NOVA SCOTIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
for LITERACY and LEARNING

History continued... page 2

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Changing the Name...

     There are records of discussion of a name change as early as 1984. The word ‘reading’ was seen as restrictive and not acknowledging other interrelated aspects of language arts. By 1987, many districts had moved away from the reading specialist category towards resource and this also brought the name into question. Growing discussion eventually led to a name change in 1993. The name Nova Scotia Teachers Association for Literacy and Learning was adopted at the 1993 annual meeting in Antigonish.

The Work We Do...

     Executive structure and a name would be meaningless if not for the work carried out by the association over the year. From its inception there was support for work in the regions between conferences. Early on, the regional mini-groups hosted meetings for the purpose of professional development. At times, they a book club quality to them. By the 90's most of the mini-groups had become inactive but there was still sponsorship of regional workshops and summer short courses. By the end of the century awards were being given to teachers to help carry out innovative ideas in their schools and classrooms. Support was also given for purchase of the Hackmatack books to encourage reading of Atlantic and other Canadian authors. Efforts to put professional books in the hands of members have spanned the decades.