Support from like minds

There are associations for every subject, but are they worth the subscription for primary teachers? It used to be said that primary schoolteachers taught children, not subjects, but most primary teachers would now agree they teach children and subjects: the belief that the subject teaching associations have nothing to offer them is gradually disappearing. As Government initiatives fade out or change the role of advisory teachers, the associations are eager to help to fill the gap in teacher support.

A professional association exists for every subject. Some regularly circulate training colleges with posters and leaflets. Perhaps as a student you joined the association representing your degree subject. You may have been told at a job interview that a subject specialist or curriculum co-ordinator is a member of one or other association with their subscription paid from the school budget.

On the other hand, you may, like one primary teacher 18 months into her first post, not know such organisations exist, or perhaps confuse them with the teacher trade unions. While the majority of members may be drawn from the secondary sector, all the subject associations claim a thriving primary teacher membership. They welcome newly qualified colleagues with open arms and reduced subscriptions.

For that subscription, which is deductible for tax purposes, you will receive an association’s primary and main journals containing articles contributed by other teachers, ideas for lessons, book reviews, news and details of the latest educational developments as they affect particular subjects.

For example, the Geographical Association is devoting the April issue of Primary Geographer to implementing the revised geography national curriculum at key stages 1 and 2. Other associations also have plans to cover the revisions in their spring publications.

Books, pamphlets, broad sheets, wall posters, lesson plans and resource packs produced by the associations are generally available to all teachers, but members receive generous discounts. Some materials, such as the Association for Science Education’s School Home Investigations In Primary Science project and the recently published book Be Safe, are bestsellers. The ASE also run a telephone helpline. The New Primary Teacher and Mathematics is one of several books published by the Mathematical Association with students and newly qualified teachers in mind. Primary History, the journal of the Historical Association, features pull-out resource sheets covering, among other topics, the Egyptians, Romans, Tudors and Stuarts. Together with all the other subject associations the Historical Association will have a stand at the Education Show at the Birmingham National Exhibltion Centre in March and it intends to go all out to attract new primary members.

Associations are organised in a network of regional and local branches that provide the opportunity for discussion and exchange of ideas with like-minded colleagues. Some associations also organise regional seminars and in-service training sessions. The annual conference is the highpoint of every association’s year. Held usually in the spring at different academic venues, they extend over three or four days with lectures, exhibitions and social events. Substantial primary lectures, forums and workshops, are always included in conference programmes.

The subject teaching associations, which receive no finance from the Government, have been at the forefront of educational reform for many years and keep a jealous professional eye on the development of their subjects and how they are being taught. For example, the National Association for the Teaching of English, well known for its professional approach in persuading the Government to heed the teacher’s voice, is particularly concerned with assessment arrangements.

The Physical Education Association of the UK, disturbed that some primary teacher courses include too little PE training, restrict full voting membership io teachers who have qualified as PE specialists. It does, however, have a membership category who receive the Primary Focus journal and the association is launching a national in-service training project later in the year.

At the headquarters of the Design and Technology Association regular courses help members to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in applications and support materials. Subscriptionsto the Design and Technology Association and the Association for Science in Education include comprehensive insurance cover while carrying out professional duties.

Pressure is mounting for a modern foreign language to be taught in primary school. The Association for Language Learning, which has long advocated this, has a growing membership among teachers of out-of-school primary language groups. In Scotland primary teachers are already being trained and the association is campaigning to see a modern foreign language component included in all primary initial teacher training.

The Association of Teachers of Mathematics has been quick to note the concern expressed by the Office for Standards in Education about the lack of confidence in delivering key stage 2 maths leading to dull and repetitive teaching. The association, keen to encourage good practice and innovative teaching, has recently launched a primary cluster scheme whereseveral primary schools joining as a group would substantially reduce the cost of subscriptions. At branch meetings primary teachers often outnumber secondary colleagues. By allowing a secondary school and its feeder primaries to become a “cluster” the association hopes to encourage the two sectors to work together and learn from each other. Other associations are considering how they could implement their own cluster schemes.

The cost of joining all the associations would be prohibitive, both in terms of money and time and several subject associations have been meeting to discuss how they can co-operate with each other to help primary teachers and schools avoid duplicating membership. Plans are in their early stages, so why not join the association of your choice now and add your voice to the debate?

Where to find them.

The Design and Technology Association, 16 Wellesbourne House, Walton Road, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire CV35 9JB. Tel: 0789 470007.

National Association for the Teaching of English, 50 Broadfield Road, Sheffield S8 0XJ. Tel: 0742 555419.

Geographical Association, 343 Fullwood Road, Sheffield S10 3BP. Tel: 0742 670666.

The Historical Association, 59A Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4JH. Tel: 071-735 3901.

Association for Language Learning, 16 Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2PN. Tel: 0788 546443.

The Association of Teachers of Mathematics, 7 Shaftesbury Street, Derby DE23 8YB. Tel: 0332 346599.

The Mathematical Association, 259 London Road, Leicester LE2 3BE. Tel: 0533 703877.

Physical Education Association of the UK, Francis House, Francis Street, .

London SW1P 1DE. Tel: 07l-828 9229.

The Association for Science Education, College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AA. Tel: 0707 267411.