Education for equality
Sir: I refer to the article 'How teachers learn' by Michael Trend (15 October). Two points: First, there is reference to the BEd courses which 'caused a stir'. There was indeed some mild confusion which served to embarrass the CNAA rather than my institution. I refer the author to my letter to the THES of 29 September and the THES report on the full and final inves- tigation of 8 October.
Secondly, I turn to the author's specific attack upon the course 'Education for Equality'. Teacher training courses are very closely constrained by the DES circu- lar 3/84 (CATE) criteria. The pattern of our Primary BEd course, for example, as approved by CATE is:
Subject studies 50 per cent (the two 'main subject' specialisms) Curriculum studies 20 per cent (the teaching of mathematics, science, language, etc) School experience 15.5 per cent (teaching in schools) Education 14.5 per cent
The course therefore mirrors Professor O'Hear's own thinking with an emphasis on subject work and practical classroom experience. Even the 14.5 per cent devoted to Education is not 'Theory of Education' but concerned with practical issues such as Classroom organisation, discipline and child abuse. In the Education component, some 111 hours (but only 4.8 per cent of the total degree course) are devoted to education options and it is but one of these optional components which Mr Trend has chosen to attack, conveniently forgetting the remain- der and the other 95 per cent of the course. Students choose one of a range of some ten options from a list which include: Informa- tion Technology, Health Education (drug abuse etc) and Children with Special Needs (mental and physical handicap, learning difficulties etc). Mr Trend did not mention these. The reality is that 'Education for Equality' on which Mr Trend goes to town, has not run for two years. • We, as an apolitical institution, consider it appropriate to educate students with a wide range of experiences so that they can make their own judgments and choices.
Geoffrey R. Hall
Director, Brighton Polytechnic, Mithras House, Lewes Road, Brighton
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