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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Listen to the teachers By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Teachers One cannot depend on transient politicians such as the prime minister and the education minister to take advantage of the momentum created by the long teachers strike and make a giant step toward changing the school system. This is not because of a lack of desire to make the longed-for change; the reason is that they have no time to make it. The salary hike, the additional classroom hours and smaller numbers of students per class is important, but salvation will not come from those quarters. The conclusion is that the teachers must take the fate of education into their own hands. The fashion of parental involvement in education has been, apparently, a resounding failure. Perhaps the time has come to bring about greater involvement from the teachers. Advertisement The teachers strike was not a failure. The claim that it could have achieved the same thing after a month is based on a very limited perception of its goals. In addition to the growing sense of injustice that every teacher feels because of his or her low pay and terrible working conditions, the sense of collective responsibility became stronger at the grassroots. The students' parents also seemed to see the strike this time from a different perspective and did not lose their patience. This is the first time local pressure groups of teachers were created that joined forces to influence the teachers union. The voice of teachers with an educational worldview was heard, teachers who know the system better than those who manage it, whether they be union heads, researchers in the field of education who offer their plans to the system, officials in the education system or transient education ministers. As long as a year ago, the teachers asked to be more involved in educational reform so that experiments would not once again be made on their backs. It may be that a proper teachers leadership should present clear-cut and up-to-date educational proposals, and not make do with professional representation that focuses on their work conditions. The Education Ministry's senior management must find a way for the teachers' voices to be heard and to use their experience to generate change. This new spirit should also be felt in the organizations representing the teachers as well as among the ministry's leadership - two bodies headed by people who may know how to fight, but for whom it has been a long time since they have stood in front of a class. The concept "reform" has come to resemble the concept "peace process." The intentions are good, thoughts are positive, the need is clear, but no results appear on the horizon. The end of the teachers strike must be the first stage on the road to entirely different thinking. Instead of checking the satisfaction of the parents, which turns students into consumers overly demanding of their rights, there is a need to listen to the teachers. This should be done on the assumption that if people have chosen such a career, which has no remuneration, no respect and no joy, they must have a true desire to educate and an optimism that allows them to believe they can make a difference in childrens' future. Bookmark to del.icio.us Divisible capital No commandment says J'lem must be under Jewish rule. No permission granted Should U.S. Jews have a say in shaping Israel's policies?   1.   Pay them as much as a journalist 19:00  |  Dr. Robert Frosch 15/12/07

Today Online Israel, U.S. to discuss their differering assessments on Iran Responses: 276 Ruth Meisels: No commandment says Jews must rule J'lem Responses: 351 Qassam hits Negev factory; gov't declares 'special situation' Responses: 198 Yoel Marcus: There are no Israeli politicians to rely on Responses: 79 Rosner: Should U.S. Jews have voice in shaping Israel policy? Responses: 61 More Headlines 21:23 At least 300,000 Gazans rally to mark Hamas' 20th anniversary 01:30 Meretz Chairman Beilin said set to quit party leadership race 22:53 Livni to try to prevent Quartet condemnation of East Jerusalem construction 20:17 Dichter slams U.S. 'misconception' of Iranian nuclear threat 01:42 Was Hollywood?s Famed Censor an Antisemite? 19:13 Azerbaijan: 15 convicted of treason gave Iran information on Israel 19:07 Seven people lightly injured in riot at Galilee soccer match 16:32 Report: Germany expelled Iran diplomat who sought nuke parts 06:41 Al-Qaida's No. 2: Annapolis summit was betrayal of Palestinians 13:04 U.S. envoy urges Lebanon to quickly name new president Previous Editions Select Day 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec

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