Understanding STAT I - Standards

The word ‘standard’ has a number of different meanings, which tend to get somewhat mixed up in discussions about Alexander Technique training courses. (Not all meanings of the word ‘standard’ are relevant to what I write, but don’t worry, I won’t flag up or make a song and dance about them.)

STAT members, and their published documents, make statements about 1600 hours being ‘the standard’ for training course - and some STAT-trained teachers are genuinely distressed and worried that ITM’s training course might dilute the standards of the profession because it has less than 1600 contact hours. We try to soften their distress and worry, in a number of ways, assuring them that we have high standards of our own. But the word 'standard(s)' means different things. And as you get to meet STAT-trained colleagues in the years to come, you may need to make it clear which meanings of the word 'standard' are in play in such discussions.

The four meanings I want to focus on are:

[1] 'Standard' meaning ‘a level of quality’

In the dictionaries I’ve looked at, this is the first meaning that is listed, and it is probably the first meaning that comes to mind when people hear the word used. In our exams - both written, and teaching - we measure the degree of competence of the teacher-trainee in their knowledge, understanding, and practice of the Alexander Technique. If someone meets the standards of the exams, they qualify as a teacher. In this sense, 'standard' means a qualitative benchmark. Trained examiners can see a passing performance, or read a passing exam paper, and can explain why examinees pass or fail with reference to these benchmarks. In our regulatory discussions, we have referred to this meaning as 'output standard' - it is a measure of the output of training. Our (ITM's) four written exams, and practical teaching exam at the end of the course, are qualitative measures of knowledge, understanding, and practical skills which STAT training courses typically do not have.

[2] Standard meaning ‘a unit of measurement’

'Standard' can also mean a unit of measurement, or an agreed specification which has wide acceptance in an industry or profession. The STAT standards of course-length (1600 hours), weekly rhythm of study (typically four half-days per week, each of four hours in length over eleven/thirteen week terms), and of the relationship between practice and theory (80% practical) are specifications which apply to STAT training courses. These specifications are quantitative, rather than qualitative: they have to do with duration as a property of the training course calendar and timetable, rather than demonstrable skills of the graduate teacher. It is STAT’s experience that graduates of 1600 hour training courses are competent to teach the STAT way - though there are dissenting voices, even within STAT, which would dispute this. In our regulatory discussions we have referred to this meaning as 'input' standards.

[3] Standard meaning ‘a behavioural requirement’

This sense of 'standard' is perhaps the least familiar, but it is important to us, as it could be a component of our Continuing Professional Development programme. The Health Professions Council has recently published standards for its CPD programmes, and these are neither qualitative benchmarks, nor quantitative specifications - they are requirements (labelled standards) which are worded like this ‘You must maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities’, and ‘You must present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD upon request’.

[4] Standard meaning ‘average’, ‘normal’, or ‘usual’

Lastly there is the meaning of 'standard' as ‘the most usual’ or ‘the normal’ this is standard in the sense of (American) ‘regular’. In the hotel industry this is where ‘standard-room’ means a normal room, at a normal price. STAT courses are standard in this sense, because there are more of them, and they are the norm.

So if you meet a STAT teacher who objects to your ITM training background, and who says ‘STAT is the standard’ or ‘Your ITM standards are inferior to our standards’ you should smile sweetly at them and ask ‘Which sense of the word standard did you have in mind exactly?’