[etni] Re: fw: Literature program
- From: maxinetz <maxinetz@xxxxxxx>
- To: ask@xxxxxxxx, 'ETNI' <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:21 +0200
Hi Eleanor. I'd like to address a few points you raised in your
letter:
1) Your concerns seem to be more about the Log than about the Exam.
That's why both options exist. If you fear the extra work/ fear being
terrorized by parents/resent the idea of the Ministry of Education saving
money off our backs/etc., then choose the Exam option.
2) Regarding the Exam option, you "find the program restrictive regarding
the literature assigned". If you meant the literary pieces themselves, then
tell me how it's possible to create a national standardized exam without
having some limitations to the choice. If you're talking about the HOTs,
on what basis do you assume that the HOTS will kill the literature? That
is not the crux of the feedback that I've gotten from those who have
participated in the course. Is what you're saying based on evidence or
assumptions?
3) We all know that "money makes the world go round" and of course the
publishers are observing all these new changes eagerly, shall we say. You
can't blame them for trying to capitalize on all the innovations. But
first of all, one session in the program now taking place is designed to
help teachers adapt their EXISTING textbooks to the HOTS. Second of all,
there is nothing to prevent you from taking your favorite stories off the
Internet, as far as I know. Teachers often use the textbook as a crutch,
out of habit, insecurity or convenience. Teachers who take the course
will, theoretically, be trained well enough in integrating the HOTs w/ their
literature teaching, that they will not need any new textbook to do it for
them.
Constructive criticism is invaluable, and there has been some smart,
to-the-point criticism of the HOTS program here on ETNI, but what I find
myself disturbed by is what I see too often as kvetchy knee-jerk negativism.
That's MY two cents. Happy Election Day.
Regards,
Maxine Tsvaigrach
-----Original Message-----
From: etni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:etni-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Ask_Etni
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 9:41 PM
To: ETNI
Subject: [etni] fw: Literature program
From: ELEANOR ZWEBNER - eleanorz541@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Literature program
I wish to add my 2 cents to the discussion on the Literature module
As I am on sabbatical and there was a conflict with other programs I had
chosen earlier, after 3 sessions of our Jerusalem "hishtalmut", I decided to
postpone the hishtalmut for this year. Again, I am on sabbatical and did
not feel it imperative to get involved already. However, there are several
issues which I personally feel are NOT being addressed.
1) The 4 point pupils, especially Mabar pupils who are categorized as
having special learning needs:
They have in L1 -- their mother-tongue -- additional hours of LANGUAGE
(their own) and additional hours of literature -- approximately 6 hours
weekly of the two (in the USA, we called it Language Arts..). We are
teaching a foreign language and are expected to deal with higher order
thinking skills in 4 hours a week. In L1, they are learning BASIC thinking
and study skills.
2) As noted, those of us who have been teaching literature find this
program restrictive regarding the lterature assigned; the multiple HOTS
requirements for each and every piece studied is going to KILL litertaure
for many pupils who have enjoyed a good story and have managed to learn
some words along the way.
3) The additional labor should not be sneered at -- both the project and
this new program are very labor intensive -- and the labor is ours: the
teachers. I believe each school (actually I think each teacher!) should
have the option of choosing one or the other but not both, i.e. either the
project or the Literature module. Even if the Irgun gets the ministry to
pay more, it is unlikely that it will really compensate for the time
invested and it will simply mean we can not complain.
An example is the money we are paid for going on class trips with pupils.
Years ago, we were not paid; now we get a few shekelim (I think 50 for the
night - but I don't remember exactly how little) It does NOT compensate for
the babysitting, lack of sleep and denigration of our role as teachers when
at 2 am we are trying to get lively 15 year olds to sleep and praying they
don't have vodka in their water bottles. And we go to work the next day;
the pupils get (or take) the day off.
AND, the Ministry --no matter how much they pay -- will be SAVING money at
OUR expense. The grade will be internal. That means that 1/3 of the written
exams will not have 2 external markers as well as all the proctors during
the test itself, and no one will do a retest or moed bet! We certainly
will not be paid according to the pay scale for Bagrut examiners.
And last, the grade will now be determined by the teacher herself
sorry, --it is usually a female..). Besides being unethical and destroying
the notion of a standardized nationwide test, I find this totally
unacceptable. Two years ago, I was threatened in the teachers' room by 2
parents who were dissatisfied with their son's "Tziyun Shnati -- internal
final grade -- on the F module. They vowed they would get me, that I
hadn't heard the end of it and they would hound me... IN THE TEACHERS'
ROOM with 10 others present . Now this was for 50% of 33% of 80%. What
will happen when it is 100% of the 33%?
How many of us are familiar with stories of schools where even principals
have been known to boost grades? Now, the pressure will be even greater for
such conduct.
I believe the ones who will truly benefit fromt his program are the
publishers. Those of us who taught literature because we enjoyed it, passed
this along to our pupils; those who taught literature because they it was
required and they followed the rules, got the job done; those who didn't
teach literature for whatever reasons, lost out and it is doubtful that
forcing them to teach it this way is going to make them better teachers or
their pupils more proficient in English .
Eleanor
-----------------------------------------------
** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org
or - http://www.etni.org.il **
** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx **
** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org
or - http://www.etni.org.il **
** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx **
** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **
-----------------------------------------------
Other related posts: