News
Mrs Therese Temby
Chairperson
Curriculum Council
27 Walters Drive
Osborne Park
Western Australia 6017
6 July 2006
Dear Therese
The ETAWA is extremely disappointed at the way the Curriculum Council has managed the implementation of the new English Course of Study and is alarmed at the consequent effects on our members. The concessions as outlined in the latest memorandum, dated 3 July, are disappointing, to say the least. These concessions have come far too late and are inequitable to diligent English teachers who have borne, and continue to bear, the brunt of the changes – changes in the form of excessive demands from the Curriculum Council with regard to evidence plans, assessment programs, examinations and moderation processes.
ETAWA has done a great deal to ensure that our 800 plus membership is in a strong position to make the new English and Texts, Traditions and Cultures Courses of Study work. Frequently, our actions have been taken to compensate for what has been largely inadequate resourcing and professional development programs implemented by the Curriculum Council. We have continually encouraged and supported our members through a difficult and often controversial implementation process. To date, the ETAWA has managed a very effective action research project, which resulted in a CD ROM of relevant and effective professional development delivered to every English teacher in the state. We have presented conferences, seminars and workshops focussed on the courses of study. We have supported the implementation process in the press, through the taskforce and at the Parliamentary Enquiry. Recently, the ETAWA has demonstrated enormous good faith in proceeding with implementation, with the employment of a full time education officer. This represents a major financial commitment.
We are not advocating a return to the current WACE requirements or the TEE English and English Literature syllabuses. All our feedback suggests that the philosophy and direction of the new English course are sound and teachers say that students are engaged and actively learning. However, this success has not been easy. English teachers are reporting major increases in workloads and stress, chiefly due to the accountability and assessment requirements imposed by the Curriculum Council and compounded by conflicting instructions and guidelines. We are incensed that the wonderful work English teachers and this association have undertaken to ensure the success of the English Course of Study appears to be undervalued by the Curriculum Council. Furthermore, the inequitable implementation process proposed in the July 3 memorandum rewards vociferous dissenters and leaves English teachers abandoned and exasperated on the implementation pathway. The ETAWA insists on a public acknowledgement from the Curriculum Council of the excessive and unreasonable demands placed on our members, and which appear to continue, relative to the requirements for other teachers.
We want some genuine consultation in the process of ‘refinement’ referred to in the memorandum. We believe that advice from ARM Panel members who are English teachers and other professionals in the field of English, has been largely ignored and downplayed. We are most concerned that some course change decisions thus far have been made by people in whose understanding of English we have had little confidence, and we believe that they have been made with little regard for the expertise and professionalism of English teachers.
Yours sincerely
Wendy Cody
President
English Teachers’ Association of WA
09 Jul 2006 by ETA
Chairperson
Curriculum Council
27 Walters Drive
Osborne Park
Western Australia 6017
6 July 2006
Dear Therese
The ETAWA is extremely disappointed at the way the Curriculum Council has managed the implementation of the new English Course of Study and is alarmed at the consequent effects on our members. The concessions as outlined in the latest memorandum, dated 3 July, are disappointing, to say the least. These concessions have come far too late and are inequitable to diligent English teachers who have borne, and continue to bear, the brunt of the changes – changes in the form of excessive demands from the Curriculum Council with regard to evidence plans, assessment programs, examinations and moderation processes.
ETAWA has done a great deal to ensure that our 800 plus membership is in a strong position to make the new English and Texts, Traditions and Cultures Courses of Study work. Frequently, our actions have been taken to compensate for what has been largely inadequate resourcing and professional development programs implemented by the Curriculum Council. We have continually encouraged and supported our members through a difficult and often controversial implementation process. To date, the ETAWA has managed a very effective action research project, which resulted in a CD ROM of relevant and effective professional development delivered to every English teacher in the state. We have presented conferences, seminars and workshops focussed on the courses of study. We have supported the implementation process in the press, through the taskforce and at the Parliamentary Enquiry. Recently, the ETAWA has demonstrated enormous good faith in proceeding with implementation, with the employment of a full time education officer. This represents a major financial commitment.
We are not advocating a return to the current WACE requirements or the TEE English and English Literature syllabuses. All our feedback suggests that the philosophy and direction of the new English course are sound and teachers say that students are engaged and actively learning. However, this success has not been easy. English teachers are reporting major increases in workloads and stress, chiefly due to the accountability and assessment requirements imposed by the Curriculum Council and compounded by conflicting instructions and guidelines. We are incensed that the wonderful work English teachers and this association have undertaken to ensure the success of the English Course of Study appears to be undervalued by the Curriculum Council. Furthermore, the inequitable implementation process proposed in the July 3 memorandum rewards vociferous dissenters and leaves English teachers abandoned and exasperated on the implementation pathway. The ETAWA insists on a public acknowledgement from the Curriculum Council of the excessive and unreasonable demands placed on our members, and which appear to continue, relative to the requirements for other teachers.
We want some genuine consultation in the process of ‘refinement’ referred to in the memorandum. We believe that advice from ARM Panel members who are English teachers and other professionals in the field of English, has been largely ignored and downplayed. We are most concerned that some course change decisions thus far have been made by people in whose understanding of English we have had little confidence, and we believe that they have been made with little regard for the expertise and professionalism of English teachers.
Yours sincerely
Wendy Cody
President
English Teachers’ Association of WA
09 Jul 2006 by ETA
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