I Wo - 1 d Israel's Schools from page 35 really help them excel," said Hagit Gal, a science teacher at the Gderot School. Additional personal attention to stu- dents and a new range of subject mat- ter, which the school is enjoying thanks to the pilot reform program, have helped engage students, she said. Education Minister Limor Livnat began implementing the program in the autumn at dozens of schools, mostly in poorer parts of the country. The schools are to follow the recommendations of the Dovrat committee, which was charged with addressing the decline in Israeli schools, specifically low achievement in math, science and literacy on internation- al tests. At the Gderot School — where students come from a relatively high socio-eco- nomic background compared to other schools participating in the pilot program — the reforms have been welcomed by most. /./ FINE FURNITURE • ACCESSORIES • GIFTS s—f 4.) • LO cgalU108 6644 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD JUST S. OF MAPLE WEST BLOOMFIELD • 248 855.1600 MON & THUR 10-9 • TUE-WED-FRI-SAT 10-6 • SUN 11-4 www.sherwoodstudiosinc.com u, eman he works in Southfield. He's a veterinarian in Dearborn. So when Dr. Claude and Linda Curry found a lovely 2 story, 4 bedroom colonial on a 1-acre lot halfway between the two cities, they bought it and moved in. S It wasn't long before they called Gittleman. "Twelve years ago we added a great room, a bedroom and a master bath," recalled Linda. Then, two children were still at home. Now, the family dog Murphy, three cats and frequently visiting grandChildren enjoy the original improvements as well as those just done—a whole new kitchen and powder room—by Gittleman, of course. "The first job was such a great experience," said Linda, "it went like clockwork." When it came time to renovate again, the Curry's hoped history would repeat itself and it did. "Scott came up with a great design," said Linda, now delighted to be cooking in her new, gorgeous granite kitchen with maple cabinets. a center island and a new powder room nearby. 'We are very pleased," she said. So, next time you find the perfect compromise location and a neighborhood you love, count on Gittleman, again and again, to help your home evolve to what it needs to be. JUST ASK THE CURRY'S. Gn GITTLEMAN N.. CONSTRUCTION inc 28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 248.538.5400 www.gittleman.net 11111114.11111.111IMIT IiI=IIIM 36 January 5 2006 Winds Of Change "As a principal I always have visions and dreams for N,vhat I want to do, and some of those dreams I have been able to realize this year," said principal Vider, noting that teachers now have extra time and resources to' focus on both gifted and struggling students. She also is excited about the extra courses the school can offer, from a toy- making class based on principles of physics to music lessons and math enrichment for top students. One reason for the decline in education is the inability to attract enough top young people to the teaching profession. Though salaries for teachers have never been high in Israel, the profession used to attract some of the brightest and most dynamic people. Especially during the early years of the state, there was an ideo- logical focus on creating a well-educated younger generation. In addition, salaries in other fields were low then as well. Now, however, bright university gradu- ates have promising horizons in high-tech and other industries, and relatively few choose to go into teaching. Starting teachers receive about $666 a month. The Dovrat Committee recom- mended raising starting salaries to $1,000 a month. The committee on reforms was headed by Shlomo Dovrat, a millionaire who made his fortune in high tech. He and his committee members consulted lArith hun- dreds of experts over 15 months, but they drew fire from teachers' organizations for not including teachers on the committee. The Dovrat report is similar in some ways to President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" plan from 2001. That plan also tried to bring a busi- ness-like approach to the classroom, hold- ing teachers and principals accountable for students' success and making the entire educational system more results- oriented. In addition to seeking a raise in salaries to attract and retain quality teachers, the Dovrat reforms recommend extending the school day, a controversial issue in Israel. They recommend changing the school week from its current six-day week of five hours per day to a five-day week of eight-hour days, arguing that a longer school day produces more focused and intensive learning. The reform program also seeks to develop a core curriculum, requires closer surveillance of student performance and aims to reduce bureaucracy by giving schools and principals more autonomy in budget and personnel decisions. Shmuel Har-Noy, the Education Ministry coordinator in charge of imple- menting the Dovrat recommendations, said he's optimistic that gradual improve- ment is possible. The reform program "gives answers to main problems," he said. The government refuses to reduce class size — it could cost millions of dollars — frustrating education experts who see large classes as a barrier to quality educa- tion. Hebrew University's Gumpel, howev- er, says the beneficial effect of smaller classes has yet to be proven by research. Gumpel believes the most important change is to bring discipline back to the classroom. He said all teachers need to be trained in classroom and behavior man- agement so that students know there will be repercussions for disruptive behavior. Yael Shamir, 17, a student at Lady Davis Amal High School, spent two months last year on an exchange program with the Milken Jewish Community High School, a private Jewish day school in Los Angeles. She was taken aback by the discipline and rules the American students followed, and by how seriously they took their studies. In Israel, she said, "people don't invest in school for their future." Mirroring Society Like Israeli society at large, Israeli schools have tended to be more relaxed than rule- heaVy. In recent years, however, behavioral problems have intensified as parents have become more lax about discipline and authority at home, educational experts say. In turn, some children come to school with less respect for the authority of adults, including teachers. Violence in Israeli schools mostly entails students bullying each other in physical, emotional or sexual ways. Stoller; the civics and history teacher in Tel Aviv, has adopted a "tough-love" style in his classroom. 0