[etni] Re: Sharon Tsur's posting... some more "Interesting point(s)"
- From: "Adele Raemer and Laurie Levy" <raemer@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'ETNI'" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 10:59:26 +0200
> From: "remanuel" remanuel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> By the way, core material is material dictated by the ministry for the
> exam - these are the "oldies"/depressing pieces
> of literature. You can choose your own pieces for the log.
Some more interesting facts that nobody who is so strenuously objecting to
what they are not sufficiently informed about, seems to know:
1. The pieces for the exam core were originally chosen after doing a
survey of what pieces teachers use the most in their classrooms. The
rationale behind that was that they (the steering committee) did not want
us all to be dealing with too much "new" all at once- so the idea was: let
the teachers learn the new pedagogy behind the methodologies for infusing
HOTS into English teaching in general, and literature more specifically, and
THEN to start introducing other, less familiar literature.
2. Another reason behind this choice was so as to NOT necessitate
massive purchasing of new anthologies- rather to use pieces from the
anthologies most used in our classrooms.
3. I just had teachers in my current online course, fill in a survey,
and - in addition to many lovely, unfamiliar, potentially very exciting
suggestions - the pieces that got the MOST votes for which pieces of
literature THEY most want to include. were the oldies! (Summer's Reading,
Eveline, Richard Cory, etc.) These are teachers from different schools in
Tel Aviv and surrounding areas.
4. Again- as was mentioned here - for the log you have PRACTCALLY free
choice. There ARE guidelines (length, authenticity, appropriacy of content)
but ANY piece of literature that YOU feel passionate about as being worthy
of including in your program, can appeal to receive special permission from
your inspector.
The thing that upsets me with all of these postings objecting to this
program, is that people seem to be accusing the powers that be of being
controlling, manipulating, mean-minded tyrants when the truth behind the
scenes is that the people on the steering committee (of which _I_ am NOT a
member, so I can write this freely and honestly) are dedicated inspectors,
counselors and teachers in the field who have invested - and are investing -
an unbelievable amount of time and effort, drafting among the best of the
minds and creative energies in the EFL teaching community in Israel in order
to advance our students and our professional teaching skills. They
brainstorm, draft, think and rethink, send out to others to review, ask for
(and get) feedback from teachers in the field using the materials, and
change/adapt again and again in an attempt to improve and perfect. ANY and
ALL teachers, at EVERY OPPORTUNITY have been and are called upon to send in
recommendations for pieces of literature. I wonder if the other
inspectorates can be accredited with such hard work and dedication.
Rather than appreciating all this hard work and dedication, all _I_ see
going on here is a lot of complaints and criticisms. Shame on us. We on this
list are dedicated English teachers/ educators. We know the importance of
praise for good, hard, serious work. This does not only apply to our
students...We should know better.
Adele
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