Hamas War

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

Dovrat, The Hundredth and Publications

Dovrat-I plan on being at the anti-Dovrat rally today. There should be teachers from all over at Binyanei Ha'uma, Jerusalem. Honestly and unfortunately, I don't think that the government cares what teachers think. I don't think they care about education. I personally know Limor Livnat's mother, and Limor is a disgrace to her family. A number of years ago there was an Israeli TV show, "medor l'dor," "From Generation to Genertion." Limor, her brother Noam and their mother Shulamit appeared together. Shulamit is a professional singer and works with Geula Cohen's educational programs and activities. Shulamit was asked how she felt about her son Noam becoming religious. Her answer was: "We raised the children to be strongly Jewish, and his being religious is consistent with that." I don't have the heart to ask her what she thinks of Limor's policies.

I'm still waiting for more repsonses about how to "celebrate" my One Hundredth Musing.

I need to know about all publications and internet lists that use my musings. Not to stop them, G-d forbid, just to be able to see how far and wide they're going. Also, I'm accepting commissions for an "aliya series" to celebrate our 35 years in Israel by G-d willing accompanying a Nefesh B'Nefesh flight from the states this summer. Please contact me shilohmuse@yahoo.com

Thanks and Chodesh Tov
mishenichnas Adar, marbim b'simcha
When the month of Adar begins, joy is increased

Monday, February 7, 2005

What’s Good for the Goose, The Teacher Does The Homework Assignment

Almost a Hundred—This is #99. If any of you have any favorites, please let me know, and I'll try to add some excerpts with the hundredth.

Musing #99
February 6, 2005
The 27th of Shvat

What’s Good for the Goose
Or
The Teacher Does The Homework Assignment


I’m a high school English teacher, and just last week I gave a composition assignment to my Tenth Grade students. They had to write a short composition and a list of ten rules (using the modals they had just learned). One of the topic choices was: “My Ideal School.” It was taken from their textbook, Full Volume, UPP, and considering the Dovrat Commission’s recommendations in the headlines I couldn’t resist doing this homework assignment along with my students.

My Ideal School

By Batya Medad

It’s very possible that somewhere a school like my ideal one exists. That’s because it wouldn’t be complicated to establish and run. It could be large or small; size is irrelevant. My ideal school is for all ages; it’s really an educational system, a curriculum.

Ten Rules for My Ideal School
1- Teachers may work part time.
2- Students can get credit for out-of-school learning.
3- Students should complete the core curriculum before graduation.
4- Parents must be in contact with the staff and be kept informed of their child’s progress or difficulties.
5- Students mustn’t be absent from lessons without valid reasons, and if they are absent, they are responsible for making up the work missed.
6- Students may want to continue studying in the school an extra year, and that will be permitted.
7- Transfer students would be required to learn whatever they missed, even if it means studying with younger students.
8- All students must master foundation skills of reading, writing, including composition, basic arithmetic, Israeli geography, ancient and modern history and Jewish studies before high school.
9- Students requiring alternative testing will be able to be tested according to their needs.
10- Professionals, who aren’t certified teachers, may teach special courses related to their fields.


School is supposed to prepare a child for life, and therefore, besides the conventional academics, it must teach work ethics, how to function within the rules and requirements of a formal framework, social relationships and responsibility. A school should give each student sufficient vocational skills, even if it’s to earn tuition needed for higher education. The goal of education is to prepare the students to be loyal and contributing citizens of Israel.

Courses should be combined and integrated. First because that way the students will learn to see a larger picture of the world and they must be encouraged to see the connections between the various subjects. For instance History, Geography and Citizenship should be taught as one subject; when I was a student in New York, we called it “Social Studies.” Another example would be Hebrew; Grammar, Literature, Composition and handwriting until at least the age of ten are all one subject. This way the students have to adjust to fewer teachers; there will be fewer tests, and less time wasted. Most important is that the students will see the relevance of what they’re being taught in class.

The minimal amount of weekly hours allocated for foreign languages, including English, should be four, preferably five or six. And the studies should start no earlier than the Fifth Grade, after serious language skills in Hebrew (or Arabic) are mastered, and that includes spelling, basic grammar and composition. I highly suggest that we utilize teaching methods from the countries that succeed in teaching foreign languages, like Holland, rather than the American methods, which are never successful; that’s why they’re always coming up with new ones.

Money can be saved by using “blackboards” and training children to copy from the board, which will also increase their learning. Classrooms must also be arranged so that the students can easily see the teacher an “erasable board.” No more sitting in “groups” which only cause attention/concentration problems.

Classes should be divided by the level of the students, so that the weaker ones will be in smaller groups and get the remedial work they need to succeed, and the students who learn most quickly should be able to get work on a higher level to stimulate and encourage them to utilize their potential. And the “average” students shouldn’t be distracted by their bored friends. One group is bored, because they can’t keep up, and the other is bored, because the work is too easy. Just like we all need different shape shoes, our children need different teaching methods and paces.

