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SecEd: On Your Side
Happy new year!
Teaching
TEACHERS AND students
across Scotland have been
Pete
settling back into the school
Henshaw
routine this month, just as they
Editor,
have each August for as long
SecEd
Human
as anyone can remember.
But this is no ordinary year. It was supposed to be the
dawn of Curriculum for Excellence; the shiny new face of
Scottish education. But of course, things have been put on
hold.
As our Scottish reporter writes in this week’s news
Rights
section (see page 3), the scheme is prompting fierce
debate among subject “specialists” (who say it is unclear
and not fit for purpose), opposition politicians (who
seem determined to score easy points by criticising any
aspect that they can aim a cheap shot at), and the SNP
government (which seems intent on confusing everyone
involved by using as much flowery rhetoric as it can
muster).
It was left – as it so invariably is – to a person with real
classroom experience to cut through the waffle and point
out that which so many legislators and commentators failed
to acknowledge.
“It’s about how to read and write,” said former teacher
Keir Bloomer, mocking a predictably over-embellished
government description of literacy goals.
And how right he is. Regardless of whether
THE START of the new term in time in Glasgow, where we will
Scotland offers new challenges for
Curriculum for Excellence starts next year, in 2011, or
Amnesty International has a range
be on hand to help answer your
teachers. Not least the imminent questions.
when we’ve all been replaced by computers, the fact arrival of the new Curriculum for of resources designed to work However, if you cannot make
remains that teachers on the front line will endeavour to
Excellence. it to Glasgow, there are several
give children the best possible education with the tools
The main aim of this is to try and
alongside the new Curriculum for
other ways you can stay in touch
they are given.
create an integrated approach across
Excellence. John Watson explains
or get involved with Amnesty
all subject areas, and there is no International.
A number of Scottish heads have written to me in
doubt it will be a challenging time
what they are all about
Each month we produce an e-
the build up to this edition, and are they worried or even for teachers across the country as newsletter specifically for teachers
affected by the constant political debate? Of course not.
they attempt to get to grips with it. called TeachRights – with all the
They are far too concerned with getting stuck into a new
All the comments Amnesty While the obvious place available from the Scotland section latest information on our education
school year.
International Scotland has had for human rights education in of the Amnesty website (see materials, plus Human Rights dates,
from teachers have only served to Curriculum for Excellence is in below). On the same site there are courses and other resources.
“There’s a real buzz about the place,” writes Alex Wood,
emphasise this point, and we hope health and wellbeing, the new further Scotland-specific resources Alternatively, you can get more
head at Tynecastle School in Edinburgh. “Curriculum for that our free educational resources curriculum also calls for developing covering a range of topics including directly involved by helping set
Excellence has lost momentum in the last couple of years,
and other educational opportunities the ethos and life of the school, child soldiers and slavery. up a youth group. Youth groups
but returning back to school this session I am delighted
will help to ease the burden. and more cross-curricular and There are more free resources, write letters, fundraise, organise
Amnesty International has a interdisciplinary education. all of which are appropriate for events and generally have fun
with the positive atmosphere in the school,” adds Fortrose
long association with the education We have developed our Scottish the Scottish curriculum, available in the process. Every month, the
Academy head, Douglas Simpson.
sector – a significant proportion of resources to ensure that they meet through our UK Education website. groups receive a mailing packed
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a successful our members are teachers, we have this new requirement. They cover topics such as the with information, cases to work on
school year – one that is not disrupted, distracted or
50 youth groups in schools across Our China resources, for Universal Declaration of Human and campaign ideas – and they get
diverted by the constant background noise of ministerial
Scotland and we have links with example, cover a range of subjects Rights, torture, the death penalty, invited to attend Amnesty events.
all the major teaching unions. In and each one is designed specifically violence against women, and We hope that many teachers will
debate.
addition, we also have significant for the new curriculum. refugees. From September, Amnesty find Amnesty’s resources a useful
experience of producing materials In English and literacy, we will be launching a new resource on tool for delivering key aspects of
Britain’s Scot talent
to aid teachers. explore the issues of censorship and poverty and Human Rights. the new curriculum and we hope to
But why teach Human Rights freedom of expression in China. For For the more enthusiastic, see as many of you as possible at the
at all? information technology, we look at there is another approach that Scottish Learning Festival. SecEd
Naturally, we firmly believe the issue of internet repression. And has gathered support among the
You are holding in your hands the fourth ever all-
that learning about the fundamental in mathematics, we look at the high teachers we are in regular contact • John Watson is the Scotland
Scottish edition of SecEd – I hope you enjoy reading rights of all citizens across the globe number of executions in China. All with – interdisciplinary activities, programme director for Amnesty
what has become an established part of our publishing
is essential for all pupils. It also resources provide an opportunity where schools dedicate a specific International.
schedule.
promotes respect and encourages for cross-curricular citizenship section of a day to Human Rights.
