This policy was developed through extensive consultation with members over an 18-month period. For many years our union has had an extremely comprehensive Curriculum Policy but it was written in the days when we were the South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT). Times have moved on and so has our curriculum. Whilst the previous policy still has much to offer in the detail of its statements, the new policy is designed to succeed any new state mandated curriculum because it addresses the core values and principles that underpin teaching and learning. The new policy recognizes that we live in a global society and focuses on the teacher as the professional translating the state mandated curriculum into practice. It is based on respectful relationships with each other and the environment. It recognizes that curriculum does not occur in a vacuum and that we as educators must continually reflect on our practice. This is an instrument to support educators; to use in monitoring, responding to and challenging curriculum content and methods by which children and students are taught and assessed.
The Curriculum Policy is underpinned by 5 core Values:
- Equity and equal opportunity for all learners both in and through South Australia's public education system. This doesn't mean doing the same for all. It means doing things differently with a redistribution of resources to support full access and participation.
- Respect for diversity within a supportive culture. This diversity covers the political, social, cultural, religious, linguistic and economic circumstances of self and others. Actively modeling and teaching skills that support the continuing development of respect for others and for the reduction of prejudices is promoted as a strategy. This encompasses fairness, justice and the values of democracy and human rights.
- Cooperation and collaboration as the foundation for ethical behaviours. This value underlies the development of a democratic, participatory and sustainable future in a civil society.
- Sustainability achievable through developing in students the range of critical skills necessary to interpret and act in the global society, economy and environment of the 21st century.
- Rigour, fairness and inclusivity in assessing learners' achievement using processes that are grounded in teachers' professional judgment and continuous reflection. This section puts standardised testing and data collection into a context which values assessment of learning though cooperative and collaborative tasks.
Thank you to all members who took the time to provide feedback on the consultation papers. Your input is appreciated and, in the main, has been incorporated into the revised document, which is now the policy of the AEU. A special acknowledgement to Lynn Hall (Training Officer) whose concept it was and whose energy pushed the final version through to fruition. We trust that the policy will prove a useful tool as you evaluate your own practice and any new curriculum promulgated. To read the full text of the policy click here.
