Continuingits Teaching to Learn campaign, the Association of Teachers andLecturers (ATL) will next week put a resolution before the Trades UnionCongress, calling upon the General Council to persuade the Government that itseducation and training policies need to emphasise the quality of teaching andlearning, rather than just the delivery of knowledge and skills, so thatyoung people and adults are actively engaged in learning on a lifelongbasis.
DrMary Bousted, ATLs general secretary,will speak to this resolution at the TUC.She said:
ATLhas felt the need to run the Teaching to Learn campaign, as for the lastten years the teaching profession has been deluged with waves of nationalpolicy documents which tell teachers what they should teach (in the form of anational curriculum) and how they should teach (through the national strategiesfor literacy and numeracy) However, whilst there has been a strong emphasis onteaching, the word learning has barely been mentioned in government documents,Ofsted reports and other official publications.
Thedrive to raise standards which has resulted in greater central governmentcontrol of both the curriculum and the profession is now in danger of runninginto the sand. Standards of achievement in literacy and numeracy have remainedstatic for two years.
Amajor reason for the levelling off in standards of achievement, and this viewis strongly supported by research evidence, is that pupils, are becomingdisengaged from a curriculum which is too narrowly focused on test content andtechnique, and which encourages surface teaching and learning (i.e. teachingfor the test rather than teaching to learn).
ATLwill continue to be a constructive critic of the Government. It will supportthe Governments attempts to raise educational standards for all pupils. ATLwill also speak loudly and clearly when it judges that the teachingprofessions voice is being ignored. The government will not succeed if itsquanders its greatest educational resource its teachers andlecturers.
Forfurther information please contact the ATL press office on 0207 782 1589.
1/The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is takingplace at the Brighton Centre between Monday 8 Thursday 11 September 2003.
2/Members of ATLs TUC delegation will be available to speak to on this or othereducational issues. To arrange this please contact Sherry Jespersen on 07974423 998 or visit the ATL exhibition stand, number 95, at Congress.
3/ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). It is unaffiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively withall the main political parties. ATLs new general secretary Dr Mary Boustedtook up her seat on the TUC General Council on 1 August 2003.
4/ Delegates at TUC will be able to obtain a flyer from the ATL exhibitionstand, number 95, which will enable them to order ATLs new publication, Learning: asense-makers guide, written by Chris Watkins, Course Leader inEffective Learning at the University of Londons Institute of Education, at aspecial discounted price. The guide can also be obtained by phoning 0845 4500009, local rates apply. Alternatively, request your copy online at www.askatl.org.uk. The guide is free toATL members and 9.99 to non-members.
5/The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is anindependent, registered trade union and professional association, representingapproximately 160,000 teachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained andindependent schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in theUnited Kingdom.
6/ATL exists to protect and improve the status of teachers, lecturers and otherprofessionals involved in delivering education to further their legitimateprofessional interests.
7/ATL members receive a regular magazine (Report) reflectingATL policy and other issues affecting the education sector. If you wouldlike to receive a copy of this please call 020 7782 1589.
8/Further information and all press releases are available on ATLs website.