House of Representatives Committees

Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations

Inquiry into the education of boys
Media release, 20 July 2001

Tasmanian teachers and education officials talk about boys' education

Boys are often blamed for disruptive behaviour or having a bad attitude. Some have low self-esteem, difficulty communicating with others and display problems at school. Some boys are experiencing learning difficulties and the literacy gap between boys and girls is increasing.

So, what is the problem facing boys and what can be done to help?

On Wednesday 25 July, the House of Representatives Education Committee will conduct school visits and public hearings in Hobart.

The Committee will talk to school principals and teachers and people from the Tasmanian Department of Education. Topics include the result of trials in Tasmanian primary schools of the Spalding Method for teaching early literacy, the nature and extent of boys' educational problems, how boys' difficulties relate to broader social and economic change and which boys are most affected.

Wednesday 25/7/2001 - Public hearings:

Background: The House Education Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into the education of boys, focussing on social, cultural and educational factors.

House Education Committee Chair, Mrs Kay Elson, says the Spalding trial in Tasmanian primary schools is of great interest to the Committee in the light of other evidence suggesting that boys respond well to highly structured methods of teaching.

"The Committee wants to know more about the results of the Spalding Method trials in Tasmanian primary schools, particularly as part of whole-school approaches to early literacy teaching," Mrs Elson said.

"The Committee has heard evidence that boys respond better to highly structured literacy programs, such as Spalding, than they do to other forms of instruction. We want to know if the Tasmanian experience with Spalding supports this contention and if the schools involved have achieved better literacy outcomes for boys and girls while narrowing the achievement gap between them. We will also look at other factors in the trial schools, such as the importance of school leadership and teacher training, which may be keys to improving literacy achievement."

For more details on the Hobart public hearings, as well as background information on the inquiry, visit: www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr

For media comment contact Mrs Kay Elson, MP, Chair of the House Education Committee, on (02) 6277 4274

For background information contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4573.

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