You are invited to attend a three-part series for TH E "When we were young," he says, "we had a certain level of re- spect for our elders, for our teach- ers. Today, from Day 1 as a teacher, I have to earn that re- spect." Mr. Strausz says he is a better teacher. "I'm not as sexy as MTV, but I'm not Beavis and Butthead either." Bonnie Torgow has her own agenda when it comes to teach- ing children. "There are lots of people in teaching who don't like children. They like the pay and the vacations, but not the kids. But if you love the children, everything falls into place." Ms. Torgow taught school at Southfield's Northbrook and Stevenson elementaries for 25 years, walking to Stevenson for 16 years from her nearby home. She retired in 1993, but is now supervising Wayne State Uni- versity student teachers in the Oak Park Schools. Ms. Torgow believes that many improvements in the teaching profession have come through greater understanding of special- education needs. She says there is much more attention, and ac- ceptance, of children with special needs. Classroom management is a major challenge, she says, and she urges her student teachers to "put it back on the kids." She en- courages children to be responsi- ble for learning by letting them decide on class projects and even discipline. Like many of her fellow teach- ers, Ms. Torgow decries the prevalence and influence of tele- vision. "It turns children's minds into mush," she says, "and they lose the ability to imagine. It's not like a book, nor should children have to know about all these ter- rible things they see on TV." She believes the teacher's job is more difficult today because many children come to school ner- vous, or hungry. 'They need more love, and that's just as true for the well-to-do as it is for the poor. "It is a hard job when you are responsible for nurturing and teaching 25 children. But by June, I would be crying because I had to give them away to some- body else." ❑ families and friends of all ages on the issues of siblings of Jewish people with disabilities. My Brother's Keeper? Sunday, September 10, 1995 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (registration 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.) Wednesday, September 13, 1995 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, 1995 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Agency for Jewish Education 21550 West 12 Mile Rd., Southfield SESSION I: Sunday, September 10, 1995 "MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?" Keynote Address: Sally Linton Burton, Ed.D., Executive Director, Autism Society of Michigan; nationally renown workshop presenter; author and creator of KIDPOWER, an empowerment program for siblings of people with disabilities and their friends. Workshops • Communication with Siblings • Creating Circles of Support • Making Holidays Work for You • Families in the Public Eye • The Only Child Exciting programs for children & young adults • Babysitting and developmentally appropriate care • Teens and adults - YACHAD/NCSY • KIDPOWER for siblings and their friends SESSIONS 11 AND III: "GROWN . . . BUT NOT FORGOTTEN" When a child with disabilities becomes an adult with disabilities, how does the sibling's role change? What are the responsibilities that await? Both sessions will be facilitated by Margaret Weiner, M.S.VV., B.C.D., C.G.P., Associate Executive Director, Jewish Family Service; published author and national speaker; adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry, Wayne State School of Medicine Wednesday, September 13, 1995 Three adult siblings of people with disabilities talk about their growing-up years, present situations and future concerns. Liz Hartley, Past President, Autism So - defy of America, Oakland County Chapter Florine Mark, President, CEO, The WW Group, Inc.; co-chairperson, Detroit Institute for Children Howard Serlin, Attorney specializing in estate planning; board member, Kadima Wednesday, September 20, 1995 A group discussion for siblings, parents, extended family members and friends of people with disabilities. REGISTRATION Cost is $5 per person / $10 per family (for entire series). Pre-registration is required. Call Bayla Landsman, Special Education Consultant for the Agency for Jewish Education, at (810) 354-1050 for a registration form. Because of the broad range of issues that will be addressed, this three-part series is relevant for parents, siblings, family members and friends of all ages. Co-Sponsors: Agency for Jewish Education, Jewish Association for Residential Care (JARC), Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish Experiences for Families, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish Information and Referral Service, The Jewish News, Kadima, Keshet, Temple Beth El, Yachad of National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NOSY) Middle Schools Getting Better A study by a Michigan State Uni- versity College of Education re- searcher reveals that midlevel education is getting better. That applies to both middle schools and traditional junior high schools. Professor of edu- cation Jerry Valentine attrib- utes the improvement to integrated curriculum and in- terdisciplinary team-teaching methods. ❑ This program is made possible by a generous contribution from the Woman's Auxiliary of UHS. A Perfect Family Gift... A Subscription to The Jewish News. 810-354-6620