 |
)
)
)
)
)
)
An edited version of the letter below was published in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday 20 September 2016. It had been submitted in response to a news report in the previous day's edition. The underlined words were deleted and those in square brackets added. The paper's heading was "Education has broad interests". The paper also reorganized the letter into a single paragraph.
Teacher professional development
The Federal Government's chief scientist, [AlanFinkel], is reported as claiming that [claims] teachers are wasting [waste] professional development time on irrelevant topics ("Odd subjects ticked off as teacher aids", Sep 19). If true to any significant extent, this would be indeed a matter of concern.
However, from extensive personal involvement as an attendee, organizer and presenter, I can attest that valuable professional development directly relevant to the curriculum is regularly conducted by subject professional associations.
And I do wonder about the quality of the data on which the chief scientist's claim is based. The topics cited may not be relevant to his [Dr Finkel's] area of interest in STEM subjects, but school education is broader than that, important though it is.
African drumming may sound bizarre to some, but it would be relevant to the teaching of music.
Treating teachers as professionals should include acknowledgement that they are the best judges of their own professional development needs.
Garry Collins
Immediate Past President, English Teachers Association of Queensland
 "Garry Collins, ETAQ Immediate Past President")
Author:Garry Collins, ETAQ Immediate Past President| Tags:General news |
External Assessment Preparation 2023We will be running the External Examination Preparation as one package with more flexibility for schools using these materials with students. The program will consist of three segments: Writing the analytical essay: fully revised materials for teachers available from 22 July For students and teachers - four sessi... | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Register | |||||||||||||||
Early Career ConferenceThis event will be held at Wynnum High School on Saturday 21 October 2023. Interested persons are invited to submit workshop proposals by 8 September. Details are available on the Call for Presenters | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
This is the first time I have been to an ETAQ conference and it was really sensational to get so much at all of the sessions.
ETAQ conferences always have sessions that make me excited to be a teacher.
I know that ETAQ conferences in the past have never disappointed - valuable, relevant, practical, inspiring so I came again.
Read All
PO Box 3375, STAFFORD,
Queensland, Australia, 4053
(07) 3284 3718
ABN: 17 689 278 512
Connect to a great range of people who are passionate about English and have their finger on the pulse.
Home | Contact Us | Site Map | Print this page | RSS | |
