The annual congress of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association had some familiar themes which may resonate with the union’s Aviemore conference this weekend (TESS, May 14, 1976):
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association is to ask the Secretary of State to sponsor research that will establish desirable standards of attainment in the basic subjects for pupils about to start secondary schooling.
The research should identify any external influence on primary schools to adopt methods and curricula tending to depress standards in the basic subjects.
Proposing the motion, George Sturrock, Dundee, said he was not attacking primary colleagues. National standards should be established that were acceptable to both primary and secondary teachers.
The conference also heard from Leslie Inglis, its president, that the development of a better trained teaching force could not be achieved without a greater number of teachers. A cut in supply now would result in inferior education for pupils for the next 20 years . . .
Teachers had to prove to the public that education was special and could not be subjected to the same punitive cuts as other sections of the public service without doing harm that could never be undone, (Mr Inglis said).
Later, congress accepted by a small majority a private member’s motion expressing concern at juvenile crime rates and calling on teachers and parents to adopt a firmer attitude.
