teaching and learning

One of the recurring themes through the New Imagery conference was where the voice of the teaching profession was in all the educational debates, and where we our own worst enemy by not being able to articulate together our good work.

The specific example one speaker gave was the A-E report grade directive from the Federal Government and how, while it was hammered away in the opinion pages, no teacher voice emerged.

Another example is the new Federal Government Australian initiative; famous dates and famous people, no context and no teacher voice involved in bringing it together, or in refuting it now.

Tony Taylor’s opinion piece in the AGE makes some good points. Once a believer, Taylor argues that it doesn’t make sense, including:

The bad news is that the course, if implemented as it stands, is scarcely teachable and will almost certainly alienate large numbers of both teachers and students, killing off any long-term interest in the subject.

This document was initially based on a consultation process that included teachers. But the post-April deliberations that produced the 75 milestones did not involve any serving teachers. That is the first missing part of the equation. If asked, any experienced history teacher could have put the PM’s reference group straight. But, with a committee of two academics, a journalist and a retired principal, no matter how eminent, honourable and diligent, the milestones just seem to have extended themselves in an uncontrolled and unmanageable fashion.

The current guide is going nowhere until after the election. If the Coalition wins, there will probably be a bunfight to end all history war bunfights and if the ALP wins, I’m not sure. I see some willingness to consult professionals but not much else. Unlike John Howard, Kevin Rudd has yet to come up with a clear view of the history he would like to have included in a national curriculum.

Tony Taylor, of Monash University, was director of the National Centre for History Education, 2001-06, and a history summit participant. You can read the full article HERE

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