|
The interim report by the Rose
Review, published Thursday, 1 December, into the poor teaching
of synthetic phonics in British primary schools, focuses on
the need for 'high quality teaching' for phonics in all
British primary schools.
However, British phonics
expert, Alan Davies, Educational Psychologist, believes that
the report is clear evidence that Tony Blair has failed to
deliver on the teaching of English in British primary schools.
Davies said, "In 1998, David Blunkett, Secretary of State
for Education, stated 'The government has pledged financial
and practical support to train teachers in using the most
effective ways of teaching literacy'. Now, eight years and
hundreds of millions of pounds down the track, we have
confirmation that teachers have not been trained to use 'the
most effective ways' of teaching literacy." He added,
"What we are witnessing is tantamount to 'PHONICSGATE'.
That is, the government have wasted millions and they are
doing a cover-up. Does anyone really believe this
Cock-and-Bull story about the need to dramatically change
things because of 'latest research'? We are not talking about
rocket science but about the relationship between the
twenty-six letters of the alphabet and the forty-four sounds
of spoken English. For goodness sake, how many more millions
of pounds, of hard-earned tax payers' money, are the
Government going to waste? We are the laughing stock of the
world. It is 2005 and the 'Brits' don't know how to teach
English!".
Alan Davies has pioneered
THRASS (Teaching Handwriting Reading And Spelling Skills),
which is used extensively worldwide, especially in the UK,
Australia and South Africa. Indeed, a Botswana Government
official, interviewed for the videostream THRASS IN AFRICA,
said that the Ministry of Education aims to implement THRASS
in all primary schools.
In June 2000, David Blunkett
wrote to Davies, "I understand that the Teacher Training
Agency (TTA) decided not to accept the THRASS materials
because they were not at an appropriate level for trainee
teachers. The materials were considered to be more suitable
for classroom use rather than being aimed at improving
trainees' subject knowledge." Earlier this year THRASS UK
launched an extensive website, containing 3D animations, free
email courses, downloadable files and streamed videos of
features, interviews, demonstration lessons and a video diary
(including a 'Phonics 4 Parents' section) - with the aim of
ensuring high quality teaching for phonics both at school and
at home.
"We have thousands of
written evaluations, from hundreds of courses, accumulated
over nearly a decade. Just last week nearly fifty teachers
attended a two-day course in Hampshire, presented by my wife,
Hilary. The first evaluation stated, 'After 30 years of
teaching I wasn't sure there would be much that was new. How
wrong I was!'. All this goes to show that, when it comes to
phonics, the staff at the Teacher Training Agency don't really
know what they are talking about. To prove my point, we have,
today, uploaded a video feature to our website entitled '20%
Is Unacceptably High', which features a courageous and
principled 'NQT Whistleblower' (Newly Qualified Teacher), who
has been brave enough to give the interview that many have
said they would not do, for fear of putting their careers in
jeopardy."
In July, Ruth Kelly, the
present Secretary of State for Education, rejected Alan
Davies' request for a future meeting in London, on the grounds
of 'heavy diary commitments'. However, ITV's Meridian Tonight
broadcast a news feature in October, where Hampshire LEA's Dr
Roger Norgate, Consultant Educational Psychologist, stated
that "We looked at nearly a hundred children and it
[THRASS] was very effective. They made, on average, about
two-and-a-quarter months progress for every month they were on
the programme." - which might encourage Ms Kelly to find
the time for a future meeting.
See www.thrass.co.uk/nm.htm
###
Further
information
UK:
Mike Meade, Media Director, THRASS UK 01829 741413 Mob: 07970
151 738 mikemeade@thrass.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL:
Chris Griffiths, International Development, THRASS UK +30 266
203 1207 chrisgriffiths@thrass.co.uk
Return to TOP
|
