For many scholars, two weeks in
the US has been just the beginning of
a longer journey. Having worked at the
same FE college in Salford in which
she first qualified, Sociology teacher
Lydia Rushton visited Ohio, Indiana,
and Tennessee to compare how UK and
US schools support Newly Qualified
Teachers. Whilst she witnessed many
similarities as well as differences, she
took away several practices she had
not seen before, and introduced a new
CPD programme for colleagues back
in Salford.
“For many
scholars, two
weeks in the US
has been just the
beginning of a
longer journey”
The many topical and complex
issues explored by scholars, have
sometimes provided the foundations
and inspiration to complete Masters and
PhDs. Whilst teaching full-time at a large
sixth form college in Somerset, Roger
Jones worked on his PhD examining
methods to tackle homophobic
bullying in UK schools. Roger used his
36 | dialogue
scholarship to travel to Austin Texas and
New York City, comparing the ways in
which LGBTQ teenagers are supported
by staff, schools, and educational groups.
Returning from a jam-packed fortnight,
he described the experience as a ‘golden
opportunity’ that enriched his research,
and also afforded a meeting with the
professor from the University of South
West Texas whose work Roger had taken
inspiration from. Six months later, Roger
was awarded his PhD.
Like the Secondary School Exchange
(see pages 40-41), the Walter Hines Page
Scholarships are a perfect reminder of
the ESU’s Anglo-American roots, and
the ways in which exchange and shared
learning, are at the heart of what we
do. Returning from New Jersey, Florida,
North Carolina, and Ohio, Alanda
Philips concluded:
“I proved to myself on a daily basis
during the tour that I was capable of
more than I had ever believed possible.
The effect upon my teaching and
career has been profound; my eyes are
open and I believe even more in the
importance of what we do as educators.
I have shared so much of what I was able
to see and experience with colleagues
and teaching friends alike. I have built
meaningful relationships with teachers
and parties interested in education in
America that I shall maintain for life,
and I have used these links to create
powerful oversees correspondences for
my classes. It is impossible to express
quite how deeply the experience has
affected the person, and the educator
that I am today.”
The ESU looks forward to the
next 90 years of giving teachers
the opportunity for personal and
professional development, facilitating
mutual understanding, and the
exchange of ideas with colleagues
in America. To find out more, visit
www.esu.org/page.
“I am delighted that the NUT is continuing to be involved with
the Page Scholarships and also that I am personally involved in the
selection process. At a time when good quality Continuing Professional
Development is becoming more difficult for our members to access, the
experiences and knowledge they gain from taking part is highly valuable”
Beth Davies, President of the National Union of Teachers