The required school day should be a maximum six hours in elementary school and eight hours in high school; fewer hours are fine if the curriculum fits. Schools should have resource centers open after hours for students to do homework, get extra help and enrichment. In order to stay alert so many hours, it must be possible to eat a nutritious lunch, and they should have breakfast before school starts, even if it’s a sandwich eaten on the way to school. Proper eating habits will facilitate better learning. But that’s a topic for another musing.

I could easily write more details and ideas on how to improve Israeli education and probably will in the future. For the sake of our children, grandchildren and country, I honestly hope that the Israeli Ministry of Education will consider my ideas instead of Dovrat.

Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

Sunday, February 6, 2005

Adir Zik, z"l, and Arutz 7


It was announced a short while ago that Adir Zik passed away. For many people, the closing of Arutz 7 meant no longer hearing Adir's Friday morning program, and without that program, the week just wasn't the same. It was hard to believe that he had been battling cancer for a number of years, since his voice in both the physical and spiritual was so strong.

Arutz 7 radio has been off the air for quite a while, and we haven't adjusted to the silence. And now to think that we will never be able to hear Adir Zik anymore. Our spokesman is gone from this world.

Baruch Dayan Ha'emet

Thursday, February 3, 2005

Translated

Horses, Carts, Eggs and Chickens was translated into German and can be linked here .

If anyone can compare it to the original, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks

quick thought

Priority should be healing not choosing sides. A referendum will further tear the nation apart.

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Dancing In The Aisles

Almost a Hundred. This is #98. If any of you have any favorites, please let me know, and I'll try to add some excerpts with the hundredth.

Musing #98
January 30, 2005
The 20th of Shvat

Dancing In The Aisles

Every once in a while I’m reminded of the description I once heard of life in Tel Aviv during the War for Israel’s Independence. With all the tension and violence all over the struggling battered country, people still gathered in the European style coffee shops for socializing and “cultured” conversation.

Today’s modern Israel has the same vivid contrasts living side-by-side, simultaneous, multi and conflicting dimensions. My husband and I spent Shabbat at a Tekuma Shabbaton at the Shalom Hotel. Tekuma, if I’m not mistaken, began as the ideological wing of the Mafdal, National Religious Party. It broke away and joined with Moledet in The National Union, Ha’Ichud HaLe’umi.

The theme of the Shabbat’s program was “Tikshoret,” the Media and the three main speakers were Tzvi Hendel, Member of Knesset for Ha’Ichud HaLe’umi, Chagai Segel, journalist, and Eran Sternberg, Spokesman for Gush Katif. The rest of us were ordinary people from all over the country.

It’s a nice hotel with an unbeatable view of Jerusalem. I remember when it was built; it cut into our view from what was then our Jerusalem apartment. An advantage of having a group Shabbat there is that there are lots of “public” rooms. Between the first course and the soup we had proof, when something began to leak from the ceiling, at first glance it reminded some of stories of the Titanic. But was neither seawater nor clean rainwater; a sewer pipe had burst in the ceiling above. And in a jiffy, the Arab waiters assisted us in “abandoning” our dining room and setting us up in another one. Not quite the “pinu’i” everyone is trying to prevent. And to think that it took place in the Peace Hotel.

Motzei (after) Shabbat I had plans to meet two of my daughters for a concert at the Bible Lands Museum, Latin Music. So after I saw my husband off on the bus, I walked to the museum. It was one of those gorgeous Jerusalem nights, a tease of spring in the middle of the winter. The air was clean, sweet and dry. Clear sky, diamonds twinkling and sparkling jewels could be seen in every direction.

Most people have no idea how small Jerusalem is. The government offices, Knesset and Museums are no more than a kilometer or two from the Central Bus Station. By walking past Binyanei Ha’uma and the hotel behind, it doesn’t take long at all. Actually I got there much more quickly than I needed.

It was so easy to forget the terrorism and tension of our precious country being torn apart. Just a few other people were strolling, and the roads were almost empty.

Before reaching the museum I passed the sleepy anti-disengagement demonstration site outside of the Knesset. The tents were lit, but there were very few people to be seen. There was none of the excitement, hustle and bustle of the first day. I really didn’t feel very connected to it. I wasn’t in the neighborhood for politics. I was off to have a good time with my daughters and enjoy the music.

And enjoy we did. All sorts of Jerusalemites and visitors, religious and not so, speaking a variety of languages came to the Bible Lands Museum for an evening of Latin American music. Before the concert began we sat at small tables, outside of the auditorium and ate from the selections of cheese, crackers, salad and wine, all included in the price of the ticket.
The auditorium was full, and soon we were tapping to the rhythm of the music. I could hardly keep still, and some people got up to dance in the aisles.

One, two, cha cha cha! If only we could just dance our troubles away.

Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

Monday, January 31, 2005

read this, please

I don't have time to do the fancy link. I must go to work. But for those who have told me that I don't have the right to say that the big demonstration's bad, when rabbis are in favor of it. Here's a news article from arutz 7. If anyone can help me connect with that group, please do so.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=76163

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Almost a Hundred

I'm writing #98 now. It will be out, G-d willing, in a day or two. That's close to a hundred. If any of you have any favorites, please let me know via the "comments," and I'll try to put some excerpts up on the blog.

