SHORT VERSION OF EVENTS AT THE DISCOVERING DEMOCRACY FORUM
AFSSSE
YOUR VOICE IN
DISCOVERING DEMOCRACY
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WHAT IS AFSSSE?
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HOW IS AFSSSE REPRESENTING TEACHERS?
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WHAT HAPPENED AT THE DISCOVERING DEMOCRACY IMPLEMENTATION FORUM?
AFSSSE is the peak national body representing the professional interests of teachers of Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE). AFSSSE is a federation of five existing national professional associations of teachers of social education, environmental education, history, geography and business education.
AFSSSE has recently completed a project for DEETYA. This Discovering Democracy Teacher Focus Group project provided AFSSSE with an opportunity to collect SOSE teachers’ views on the draft Discovering Democracy materials. Curriculum Corporation has expressed gratitude for this feedback (despite the frankness of opinions!) and has incorporated many of the suggestions in the rewrite of the units.
AFSSSE has another project for this financial year:
AFSSSE ‘Discovering Democracy’: An Implementation Focus
This project forms part of the National Activities element of Discovering Democracy, the Commonwealth Government’s national programme of civics and citizenship education activities. Through a range of activities, AFSSSE will attempt to raise awareness of the Discovering Democracy programme among SOSE teachers, and facilitate its implementation throughout the states and territories. A national communication network facility will be established to share implementation practice and developments with teacher professional associations and classroom practitioners.
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9 people representing the professional associations listed on this letterhead
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5 people representing the state history teachers associations
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5 AFSSSE professional development representatives (AFSSSE has representatives on the state/territory inter-systemic professional development committees)
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2 extra primary school representatives
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AFSSSE’s web site manager
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AFSSSE’s Discovering Democracy Project Officer
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For a report on the Implementation Forum check out the AFSSSE web site http://www.ash.org.au/teachers/afssse
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For a colourful summary of the FREE! materials to arrive in schools in November tear out the inside fold of EQ Issue 3 Curriculum Corporation. (Tel 03 9207 9600)
To begin the new project, a number of AFSSSE representatives attended a Forum in Canberra in September to consider implementation strategies for the Discovering Democracy materials.
The aim of the Forum was to encourage discussion and debate on implementation. AFSSSE had 23 representatives at the Forum to speak on your behalf. Representatives included
4. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Free Discovering Democracy materials will be arriving in all primary and secondary schools in November 1998. This is NOT a course, but a resource for those teaching civics and citizenship education to years 4 – 10 students. State and territory curriculum authorities are linking the materials to their SOSE curriculum.
5. WILL STATE AND TERRITORY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS BE INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES?
AFSSSE has some funding for the national professional associations, the state/territory professional development representatives, and state/territory SOSE professional associations to share ideas on implementation. News of this to come!
Some associations are already incorporating sessions on civics and citizenship education into conferences and workshops.
6. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
If you already have information you are willing to share on teaching civics and citizenship or on using the Discovering Democracy materials please send this to Sandra Kenman, Project Officer, AFSSSE, PO Box 406, The Gap Qld 4006. Most of the material being shared will be placed on the AFSSSE web site.