I started last year’s report with the following statement:

“As I demit office at the next National Committee meeting, I am positive that the new Chair will receive your full support – the MSA is not one person but a team working effortlessly for the benefit of the subject.”

I did demit the chair last November and since then Melanie Shepley (PT Modern Studies at Bearsden Academy) has held firmly on to the helm of the MSA.  Due to illness, she is unable to continue, in the short term, with this position and hence I am writing the report and substituting for Melanie.  I make no apologies that the 2007 – 8 report has a similar format to that of the three previous years!

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work of the MSA over the past year as well as to those people who have worked alongside the MSA to promote and enhance the subject within the Scottish education system. In particular, I would like to thank the National Committee.  Not only do they turn up on 5 Saturday mornings a year but they also put in a tremendous amount of work in their own time.  They never complain and it is all carried out with good humour. This year Ruth Sharp was persuaded to take on the job of vice chairperson and has very ably assisted Melanie with the day-to-day running of the MSA.  Ruth has recently been appointed as faculty head at Gryffe High School but has still found the time to organise this 2008 conference.  David Fyfe continues to work tirelessly with the website from the distant shores around Oban. He also typesets the MSA News and ensures, through the News,  that you are kept up-to-date with what is happening in the world of Modern Studies. Jayne Ashley, as treasurer, Pamela Manley, membership secretary and Guch Dhillon, as secretary, have played a pivotal roles in the association – mostly keeping Melanie right!  A special thank you to Jayne for sorting out the new membership Standing Orders.  It has not been an easy year but, hopefully, life will be less frenetic when January comes and you all pay via Standing Order. Jane McAteer has been dealing with mailings – this is a  mammoth task – I know because I have done it as well.  If you would like to contribute to the running of the MSA but not attend meetings, you could volunteer to do the mailings.  I’d be very happy to talk you through the process!  All regular national committee members have taken responsibility for some important area that helps promote and enhance Modern Studies. The work they do is fantastic and I very much appreciate it. Thanks team! 

We are always delighted to welcome new members so if you are interested in becoming involved in the work of the MSA, then speak to any of the national committee members. 

Contacts with educational organisations

HMIe
Mairi Timmons is now the subject specialist HMIe.   Many thanks indeed to David Gregory for his enthusiasm and commitment to Modern Studies while he was the subject specialist.  Mairi is a very experienced Modern Studies specialist and I am confident that the subject is in good hands.

SQA
There have been some changes in personnel at SQA in the last 12 months: Larry Cheyne has passed the remit for Modern Studies to Stan Da Prato.  Most of us know Stan and again I know we are in safe hands.  Larry has been a fantastic asset to the subject for the last 10 years or so. Thanks, Larry.  Stan is ably assisted by Qualifications Officer, Duncan Cox.

BBC Education
The MSA continues to support the BBC in their efforts to develop quality TV and online resources for classroom teaching. Donald Gunn, from the BBC, a staunch supporter of  Modern Studies has now retired  but I am confident that the subject continues to play a crucial role in the BBC schedules.  2008 schedules include TV programming on China. I have been working with the BBC production team on China Stories.  China Stories can be found on the web: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/chinastories/video_stories/liu_xiao/

Learning Teaching Scotland
The Social Subjects Citizenship Liaison Group continues to operate and we are represented on that group.  Patrick Carson. PT Modern Studies at Clydebank High School is currently seconded to work with LTS on the social subjects component of Curriculum for Excellence.  We are in good hands!

Services for members

MSA conference and AGM
The 2008 conference is, once again, to be hosted by the Division of Social Studies Education at the University of Strathclyde. Special thanks to both Henry Maitles and Vincent Oates for the help in setting up the conference.  With the highest number of pre-registered delegates, the annual conference is once again confirmed as a key CPD event for teachers of Modern Studies. The conference has been made possible only by the very hard work of the conference committee under the able leadership of Ruth Sharp.  Thanks to Jayne Ashley and Katherine Seeley for the fabulous goodie bags!
The AGM is held during the conference and all members are very welcome to attend.

