[etni] digest thoughts cont'd.

From: laurie@xxxxxxxx
To: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2007 23:21:01 -0700
Hi All,

   I've been mulling over quite a number of recent digest messages and will 
write a little of my own thoughts here, sparked also by a few off-line 
conversations.

   An old friend dropped in the other day and told me that her 10 year old 
daughter is enrolled in a private  after-school "English school". (center of 
the country) She added that there was no other choice. She went on to tell me 
about the non-learning  EFL situation in the local elementary school; I'll 
spare you  most of the gory details. But her daughter did have quiz on the 
instructions she'd need to take the Meitzav test. That came out of the blue, 
disconnected from all her lessons till then. So, it seems, the private teaching 
sector is doing well. Am I surprised? No!

   I had another conversation with a friend who's studying for her BA and 
teaching certification at a college. She's already had a taste of teaching. 
While she finds many of her college classes interesting, she's far from sure 
that she'll actually teach once she completes her degree; the large, unruly and 
often violent classroom and school situations, and low salary, are far from 
motivating. She's not alone. So many  talented students get their B Ed and go 
elsewhere today. And that may explain, in part, the situation in my previous 
paragraph. Sad.

   After more than 30 years in the system, I'm totally disillusioned and also 
burnt out. I'm also tired of fighting the system. There was a message this week 
from a teacher (sorry for not remembering her name) who commented on the 
lengthy process of acquiring her license. Another ETNIer suggested she look 
beyond teaching. Looking back at myself I keep thinking why I didn't get out 
earlier and find fulfillment elsewhere. I've been up against a concrete wall at 
the Ministry with my degree and "paperwork" since I began teaching; yet, I 
pursued a teaching career and my track record, I believe, speaks for itself. My 
salary is pathetic. If pension weren't an issue, (and that'll be a pittance!) 
I'd be out...yesterday!

   And now the Ministry is looking for "new" ways to bring in needed EFL 
teachers. I ask myself, why would anyone want to get into the system? I look 
around me at so many colleagues who've gotten out and are much happier and also 
financially better off. Something is wrong here! Perhaps I've said nothing new. 
But it's what I feel today. 

   I am thankful though, that I have a life outside school and I'm walking down 
new roads today. Music keeps me going. A line from a song I wrote, "A song is a 
woman's best friend."

Yours,
Laurie

   
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[etni] digest thoughts cont'd.

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