Sunday 3 January 2016

Getting women involved

Just a quick place holder. This evening saw an incredible discussion about 'How could WomenEd be promoted with women coming into the teaching profession?'

The reason why this is such an important question is that WomenEd is rapidly becoming an important movement. Last October saw the first unconference, with more events planned for this year. This is a growing movement, growing in number, growing in skill and hopefully growing in influence. This is a powerful collective of educators with a range of stories, experiences and backgrounds.

This alone, makes it something vital to share with new teachers. With frightening news reports suggesting that '53%' considering leaving the profession in the next two years. We read reports about low morale, stress and mental health concerns, the article also talks about workload and stress. Talking to teachers this is a growing fear and problem. WomenEd offers the ability to connect teachers, to support them not only in career progression but in their career. I blogged previously about delivering a session looking at managing your mental health. This is an area where making connections and links with a network like WomenEd will help, it provides support and lived experiences. New teachers can see that not only are they not alone, but that others have felt this way before.

One of the key factors that was raised time and time again during the discussion was the importance of publicity and Initial Teacher Training. Making those links with ITT providers to ensure that WomenEd material is shared and the message is given to students. This not only builds the network but again provides that support net. The challenge will be in building and maintaining that network, making the initial contact and then reinforcing it. One potential would be for ITT providers and schools to identify a lead teacher who would support female staff and make/maintain the links to WomenEd.

This led onto a discussion about how you would promote WomenEd to ensure that schools knew that it existed and what it was. Part of this was about staff identifying their aims and goals, and acknowledging that this might vary regionally. Did teachers want takeaway items like pens and mugs to use within school that promoted WomenEd as a concept, encouraging staff to research it. Working in the way that an ad campaign might. Or creating a shareable network of videos or articles, tangible items that could be shared within the profession and added to, to build the collective community story.

Anyway, that is all I have time for this evening. But, the proper write-up will follow shortly. In the meantime if you have suggestions about promoting WomenEd and how to share and build the network please do comment, and share!