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INTRODUCING THE MGHS ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
NEW BOOK BUYING POLICY 2008
 
The introduction of the new Stage 4, 5 and 6 English Syllabuses over the past few years offers exciting opportunities to improve learning outcomes for all students. In the English faculty we are very keen to instill a love and deep appreciation of reading. Fiction inspires students to explore imaginary worlds, to broaden their own perceptions of the human experience and how we relate to each other. We want reading to be both challenging and enjoyable for our students. A study of fiction helps student to develop skills that enable them to experiment with ideas and expression, to become active, independent learners, to work with each other and to reflect on their learning.
Unfortunately, the current resources that we have to teach fiction are wholly inadequate to achieve these outcomes.
Accordingly, we are proposing that:
  • students in Years 7-10 purchase their own copy of the novel set for study. The novel selected will be the focus of the fiction unit of work they will study in each year. Your child’s English teacher will carefully select a text that he/she feels will inspire a love of reading.
  • Students in Years 11 and 12 purchase their own texts, if we do not have the selected text in the book room. This will translate to mean a maximum of 2-3 texts, as most Shakespeare, poetry and film texts will still be supplied by the school.
 
Please note that this policy has been presented to the MGHS P & C Association at the end of 2007 and enthusiastically endorsed.
 
Why are we asking students to purchase their own copy of the novel set for study?
For a number of reasons:
  • In the past, class teachers have been significantly restricted in the choice of novels studied in class. If there isn’t a full class set in the dusty book room, then that text can’t be taught. Replacement costs have become too prohibitive, eating up large chunks of the faculty budget each year. The text may be out of print.
  • Teaching with mixed or half sets of texts can lead students to lack the close supervision of their work and reading support when required.
  • When there is a full class set of texts available it is often is great demand, but of course only one class can use the set at a time. One class will be lucky, the rest get what’s left. And often that isn’t pretty.
  • Texts date, particularly teen fiction. Novels that my generation enjoyed reading as students may no longer inspire students 30 years later. In fact, the Board of Studies has just prescribed new texts for the 2009-2012 HSC in English, many of them set for the first time.
  • If more than one class wants to study that text then the unit of work cannot be taught at the same time. This causes problems when it comes to providing equity of assessment across the year.
  • Our new assessment schedules have made this outmoded practice impractical.
  • Paperback texts have a very limited circulation life. Book binding isn’t what it used to be. Even after 2-3 years many class sets are severely depleted due to poor binding, damage or failure of students to return texts. Subsequent classes end up having to scrape together a rag bag of a class set with some texts often in poor condition, which turns the student off reading rather that enhancing a love of it.
 
How will my child purchase the text nominated by the class teacher?
            McDonald’s Books in Maitland is prepared to offer 15% discount to the school if we purchase class sets on behalf of the students.
We will supply the bookseller with the number of texts that we require for each class. The booksellers will order the texts and bring them to the school on a nominated day. Students will be given advanced notice of the collection day. Students will be brought by their class teacher to purchase and collect their text. Payment needs to be made directly to the bookseller on the day.
 
How much will the text cost?
We will endeavour to choose texts that are appropriate to the Stage development of our students, but of course we have been very mindful of keeping costs down as much as possible. We have been assured by the booksellers that the full discount available will be passed on directly to students. (Realistically, the cost will be around $20.00, not a lot in this day and age, but when multiplied by 30, you can appreciate how quickly our budget is drained when purchasing class sets of texts and topping up class sets to replace lost, damaged and stolen texts.)
 
Does the school get a “cut” out of the sale?
No. The full discount (of 15%) is passed on to cut costs for parents. The transaction is between the bookseller and the student.
 
What if my child already has a copy of the text?
Then you need not purchase another one.
 
What if I can buy the text cheaper elsewhere?
In some cases it may be possible to purchase a text at a cheaper price. If you can purchase it cheaper please do so. You are under absolutely no obligation to purchase the text from the nominated booksellers.
 
What does my child do with the novel at the end of the unit?
Treasure it. Start a personal library of teenage fiction. The school/faculty will not be buying back any texts. Since these texts belong to students they are free to highlight, make notes in their copy if they so wish.
 
If, at the end of the year, students wish to “on sell’ their copy to students in the following year, they are free to do so. The English faculty will not organise the resale of any texts and we do not guarantee that the same texts will be offered in subsequent years.
 
When will my child begin the fiction unit?
         
Year 7
Term 3
Year 8
Term 2
Year 9
Term 3
Year 10
Term 2
 
What about senior students?
Year 11 students will be informed early in term 1 of their textual requirements. For 2008, in the case of both Years 11 and 12, it is unlikely students will need to purchase texts since the course prescriptions have been set for a number of years. However, 2009 sees the introduction of new set texts in HSC courses, so changes in prescribed texts will occur for 2009 HSC students. We will inform these students of texts selected in early to mid term 3 and organise orders and purchases then.
 
How do I know what text has been selected for study, how much will it cost and when is the payment/collection day?
A form will be filled out by your child in class during the term prior to studying the text and brought home with details of cost, the collection day and payment details. We would request you to read, sign and return it to the class teacher so that we can confirm that this information letter has reached the intended destination.
 
Please be aware that if the text selected for your child’s class is available in sufficient numbers in the book room, you will not be required to purchase a text. In implementing this policy, valuable funds will be freed to purchase current, relevant resources and support materials to provide quality work units and maximum student engagement.
 
As you can see, this change involves minimal outlay for you with many anticipated positive results. We seek your support in realising these goals.
 
Libby Guider
Head Teacher (Relieving)