Dr.Lesley Hendy gave an excellent summary to the delegates of the current background that faces teaching staff. Whilst they have always been seen to be at 'higher risk' - the main reason for Roz starting the VCN over 15 years ago!
Conditions seem to be even more difficult now! Noisy classes, varying levels of pupil behaviour, difficult classroom environments, more strains of flu and colds and a continued lack of focus on clarity of spoken English during Teachers own schooling and teacher training.
Dr. Hendy explained there are over 500,000 Teachers, which makes them a significant professional voice user group. The VCN is seen to be in a unique position as the only professional organisation combining Speech and Language Therapists and Voice Coaches, with 15 years of direct experience of delivering voice workshops in a range of educational organisations and different groups within the Teaching Staff. Support Staff (Teaching Assistants) were a rapidly increasing group over the past 5 years.
Dr. Hendy explained the support given to VCN's Voice training over the years by Teaching Unions and Educational Advisers within Schools and Local Authorities. However, despite much research in Finland, Sweden, Iceland, UK and USA, demonstrating the costs of absenteeism due to voice disorders, voice training was still not always provided as a core part of Teacher Training courses.
Kate Quigley, Learning and Development Manager of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, described very strongly that ATL viewed Voice training as critical for all members of the Teaching Staff. [ATL represent over 160,000 Teachers, Support Staff and Lecturers in Primary, Secondary and Further Education]. A recent ATL Survey (details published in Voice Matters No 43) published in March 2008 reported that 68% of Teachers in Primary Schools reported voice problems due to their job. 37% had consulted their GPs and 24% had taken time off work.
The ATL survey further reported that 87% had received NO voice training so far during their careers! 94% of Primary Teachers strongly felt that Voice training should be made compulsory. Dr.Mary Boustead, General Secretary of the ATL, had said: "It is essential all education professionals are taught how to use their voices more effectively". ATL was now in the forefront of providing Voice training workshops , all of which were delivered through the VCN's extensive network of Tutors around the country (including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland!)
Kate told the Symposium that the VCN workshops were one of the most demanded workshops by their members and Union Learning Reps, demonstrating a clear need! ATL were in the process of preparing a petition to No 10, Downing Street for the Secretary of State for Education (DCFS) and the Prime Minister, coordinating their proposals with the VCN.
Dr. Hendy summarised the position for Teaching Staff: the occupation is still 'high risk'! The VCN voice workshops (with ATL support) are highly regarded and in high demand, but probably only reaching <5% of the school workforce.
Govt needs to recognise the value of voice training as part of an overall occupational voice strategy for Teaching Staff based on prevention rather than waiting until individual teachers ended up with occupational voice disorders that entailed considerable time off work or at worse, moving out of the profession.
Delegates were impressed with Dr. Hendy's conclusion that: 'Clear spoken English will improve pupil learning and help to create a more motivated Teaching Profession'.