My old English teacher would turn in her grave if she knew I was letting anyone read my diary. I might be prolific, but I am certainly not an accomplished writer. I simply find jotting down my thoughts and ideas, on aspects of the polycrisis we find ourselves living through, is soothing. It’s selfish in some respects but if anyone reads my musings then they may just find out something new. Isn’t encouraging knowledge development the whole point of being an educator?
I gained a decent enough O’ level in English Language but I know my prose will never match that of the great writers, their unbelievable creativity and master of the written word eludes me. That said, I enjoy putting my fingers to the keyboard and can only apologise for errors in my spelling, punctuation or grammar (SPAG).
Literacy: ABCs
After disliking working as a schoolteacher my mother moved to adult education. Over the years she helped many students, often with English as a second language, to learn how to read and write. She was a ‘pushy teacher mum’ to some extent, ensuring I wrote thank you letters to Aunt Flo for the out-of-date chocolate bar or to Grandma for the £1 note sellotaped to the inside of a card. However, I will never regret being taught how to appreciate the written word or even to have the courage to try my own hand at writing.
Spelling and Grammar
In school there is a huge focus on SPAG. We have extended writing across schemes of work for all subjects apart from Maths. On top of a curriculum crowded enough to remind me of the tube in peak rush hour, we are expected to ensure pupils can correctly use appropriate keywords; despite the fact they may be able to describe in detail a particular scientific process, if they don’t use the exact word examiners expect they may not get the mark.
We are encouraged to check spellings, remind pupils about the use of paragraphs and semicolons alongside reinforcing the use of past participles, subordinate clauses and apostrophes in contractions. We must be aware of their reading ages and provide differentiated materials and identify the level pupils are working at compared to the national curriculum; ‘towards’, ‘secure’ or ‘mastery’. All this whilst multitasking to ensure that Pupils X, Y and Z are not throwing globs of glue toward the ceiling, shoving metal scissors into the plug sockets or drawing willies in the textbook.
Misinformation and disinformation
Literacy is not just a measure of how to read and write effectively. Literacy encompasses a person’s ability to understand, interpret, and engage with various forms of communication and then to become ‘knowledgeable’. This includes not only printed texts but also digital media and information. Literacy is fundamental for personal and societal development as it enables individuals to access knowledge, participate fully in their communities, and make informed decisions. It is a crucial skill for learning and growth throughout life.
Different types of literacy
There is numerical literacy, political literacy, digital literacy, health literacy, financial literacy, media literacy, cultural literacy and emotional literacy amongst others. If you have a tough start in life, it’s easy to fall behind and being illiterate in any of these areas means you may struggle to fully understand social cues or texts and so it affects your confidence and self-esteem. As an adult, without these literacy skills, you can’t get the jobs you want, and navigating everyday life can be difficult, from using the internet, to filling out forms or making sense of instructions on medicines or road signs. If you have children, it’s hard to support their learning, and so the cycle continues.
There is so much erroneous or misleading material available in the papers and online it is no wonder that social, political, economic and environmental landscapes are becoming complex and difficult to navigate. I’d disagree with the statement from Thomas Jefferson “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers” as I would suggest that much depends on the newspapers you chose to read. When Hubster and I stop to chat to our acquaintances they often quote headlines from the right-wing press. Choking back the response I wish to make, whilst trying to ensure they appreciate all they read might not be the whole truth, leaves an offensive taste in my mouth.
Climate literacy
“This is a flipping climate emergency” is dramatic but inarticulate. How about: “We are facing an unprecedented climate crisis that demands immediate and decisive action”? This phrase conveys urgency and seriousness, while also highlighting the necessity for prompt intervention.
Climate literacy refers to an understanding of the climate system, the impacts of climate change, and the actions that can mitigate these impacts. It involves being knowledgeable about the scientific principles of climate change, its causes, and its effects on the environment, economy, and society. Climate-literate individuals are aware of the role human activities play in driving climate change, are equipped with the skills to analyse climate-related information critically, understand the need for collective action and know how to push for system change.
Literacy and climate change
We might monitor young people’s literacy in school but many of us adults left school before climate change was a mainstream concern and so are lacking in climate awareness. The sad reality is that many among us are just working ‘towards’ being climate literate and have not reached the expected standard of a climate literate person.
Climate-literate people ‘secure’ in their knowledge can advocate for renewable energy sources, reduce their carbon impact by using energy-efficient appliances, and minimise waste through recycling and sustainable consumption. Climate literacy also enables individuals to participate in local and global environmental initiatives, educate others about the importance of climate action, and support policies that promote environmental protection.
One who gains ‘mastery’ in Climate literacy may be better able to stay safe in floods, grow their own food, use ethical finance, build resilient communities, stay informed, keep hydrated or cool, protect their homes, prevent contributing to car soup, have emergency kits etc. Maybe it’s time we had compulsory adult climate education for all – delivered through government and facilitated by employers. Oh, I think I’ve just described the intent of Article 12 of the Paris Agreement from 2015. There I go, reinventing the wheel again.
Appropriate texts
I’m a bit of a maverick in the family and am not religious but old texts provide some interesting quotes. Isaiah 24:5-6 reads “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore, earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.” It’s a bleak prophecy yet one that looks like it will be fulfilled.
Apologies to Shelley, who wrote these lines in 1818, but if you change in name of the principal character ‘Ozymandias’ with ‘Trump’, ‘Netenyahu’, ‘Musk’ or ‘Putin’ it seems more apt than ever:
“And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings.
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
National Literacy Trust
With the onward rise of online entertainment, the National Literacy Trust recently found only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their spare time, a sharp drop on last year to the lowest figure yet recorded. Love of reading. “For a report focused largely on reading enjoyment, much of this is not an enjoyable read,” concluded the report. “The declining levels of reading enjoyment and reading frequency are, frankly, shocking and dispiriting.”
There are plenty of climate texts available for people of all ages and backgrounds. If we included more recommended texts covering our dystopian future in school, they might make reading more relevant and engaging. I was looking at my own kid’s bookshelves today and they include The Road by Cormac Mc Carthy, Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell along with handbooks on surviving the zombie apocalypse. I suppose I’m a pushy teacher mum too.
Climate education
The DfE’s call for evidence for the curriculum review and sequence of roadshows have just come to an end. The panel of twelve experts does not include experts on climate, nature or sustainability, so it is difficult to know how serious they are to put #ClimateInEducation (the tag they promote in monthly updates but don’t actually use on social media). There were lots of questions on the feedback form covering literacy, numeracy and assessments but without climate literacy it is difficult to know how skills in reading, writing and arithmetic will be as relevant.
Something relatively useful did come out of COP29 in the end, the OECD announced they are to embed climate literacy into PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) scores from 2029. Scientists started ringing the climate alarm decades ago and the education system has waited this long already. What does another 5 years delay matter on our rapidly changing planet… LOL.
Note to self: Remember to ask a couple of pupils to refill the board pens and reusable glue sticks. It’s a messy job but someone has to do it – if there are no volunteers it can be a punishment for anyone foolish enough to waste resources in my classroom.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO OUR CROWDFUNDER
HELP US BECOME STRONGER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER POWERFUL CITIZEN JOURNALISM!
