HTAWA

Thank you to all the teachers and lecturers involved in teacher training who provided feedback about National Curriculum.  This information has been forwarded to HTAA and a national response has been posted on their website.  The National Curriculum Board has its own website which will be updated regularly.   HTAWA Feedback on National Curriculum; HTAA website; National Curriculum Board website

A National Curriculum is firmly on the agenda of the Rudd Government as part of Education Revolution.  Professor Barry McGaw was appointed the Chair of the National Curriculum Board with the full membership announced on the 15^th April.  The NCB held its first meeting on the 23^rd April. 

Representatives from the peak bodies for English, History, Mathematics and Science met to discuss whether there were any points of similarity between the concerns of all four disciplines.  One key element identified was the need to position ourselves as the bodies the Government consults whilst they are developing the NC.   To this end HTAA has asked all of the state affiliates to consult History teachers.  Rather than provide a fixed parameter for discussion HTAA would like to identify the wide range of issues, concern and hopes that teachers hold, in this way we will be better equipped to respond to whatever arises from NCB.

I encourage all HTAWA members to either email me louise.secker@det.wa.edu.au their thoughts or place a comment here to generate discussion .

The Hon Julia Gillard MP today formally announced the launch of the National History Challenge.  The topic for this year’s challenge is Australia Meets the World.

In her press statement the Minister also highlighted the government’s support for Australian History as an integral part of a National History Curriculum.

For more information visit the NHC website: http://www.historychallenge.com.au/

The first Student Seminar Day will be held on Saturday 10th May at the University of Notre Dame  in Fremantle, from 9am to 12 noon.

The seminar consists of a general discussion on how to prepare for a History exam and is followed by a number of concurrent sessions that take students through how to answer document studies. 

The cost is $15 for pre bookings OR $20 on the day.  Teachers can download the registration form and fax it to the HTAWA office on 9204 5112 or mail it to our PO Box. Registration Form

Students are requested to be at the Drill Hall by 8.45.

ABC’s Radio National is broadcasting a four part series on the role of Historians in debates on national identity.  Each episode focuses on a different nations: Japan, Argentina, Australia and France.

The series is particularly useful for teachers and students who wish to investigate changes in historical perspectives over time.  It also highlights that the study of national history is of vital interest to politicians who view it as intrinsically linked to national identity.

The Australian episode includes extracts from major contributors to the “History Wars” debate - Keith Windschuttle, Staurt MacIntyre, Paul Keating, John Howard. 

The website includes transcripts and podcasts. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight/features/historyundersiege/

The Western Australian launch of the National History Challenge will be on Wednesday 12th March, at the University Club (UWA) between 4.30 and 6.00pm.

The Challenge is open to all students from years 5 to 12.

HTAWA invite all interested teachers, both primary and secondary, to meet the sponsors and find out more about the Challenge.

For more information, or to RSVP, email louise.secker@det.wa.edu.au

On 13 February 2008 the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and opposition leader Brendon Nelson addressed Parliament with an official apology on behalf of the Government and Parliament to the Indigenous People of Australia for the previous policies of forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

A transcript of the speeches by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Opposition Leader Brendon Nelson can be viewed on the HTAA sight: http://www.historyteacher.org.au/20080213_StolenGenerationApology.html

HTAWA committee meetings are held twice a term at the National Trust, in West Perth.  The dates for 2008 are:  19th February, 18th March, 6th May, 3rd June, 1st July, 12th August, 9th September and 14th October.

Planning Day for the 2008 committee will be at Shenton College on Friday 25th January. Starting time is 9.30am.

Teacher applications are now open; they close on 17 October 2007. In preparing your application you will need to consider your professional engagement, professional knowledge, professional practice and your teaching influence. You will also need the endorsement of two members of your school community.

You must register HERE to receive an online application form. Details on eligibility and the selection process are available HERE. Answers to your frequently asked questions are on the FAQ page.

For further general information about the programme call 1300 363 079. If you require assistance with the Australian Government Summer Schools for Teachers programme Online Application call 1800 677 027 or email ssp@dest.gov.au.

The Hon Julie Bishop, Minister for Education, Science and Training, announced today the successful providers who will design, develop and deliver the Australian Government Summer Schools for Teachers across Australia. This was a highly competitive process and the selected consortia have the proven knowledge and expertise to deliver professional learning of the highest quality.

The providers of the Australian Government Summer Schools are:

Literacy and Numeracy - A consortium made up of Wollongong University, the University of New England, Edith Cowan University and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association. The Literacy and Numeracy Summer School will be run at two venues, The University of Wollongong, NSW from 7-18 January 2008 and at Edith Cowen University Joondalup Campus, WA from 14-25 January 2008.

English - A consortium made up of Deakin University and Murdoch University has developed the English Summer School and it will be run at Deakin’s Waterfront Campus in Geelong, VIC from 7-18 January 2008.

Science - A consortium made up of the University of New England and Flinders University has developed the Science summer School. Flinders University in Adelaide SA will host the Science Summer School from 7-18 January 2008;

Mathematics - A consortium made up of the University of New England and Flinders University has developed the Mathematic Summer School. The University of New England in Armidale NSW will host the school from 7018 January 2008.

Australian History - A consortium made up of the Australian National University (ANU), the Australian War Memorial, the History Teachers Associations of Australia, Victoria and the ACT, the National Capital Educational Tourism Project, the National Archives of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, and Old Parliament House will provide the Australian history Summer School and it will be hosted at the ANU in Canberra from 14-25 January 2008.

For further details on the Summer Schools providers visit www.summerschools.dest.gov.au