[etni] Thank You and So Long for now.
- From: "David R. Herz" <mr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:44 +0300
I must say that I was flattered to see my name mentioned by the inimitable
Ms. Revivo. I had been thinking about commenting on the new Bagrut thread,
but have also been considering leaving this list altogether. So I will say
what I need to be complete, and see where the future takes me.
First, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Lloyd for making this all possible.
What looks seamless and simple to us is the result of many hours of
dedication representing an impressive commitment to the advancement of this
profession and the lives of the Israeli English student. Thank You
I'd also like to thank this community. For all I may disagree, and may have
pie in the sky notions of teaching and what our system should look like, my
experience is one of respectful interactions and a willingness to engage in
our common goal of furthering this profession and our student's experience.
(I can't say I always found the same with the various representatives of the
MOE.)
However, I will also report that I have had numerous off-list communications
from those who did not feel free to express what they wanted to. Perhaps
they had more at stake or more to lose. In my case, I could afford to be
out of a job. I hate to think how rotten it must be to feel the need to
censor oneself, especially given the commitments these people share.
It is perhaps because of my unreasonable notions that I am not currently
looking for another teaching assignment. I really do love being in a
classroom, but have never felt particularly effective there. So I will go
on trying to change the system (I have of course put in a request to meet
with our new Minister of Education), but it will be from the outside. I am
really not interested in spending the next twenty years learning and arguing
about the next program (NOTS, Computer Assisted Studenting, Backwards
Design, Upside Down Teaching, what have you).
And, of course, I will make my main point one more time. The greatest
teaching will occur when we give our teachers the freedom to take control of
their own classrooms and follow their own muses in creating what works for
them. I love dark poetry, science, math, seeing patterns, sociology,
activism and politics. Others have their singing, theater, NLP, or think
that the game of baseball provides a great metaphor for all of life.
This is not to say that great teaching can't occur in the HOTS environment
(or whatever is tomorrow's fashion), but the cost of imposing a one-size
fits some curriculum on everyone is just too high. Who really likes to be
told what to do, especially by bureaucrats, politicians and parents who
don't have a clue?
How much time is spent on this list asking questions about the new program,
the mifkad (or whatever it's called), the charges on the credit card or what
hours count as to which or what union? I find it utterly depressing that
these things consume so much of this list's space, and must consume so much
of our precious teacher's lives, and I acknowledge you all for sticking with
it despite all of that.
With any luck, we'll move things in the right direction. If it moves far
enough, I might be back in a classroom, but I don't see it at the moment.
In the meantime, I see other ways to help people imagine and realize bigger
and brighter futures. I'm going there.
I wish you all the greatest of success and acknowledge you for the
difference you make. If any of you want to reach me (I expect to be doing
some combination of lawyering, coaching/consulting, and fund-raising),
please feel free to drop a line.
David Raphael Herz
mr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
skype: drherz
1-203-517-0518
972-4-641-8708
972-52-579-1859
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