Values in Education in Northern Ireland,
by Alan Smith and Alison Montgomery

Teaching experience and practice

• Could you briefly outline your teaching background and experience?

• What are your present responsibilities in your school/post?

• What teaching methods do you use?

• Describe the nature of classroom management which you employ.

• What skills/abilities are promoted through this subject? How would you seek to promote these?

• Do you think there any instances where (your subject area) may overlap with any other subjects?

• What would you identify as your main concerns with (your subject area) in the curriculum?

Values and subject area

• How do you feel this subject features as part of the whole curriculum?

• How is (your subject area) perceived by your head teacher/other teachers/parents in your school?

• What would you identify as "value-laden" issues within this subject area?

• How would you approach these issues in class?

• What opportunities are you afforded to teach "controversial issues?" How would you approach these areas?

• What value-issues have you encountered within the Cross-curricular themes?

• What would you identify as the major skills/qualities of a good teacher in your subject area.

Values and Education

• What are your initial responses to the concept of values in the Northern Ireland curriculum?

• How/where would you identify values in the formal curriculum?

• Do you feel it is possible to teach and give nothing of yourself?

• To what extent do you feel you communicate your own personal views in class?

• What values would you say are embodied or promoted in your school?

• How are policies formulated and implemented in your school?
  

Values and Teaching

• How would you define your role as a teacher?

• What expectations do you feel are upon you as a teacher in your school?

• How would you describe the nature of relationships between teachers in your school?

• What are your concerns about teaching in the 1990s?