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Tasmanian teachers and education officials talk about boys' education
Boys are often blamed for disruptive behaviour or having a bad attitude.
Some have low self-esteem, difficulty communicating with others and display
problems at school. Some boys are experiencing learning difficulties and
the literacy gap between boys and girls is increasing.
So, what is the problem facing boys and what can be done to help?
On Wednesday 25 July, the House of Representatives Education Committee
will conduct school visits and public hearings in Hobart.
The Committee will talk to school principals and teachers and people
from the Tasmanian Department of Education. Topics include the result
of trials in Tasmanian primary schools of the Spalding Method for teaching
early literacy, the nature and extent of boys' educational problems, how
boys' difficulties relate to broader social and economic change and which
boys are most affected.
Wednesday 25/7/2001 - Public hearings:
- 10:30 am - 11:15 am
Herdsmans Cove Primary School
Lamprill Circle, Gagebrook
- 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices
Level 13, 188 Collins Street, Hobart
Background: The House Education Committee is currently
undertaking an inquiry into the education of boys, focussing on social,
cultural and educational factors.
House Education Committee Chair, Mrs Kay Elson, says the Spalding trial
in Tasmanian primary schools is of great interest to the Committee in
the light of other evidence suggesting that boys respond well to highly
structured methods of teaching.
"The Committee wants to know more about the results of the Spalding
Method trials in Tasmanian primary schools, particularly as part of whole-school
approaches to early literacy teaching," Mrs Elson said.
"The Committee has heard evidence that boys respond better to highly
structured literacy programs, such as Spalding, than they do to other
forms of instruction. We want to know if the Tasmanian experience with
Spalding supports this contention and if the schools involved have achieved
better literacy outcomes for boys and girls while narrowing the achievement
gap between them. We will also look at other factors in the trial schools,
such as the importance of school leadership and teacher training, which
may be keys to improving literacy achievement."
For more details on the Hobart public hearings, as well as background
information on the inquiry, visit: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr
For media comment contact Mrs Kay Elson, MP, Chair of the House
Education Committee, on (02) 6277 4274
For background information contact the Committee Secretariat on (02)
6277 4573.
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