MSA Website
www.msa-scotland.co.uk
This is exactly the same plea as last year: 

The resources section is the most used area of the website. You can only access this section of the website once you join the MSA and get your passwords.
The national committee contribute materials to the resources site but we really do need you to contribute your materials as well. In this way we can all benefit from the excellent materials I see out there in your departments.  Please send an electronic version of your materials via the link on the website.  David Fyfe has worked tirelessly on the website and it would be so good if we all contributed and made his efforts worthwhile. 

Yearbook, MOST and MSA News
The Yearbook, MOST and the MSA NEWS are normally sent electronically to members. The Autumn 2008 mailing includes a print MSA News. In this way you can have the resources in a more useable form and we save on postage. Plea:  please send us an email address that you use so we can send you materials directly. 

Eddy Cornock is Mister Yearbook and MOST.  He, single-handedly, ensures that these 2 flagship publications reach your desk twice a year. Many thanks, Eddy.
David Fyfe and Alison Craig edit and produce the newsletter but they do need your articles if the publication is to be worthwhile.

Study tours
Kenya 2008 did not happen because of the political turmoil over December/January.  I had to make the hard decision to postpone the trip.  We hope to run it in Summer 2009 but I do need numbers and commitment before the end of the year.  Please email me if you are interested. The Autumn 2008 newsletter has the proposed itinerary.

Membership and Finance
Our finances continue to be in a healthy state. See financial statement. We continue to explore ways in which we can use our funds to the benefit of our members.  Please let us know if you have any suggestions.  Jayne Ashley has kept a firm hand on the accounts this year and I thank her for her sterling efforts.
Membership can now be paid in a number of ways: cash; cheque or, preferably, by Standing Order.  The fee still remains at £20 for a year – January – December (students are free). Please email Jayne Ashley to set this up. Details at the end of the report.

Membership has been disappointing this year.  There are still many Modern Studies teachers who are not members of the association and an increasingly large number who need constant reminders to rejoin.  Please encourage all other Modern Studies teachers to join!  Without our membership, we would cease to exist!

Modern Studies Educational Trust (MSET)
As in previous years, MSET awards for excellence are made at the conference. Awards go to the top candidates in Advanced Higher and Higher.  Our thanks go to the sponsors of these awards: Pulse Publications and Mr and Mrs Clements.  Without the support of SQA we could not make these awards.  The S1/2 human rights competition is sponsored by Hodder.  Many thanks to MD, John Mitchell for supporting the MSA.  Modernity Scotland is now sponsoring an MSET competition. Without the continued support from Cruden Foundation Limited, we would not be able to provide the opportunities that we do. A CILLA Award was made this year to Christine Cassels, previously long standing PT at Bearsden Academy.  It was given to Christine in recognition of her support for Modern Studies and the MSA for over 37 years.  Gordon Black and Irene Morrison had the privilege of handing over the Selkirk Glass paper weight to Christine.  There is a great article and picture of Christine in the Autumn 2008 MSA News.

Branches
Dundee branch continues to be very active running Higher and Advanced Higher conferences as well as competitions for pupils in S1 to S4.

Retirals
The baby boomer Modern Studies teachers are now reaching retirement age.  The MSA would like to wish all of these teachers the very best in their retirement and thank them for the continued support throughout the last 34 years.  You can remain a member of the association ….for just £20 a year!

Archives
It would be a real benefit to the MSA if someone would volunteer to collect and organise all archived materials.  We have gaps in our files.  If anyone would like to volunteer to take on this job, please let me know.

Conclusion
I would like to thank the lifeblood of the MSA… the membership…. for their continued commitment to the subject.   We all do indeed promote and enhance Modern Studies.

This report contains only a taster for the work that we do.  If you would like any more information, please contact me.

Irene Morrison
irene.morrison@blueyonder.co.uk
01382 534193 (H)
07944096051 (M)
14 Fontstane Street
Monifieth
Angus
DD5 4LE
1.11.08

Contact email for Jayne Ashley: for SO for membership:
jayne.ashley3@btinternet.com