Corporate entry
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Australian Science at Work
Corporate entry
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Initial Teaching Alphabet Association Australia (1974 - 1995?) |
| Function: Education, Association and Society or Membership Organisation |
| Location: Victoria, Australia |
| The Initial Teaching Alphabet Association Australia was established in Australia in 1974 by founding member Arlie B. Hargreaves and under the patronage of Sir George and Lady Paton. |
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The Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) is an 'initial alphabet' for the teaching of reading to beginners. It consists of forty-four symbols which represent the 'forty sounds' of the English language according to Sir James Pitman. The ITA alphabet is based on phonetic spelling of workds - the theory being that children and beginners can become proficient readers much more quickly by using this medium which doesn't have the complexities and contradictions of the English "Traditional Orthography" (TO) alphabet. Once proficiency in reading skills is attained, ITA allows the reader to transfer to the TO alphabet. As early as 1568, augmentation of the Roman alphabet was advocated to "adequatly represent the sounds of English". Sir Isaac Pitman, inventor of the Pitman shorthand system, made a start at augmentation of the Roman alphabet in the 1830s, but it was his grandson Sir James Pitman who completed the task in 1960. Sir James Pitman's development of ITA was not an attempt at spelling reform, but the creation of a medium for the initial learning of reading (see item A0172). Arlie B. Hargreaves was involved with the ITA in Australia from the beginning, first as ITA advisor for Pitman House Publishing Co., Carlton, which sponsored the introduction of ITA into Australia from 1963-1973; then, with the help of Sir George Paton, Hargreaves formed the ITA Association of which she served as Honorary Secretary/Treasurer. At the same time, Hargraeves used ITA as a tutor in literacy at the CAE (Council of Adult Education), and also with AMES (Adult Migrant Education Services). Her home in Carlton served as the Resource Centre for the ITA Association. Timeline 1960 Sir James Pitman completes the Initial Teaching Alphabet 1961-1963 Experimentation with ITA in many English schools 1963 Introduction of ITA to USA and Australia 1964The School Council set up in England ITA first introduced into Australia by T.L.W. Emerson, an Inspector of Schools in the Education Department of Victoria. First school to use ITA isa state school in Warnambool. Lectures and demonstrations to teachers are held to make ITA more widely known including the film, 'The Forty Sounds of English'. Western Australia introduces ITA for remedial reading. Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales each introduce ITA into one primary school. Early seminars are held at Mercer House, Training College for Independent Schools 1965 Sir James Pitman visits Australia. 6 state schools (including Warnambool) and some independent schools in Victoria commence using ITA. The Education Department initiates a 'Pilot Scheme' involving 5 of the state schools using ITA. ITA Correspondence Courses conducted by Arlie B. Hargreaves begin throughout Australia. 1965-1966 Research to assess effectiveness of ITA in Victoria - findings not conclusive 1966 Curriculum and Research Branch of Victorian Education Department published report evaluating first phase of an experiment to compare the effectiveness of ITA with TO - report was favourable. 1966-1967 Professor F.W. Warburton and Mrs Vera Southgate worked on experimentation with ITA. 1968 The PALITA (Program of Aboriginal Literacy using ITA) established. 1973 From 1963 to 1973, the promotion and use of ITA in Australia was through the ITA Advisor for the Pitman Publishing Co. Pitman House. In 1973, Pitman House withdrew its financial support from ITA due to poor sales of ITA books. 1974 ITA Association Australia established, and its Constitution developed. The first Annual Meeting of ITA Association is held, including the election of 7 committee members. Determination of officers required and election of these officers. Patrons: Sir George Paton and Lady Paton. Address of the ITA Association Aust. is at 7 Victoria Cresent, Mont Albert, Victoria 3127 Telephone: (03) 89 1340, unitl 1981. 1975 First newsletter of ITA Association Australia. The Bullock Report 'A Language for Life' published. A Commission of enquiry on the teaching of reading in the UK. 1977 ITA Typewriter arrives in Australia 1978 ITA video 'ITA in Australia' commenced by State Colleges of Victoria at Frankston and Melbourne. 1979 UK ITA Federation formed to promote functional literacy and numeracy through the use of ITA. 1981 Visit by Jesse Lintern fromthe UK ITA foundation. 1982 ITA Association Australia address at 693 Lygon Street, North Carlton, 3054. 1993 ITA Association Australia address at Unit 4/39 McLean Street, West Brunswick, 3055 1995? ITA Association Australia dissolves. Foundation Members and Patrons of the ITA Association Mr L. Emerson Mr A. L. Harris Mrs Kay Ross Miss Noreen Seymour Prof. K.B. Start Miss Leonore Willis Mrs Arlie B. Hargreaves 1995 Committee (in recess) Miss Denise Hargreaves Miss Leonore Willis Miss Frances Guiney Mrs Helen Weate Mr Graham McGarvie Mrs Sandra L. Wood Mrs Arlie B. Hargreaves Related Organisations ITA Foundation United Kingdom ITA Foundation USA Education Department of Victoria Pitman House, Carlton, Victoria |
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