SecEd has always tried to speak for schools across
individuals to develop a broader activities. Many of our resources can be
Further information
perspective on life. And, indeed, There are also a number of adapted for this purpose. Also, Amnesty Scotland education: www.
the UK, and represent views from all four of the home
there is strong evidence from multimedia resources available, schools can invite in an Amnesty amnesty.org.uk/scotlandeducation
nations. Scottish teachers and heads are an integral part of UNICEF – among others – that a including images from China, volunteer speaker to deliver a talk Amnesty UK education: www.
or readership, and I hope that we are providing you with an
rights-based approach to education Chinese music on human rights, a about Amnesty or a particular amnesty.org.uk/education
effective platform for positive and constructive education
reduces bad behaviour in schools. number of short animations, and Human Rights issue on days such To sign up for TeachRights, visit:
Better still, right now this recordings of poems that can be as these. www.amnesty.org.uk/teachrights
discussion.
approach is applicable to a range of uploaded to MP3 players. We will be showcasing our For more information on setting
Although this is our only edition of the year to focus
subjects, making it a snug fit for the The resources are available resources at the Scottish Learning up a youth group, visit: ww.amnesty.
exclusively on issues north of the border, we are constantly wider goals of the new curriculum. in English and Gaelic, and are Festival in a couple of weeks’ org.uk/youth
on the lookout for features, news and views from Scottish
schools. If you have stories about the work you are doing,
and the success you are having, then please don’t hesitate to
IN RESPONSE…
pick up the phone, or send us an email, so that we can tell
the rest of the UK about it.
Science projects across Scotland young people in Scotland to and find out more about what this grant from the Scottish
We pride ourselves on highlighting good practice
are to receive a share of £650,000 consider science as a career, exciting developments are taking Government. We already
in schools, be it exciting guidance and pastoral ideas,
from the Scottish government’s given its key role in supporting place into scientific research in communicate science to more
Science Engagement Scheme, this country’s future economic their area. than 750,000 people a year
innovative ways of tackling poor behaviour, inspiring
which is designed to make growth and recovery. These Scots of all ages stand to through Edinburgh Zoo and the
lesson plans, or creative leadership strategies. We want to science more accessible. projects, together with the work benefit from these grants, Highland Wildlife Park.
hear about it all.
One of the 45 projects we are doing to support science including our young people, The Wild Bus is the largest
SecEd is now entering its eighth academic year of
to benefit is the Royal education in schools, such as which is particularly important if education outreach programme
publishing, and we want it to be our best year yet.
Zoological Society of the introduction of the new we are to encourage and nurture we have ever attempted and it
Scotland’s Wild Bus, which baccalaureate, will help support our scientists of the future and will enable us reach a further
But unless we hear about your ideas, your hard work,
tours primary and secondary those efforts.” ensure that Scotland maintains 15,000 children throughout
and your achievements, we at SecEd would have nothing schools and, giving pupils the its long-standing reputation as Scotland.
to write about each week. Please do get in touch, and help
opportunity to take part in Professor Anne Glover, chief a world leader in science and Our education programme
us to keep championing the work of teachers and school
science workshops. scientific adviser to the Scottish innovation.” for the Wild Bus has been
government: designed to help stimulate and
leaders across Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary “This funding will enable up to David Windmill, chief Executive nurture an interest in biological
for education and lifelong 280,000 people across Scotland of the Royal Zoological Society and environmental sciences, and
• Pete Henshaw is the editor of SecEd. Email him at learning: to learn more about how science of Scotland: will begin its tour of Scotland in
editor@sec-ed.co.uk or call 020 7501 6771.
“I’m keen to encourage more impacts on their day-to-day lives “We were delighted to receive September.”
4 SecEd • August 27 2009
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