Thanks
On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:53:25 -0000 Ian Mack <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Unfortunately there's plenty of evidence: Ofsted's own evidence comes in
> its subject-specific reports series, an example of which is here:
> http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubs.displayf
> ile&id=3523&type=doc
>
> A key part of the problem is that the subject content in schools
> (particularly at GCSE and A-level) is firmly rooted in the positivistic
> and quantitative geography of the 1960s. The "great divide" between
> school and university geographies is widening because GCSE and A-level
> geography remains frozen in a previous age - little wonder that
> secondary school children are turned off geography.
>
> The Pilot GCSE to which David Bell refers (and for which I am fortunate
> enough to be Principal Examiner) attempts to re-link school and
> university geographies and to introduce innovative pedagogy. One
> Birmingham school has seen an increase of 30% in its GCSE numbers since
> switching to the Pilot GCSE. Unfortunately the specification is only
> available to 50 selected schools - but we hope that the experience of it
> will inform any Tomlinson-related changes to the secondary curriculum.
>
> In primary schools, teachers are often not confident in teaching
> geography because they are non-specialists. The current system means
> that primary school teachers can themselves have dropped geography at 14
> and not be taught any geography subject content thereafter. At UCE we
> teach geography to all intending primary teachers (and we have some
> primary subject specialists) but this is by no means common practice.
>
> Until there is a coherent and refreshed geography curriculum in schools,
> despite the extensive support offered to teachers by the Geographical
> Association, the picture doesn't seem set to change.
>
> Ian
>
> Ian Mack
> Senior Lecturer in Geography Education
> University of Central England
> Perry Barr
> Birmingham B42 2SU
> 0121 331 7310
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Johnston [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 25 November 2004 12:25
> To: Ian Mack
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: Children 'failed in geography'
>
>
> Thanks: I found that"!
>
> I assume there is some 'evidence' somewhere!?!?!
>
>
>
> On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:04:37 -0000 Ian Mack <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Having searched for a full report since yesterday afternoon, I've just
> > spoken to Ofsted's press office. All that exists is a press briefing
> > which took place yesterday, the written version of which is here:
> >
> http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&id=1630
> >
> > Ian
> >
> > Ian Mack
> > Senior Lecturer in Geography Education
> > University of Central England
> > Perry Barr
> > Birmingham B42 2SU
> > 0121 331 7310
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: A forum for critical and radical geographers
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ron Johnston
> > Sent: 25 November 2004 11:50
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Children 'failed in geography'
> >
> > Has anybody found the full report on the OFSTED website,
> > as against just the pr4ess releaseon which the BBC story
> > was based/
> >
> > On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 16:35:50 -0000 "Canning J."
> <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > As a geographer now working in a languages department, I am used to
> > reading articles about problems in language teaching in schools and
> how
> > this impacts upon future student numbers studying languages in Higher
> > Education. However, it seems that there are difficulties closer to
> home.
> > > John
> > > Geography is the worst-taught subject in primary school and fewer
> > teenagers are choosing to study it, England's school inspectors say.
> > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4038463.stm
> > >
> > > Dr John Canning
> > > Academic Coordinator (Area Studies)
> > > Modern Languages
> > > University of Southampton
> > > Southampton
> > > SO17 1BJ
> > > Tel +44 (0)23 8059 5408
> > > Fax +44 (0)23 8059 4815
> > > Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
> > > www.llas.ac.uk
> > > The Subject Centre is now part of the HE Academy www.heacademy.ac.uk
> > >
> > >
> >
> > -------------------
> > Ron Johnston
> > School of Geographical Sciences,
> > University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS
> > 0117 928 9116 (FAX 0117 928 7878)
> > [log in to unmask]
> > http://www.ggy.bris.ac.uk/staff/staff_johnston.htm
> >
> > * This e-mail message was sent with Execmail V5.0 *
> >
> >
> >
>
> -------------------
> Ron Johnston
> School of Geographical Sciences,
> University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS
> 0117 928 9116 (FAX 0117 928 7878)
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.ggy.bris.ac.uk/staff/staff_johnston.htm
>
> * This e-mail message was sent with Execmail V5.0 *
>
>
>
>
-------------------
Ron Johnston
School of Geographical Sciences,
University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS
0117 928 9116 (FAX 0117 928 7878)
[log in to unmask]
http://www.ggy.bris.ac.uk/staff/staff_johnston.htm
* This e-mail message was sent with Execmail V5.0 *
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