 
the exam & there was nothing I could do about it. Oh, he also plans to spread 
the word to his classmates that it is still an option.
 
The four point class is a disaster. Over half of the kids are failing because 
they haven't given in the work. My colleague is under a great deal of pressure 
from our administration to drop the Log and let the kids take "D". We haven't 
given any work that is out of the ordinary. Both of us have taught Literature 
successfully for years, and we see many positive points to doing the Log. We 
also have received great support from our madricha, Aviva & I know that Avi is 
willing to go to bat for me with the administration, but I feel like I am 
between a rock and a hard place.
 
I have already gotten many phone calls from parents who are furious that I 
expect their children to save their work for three years. I am under a pressure 
from the principle and the home room teachers to let kids make up last year's 
work and not to stick to my "overly-strict" schedule. (You know that handing in 
work on time is not fashionable, and it is much easier to do when you can copy 
from someone else who has already gotten a grade.) After all I have nothing 
else to do this summer but tutor these kids, who couldn't be bothered in class, 
to make sure they will get a "good" grade. 
 
So from next year I want to teach the set program & the kids will have to 
manage with the test. Do I think they will do as well as with the log? No, I 
don't. But I have enough difficulty with the powers that be and the parents 
over the yearly grades, I really don't have the strength to deal with this as 
well. 
 
I love Literature & will continue to teach it. I think it helps to expand the 
student's horizons and develops their prespective of the world beyond our 
little country; but as long as the Bagrut is a numbers game, and the school is 
more concerned with statistics, I am going to tow the party line and have the 
students sit for the Lit exam.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Ariella Kopels
[etni] Log vs test

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