In The News

On Friday, when I wrote that I wouldn't be attending the massive demonstration the following Sunday, I had no idea that it would make me a news item.

It's not a simple situation.



Comments on "Why I Won't..."

First of all, the comments have surprised me in the agreement and support for my opinion that the theme of the demonstration, demanding a referendum, is a serious mistake. Some of the people are going anyway. I asked and received permission to publish a couple of the comments from readers, and they follow:


Sir:

Although I feel certain that a referendum would certainly win against throwing Jews out of their homes, I feel that even bringing it up to a vote is immoral. The plan was brought up for a vote when Amram Mitzna presented it in the last elections and it was voted down by a landslide vote for Ariel Sharon. Who would have believed that he would hijack our votes like that?

Jews don't throw Jews out of their homes and communities especially when it can only endanger Israel's security, can cause a major desecration of God's name and can only encourage our enemies. How would Ariel Sharon react if the same decision were made today in a European country?

So, I will be attending Sunday's demonstration not because I want a referendum but because I want to express my revulsion of the plan to force incredibly wonderful Jews to lose their homes, their livelihoods, their past and their future. And for what? Does any sane person really believe that the IDF will be able to leave Aza if the terrorists see how effective they are? Is the Oslo nightmare repeating itself? Is our memory that short? Don't we read reality and not the brainwashing of our extreme leftist false-messianic reporters? How did we get Shimon Peres again?

Leah S. Wolf
Metar

leahswolf@hotmail.com

and...

Batya, what I don't understand is why Moetzet Yesha is not working hand in hand with Gush Katif for this demonstration, because I am sure that most people there also think that the signs shoud say what you said: Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jews, period and no referendum is going to change that. If there will be enough people at the demonstration who say that statement loud and clear, then the demonstration is worth doing and the tent sitting is worth it too. But otherwise, I agree that this attitude of the Moetza is shooting ourselves in the foot. Thank you for sharing and Shabbat Shalom

So, if you have anything to add, don't be shy.
Shavua Tov

Friday, January 28, 2005

Why I Won't Be At Sunday's Demonstration

Musings #97
January 28, 2005
The 18th of Shvat

Why I Won’t Be At Sunday’s Demonstration

I admit that I, who once never missed a demonstration, thrived on the excitement of demonstrations and even met my husband at a demonstration, have rarely been attending them for the past few years. But that’s not why I’m not going to be at this coming Sunday’s “massive” demonstration organized by Moetzet YESHA.

There’s a very simple reason why I’m not planning on going. I’m one hundred percent, 100%, opposed to its objective, slogan. Yes, simple as that, and yes, I totally disagree with the tactics and now political aims of Moetzet YESHA.

I suddenly paid attention to what the demonstration is demanding. It’s demanding, “Let the People Decide,” meaning a referendum. Don’t they realize that by demanding a referendum they are agreeing to abide by its decision? It means that they are giving “democracy” a higher status than Judaism, The Torah, G-d. It means that they are recognizing the government’s rights to do what it wants in the name of “democracy.” By having a referendum they are letting people choose whether or not to continue with the entire mitzvah of “yishuv ha’aretz,” the Zionist ideal.

Continuing with this philosophical change in the foundations of our country, last night the news focused on a court case by Arab Israelis who are demanding the right to purchase homes from the JNF, Jewish National Fund. Remember the “blue boxes,” fundraising for the purchase of land in the Holy Land for Jews? Well, did anyone ever tell you that it’s not “democratic?” The land bought from Arabs for Jews is now going to be sold back to Arabs. That’s what they were talking about on the news last night. We are a democratic country, and all citizens should have the same civil rights.

Yes, all citizens will vote in the referendum. Yes, Arabs will be able to vote in the referendum about whether or not Jews should be expelled from their homes. Yes, Arabs will be able to vote on whether or not to destroy Jewish communities. Yes, Arabs will have the right to decide if Jews can live in Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel.

Yes, I don’t trust Moetzet YESHA. Time after time, I’ve been horrified by their decisions and plans. I prefer thinking that they’re just stupid. For most of my life, I’ve been aware of the fact that my mind just works differently from others. Sometimes I’m right, and sometimes I’m wrong. On this issue, I’ve been amazed at the amount of people who agree. Actually, ever since I began writing my “musings,” I’ve had so many letters and comments from people telling me that I said just what they had been thinking. Previously, I had always thought that I was the only one.

Now, just before the demonstration, many people have told me that they don’t know what to do. They agree with me, but they’re afraid not to attend the demonstration. I am so against the referendum (which I wrote about in many of my previous musings) that there’s no way I’ll be there. That’s why I’m writing this. All I can suggest is that all of you who agree with me, whether you attend or not, please write to the newspapers, call the “talk shows” saying that you’re against the referendum. And if someone asks to interview you at the demonstration, say the same thing.

The only demonstration I would attend would have as its theme: “Eretz Yisrael for Am Yisrael,” “The Land of Israel for The Jewish People.” I am ruled by the Torah, not by democracy. This is what Moetzet YESHA should be proclaiming.

Shabbat Shalom,

Batya Medad, Shiloh


Copyright©BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.