5 Day Outdoor Learning residential for all pupils? June 23, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Outdoor Learning , trackback
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7411997.stm
As per the above video on the BBC , “The Scottish Conservatives have called for all teenagers to be given the right to outdoor education, such as climbing, hiking, sailing and abseiling. They want pupils between the age of 11 and 15 to have access to a one-week residential course. The Tories say 53,000 youngsters a year would be eligible - and the £8.5m it would cost could come from government and private donors. Teachers’ leaders said there would be a risk of accidents and legal action. Early signs suggest the scheme may win cross-party support”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We want the opportunities for young people to participate in a range of outdoor education.
“The draft experiences and outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence which have been released over the course of this school year contain rich opportunities for schools to use outdoor education and outdoor learning to achieve the outcomes sought.
“We are setting up strategic advisory group to explore creative ways of delivering outdoor education, sharing good examples across the country and encouraging schools to provide more outdoor education opportunities.”
I wonder if East Lothian Outdoor Education could help influence the draft outcomes and even join the strategic advisory group? Surely there is a need for more sustainable integration of outdoor learning than this headline grabbing strategy?
Comments»
I fear with this all the money is swallowed up by large sausage factory style activity centres that are sterilized of any risk and allow people to do an activity without any real though about consequence and are totally detached from the responsibility for their actions. If this does happen I think it will be a real shame and in fact get in the way of Scottish young people having real and quality Outdoor experiences.
Stevie, I fear too that once again the focus is on a quick fix band aid solution. I beleive that the money would be better spent in local areas to promote the use of outdoor education and outdoor learning. OE needs to be integrated into not only schools but communities too. The 8.5m would be better off used to train leaders and fund programmes that would encourage sustainable outdoor learning.
As usual - a one off solution is seen as an answer, instead of developing things longer term. How to embed the Outdoor Experience into people’s live should be the goal.