All The Years Of Her Life – Post Reading

In the story "All the Years of Her Life" by Morley Callaghan, Alfred Higgins was caught red handed when he was stealing from his own workplace. When I was twelve, something like that had happened to me. Since then I have learned valuable lessons that are still very significant in my life.  

At the age of twelve I had a best friend called Danna, who was a friend of mine since kindergarten.  Danna and I did everything together: we were sitting(gr.) side by side at school, doing(gr.) homework together and even hanging(gr.) out after school hours. 

At the middle of the first semester, we were studying together to(ww.) a major Math exam – which I was good at but Danna wasn't. As her best friend, of course I was willing to help her get ready for the exam. But the problem was that I didn’t know at the time that Danna planned(gr.) that I would do(phr) the exam for her. 

We were sitting in her bedroom, going over some Math problems, when Danna offered the idea that she would copy my answers during the test, without our teacher noticing. 

At first, I hated the idea, but then she started to cry that her parents would be mad at her for not succeeding at the test and forbid our friendship, blaming it to be the cause(phr.) of her failure. So I agreed, and the result was that our teacher caught us red handed and took us in the middle of the test to the principal office. We explained to the principal what had happened and she punished the both of us that we would get an F on that test and do a lecture in class, telling them what we learned from the situation. 

When I got home my parents already knew about it, and they weren't as mad as I thought they would be. They just told me that they understood why I wanted to help Danna, but I shouldn't choose an immoral way to do so. They also talked with Danna's parents and agreed that Danna and I should talk about the issue so that such a thing wouldn't happen again. Luckily, it hasn't happened again, because I learned that cheating, even if done innocently, is a wrong and immoral thing.

Very good!But your grade remains the same
(95)
Daphna 

Being a Parent...

Being a parent isn't a child's game.
You need to be responsible
and don't expect any fame.
You have to be strict,
but also light,
You have to put boundaries,
but also be nice.
Being a parent isn't a child's game,
but the hardest part is
to let go of them. 

This is wonderful! You are quite a talent!
Daphna

Letter to the Editor

26 Gefen St 

Tel Aviv

58431

August 22, 2013

The Editor
Ha’aretz Daily Newspaper Ltd.
21 Salman Schocken St.

Tel Aviv 

61001

Dear Editor, 

I am writing in response to an article I just read called "Israel suspends standardized tests", which was posted in the weekend edition of your newspaper. The article was about The Ministry of Education's decision on cancelling the Meitzav tests. I fully agree with what you're saying in the article and think it's about time someone made that decision.   

As all of us, students, know what happens during the preparations for the Meitzav tests: all the schools in Israel hold their breathes, the teachers teach full speed and we collapse under the pressure of succeeding in the exams. 

Well, as someone who had to live through it for twelve years, let me say how relieved I am that my younger siblings won't have to go through what I did.

The adults reading this article and this letter are probably wondering why these tests are so stressful for their children. Well, I say it's more than just this one test – it's about the whole attitude towards education in this country, reflected in this test. Education in Israel has become about measuring different students with the same ineffective, stressful tool. All of us are different people with different skills and different points of view, so why evaluate us in the same way?  

Like the quote of the Minister of Finance, Yair Lapid, in your article said: "Education isn't about measurement, but about learning…knowledge and intellect shouldn't be graded". It's clear that The Meitzav tests are just another way to grade the students, not a way to improve the education system in Israel. In fact, they even cause unhealthy competition between schools in the race for the best results in the country.

To sum up, I want to give The Ministry of Education my support in their decision and hope for more changes in  favor of the students in the education system. 

Sincerely yours, 

Clara Gray  

Excellent!!!!
(100)
Dahna