In an occasional series, Erica Lansky reports from her Otzma trip back home to Detroit.

ERICA LANSKY

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

moshav, educates stu-
to
n.g
ne
the
chance
surrounding
dents from surround
magi -
go back to high school.
This time, you don't towns, moshavim a
have to study, swim in kibbutzim.
As one of Israel's
gym class, or come up
unique Youth Aliyah vil-
with a note from the Olin-
lages, Nahalal also pro-
hous-
ic to explain tardiness.
ducation to
This time, you are on the vides and education
other side of the fence ing agers with pro blem-
with an opportunity to tOen
or with
atic backgrounds
bacg
disabilities.
discover if the grass
truly is greener over learning
These special students
somewhat
a
there.
I remember back in lend
excitable quality to the
otherwise laid-back,
high school all the times
I used to say, "If I were
rural Israeli school.
as
the teacher, I would let
my students leave class The first morning,
when they couldn't con- the bell rang to the tune
of "Oh Say Can You See,"
centrate
on
the
lesson."
Or what about the zil- . I along with the seven
laced
lion times I said, "If I other Cotzma-niks p
were the teacher, I would at Nahalal met with an
understand if my stu- anxious circle of English
dents didn't do their teachers. As they rattled d
on about how thrilleur
Erica Lansky at Nahalal.
to have o
homework." Most of all, I
have
another this would never h
insisted, "I would always they
were
assistance, I became lost
ened at my school.
have
time for
my stu-
assis
dents...I'd.
be their
in my
excitement of actu- Michelle,
The students were run-
friend, even outside of ally being in the coveted teacher, about some sev- Kapp
enth-graders.
teacher's lounge. I drift-
After 17 years of being ed in and out of the con- "I can't believe you ning all around the room.
class."
educated, I have been versation to learn that gave me those six crazies The desks were scattered
upside down in some
called back to school. we would be helping six after I gave you
said. two about, even turned
she
different grade levels,
an Shocked
cuties," and disappoint- cases.
The lights didn't work,
abilitY
No, I don't have to
repeat
nor was
infinite
of
my A algebra,
in advanced
levels
and number
two distinct
ed, I er
asked
Detroit
Tami,
Otzmanik,
anoth- "Is but then again, neither
row a
to throw
Students have been this a school or a base- did the students.
Karen
English a computer grad- student types.
few
punches,
and
it
took
Project
Otzma
partici-
ready
ing
error.
Rather,
as a unofficially categorized ball card trading conven- seemed
the three of us to get the
"Actually,
it's without
a zoo," 15 ninth-graders into
t I accepted the chal- by English department tion?"
replied
staffers as either slow
pa ,
ren
the ir seats. I couldn't
Ka
lenge of teaching English
learners, usually boa rd-
hesitation, then added,
believe it.
to Israelis at a board-
ing school students, or
Dan and I finally intro-
"smart
kids,"
typically
"Are
you
ready
to
meet
in.g/day school called
community students the animals?"
As I walked into my dated ourselves; then
Nahalal.
I had not yet taken my
preparing
for the 12th first English class with Karen handed out a
grade matriculation
Karen and my teaching worksheet titled, "How
initial step toward the
an Many Hamburgers Can
Bagrut.
head of the class, when I
exam called the
Dan, from Gadi Cohen Eat?" I guess
During our coffee partner,
realized that I had quite
the students didn't care
break, I snapped back to Otzmanik
a lot of learning to do
D .C., the
about Nahalal. The corn-
reality
when
overheard first
W thought that ran much
Karen,
an I English
about
Gadi's
appetite,
for the
work-
bin.ed junior high and
Karen,
teacher, complain to through my head was:
high school, located in
the north on Israel's first

I

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T HE DETROIT JEWISH N EWS

►

Our Project Otzma correspondent gets a chance to teach
English to Israeli high school students.

kre ,11%,

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18

-L.