I am now working as part the Facebook group, "SIG MODULE 2". If you have had a look at my questions and would like to join the group add me. idreamedadream@msn.com.
I am currently gathering the feedback from my wider work based community and will post it shortly.
Hi Anna,
ReplyDeleteI thought the following in relation to your questions:
Q: In a time within education where A*-Cs in EBAC subjects mean so much to a school, do arts subjects still have a valid place within the education system?
Comment: Valid in whose eyes? This is a policy question. So I would rephrase ‘what emphasis does current education policy place on arts subjects and what thinking lies behind this? I might substitute ‘Dance’ or ‘Drama’ for Arts as there is a hierarchy even within arts subjects (i.e. music is held in higher regard than dance).
Q: Why do we have arts subjects within education?
Comment: Think we probably already know the answer – this question is too general.
Q: Are arts subjects more important within non-mainstream education?
Comment: More important than what? All our questions a relative, we must relate the question to a specific context or other parameter. Are you asking whether Art is given greater prominence in independent schools compared with maintained schools? Not sure where this takes you, there is too much local variation between schools. You might be able to look at ‘the range of approaches and emphasis placed on dance in different schools’ essential a survey of the range?
Q: In non-mainstream education, are arts subjects about teaching a skill that can be judged or developing the self?
Comment: Looks a bit of a leading question, i.e. you already know what you think. Non-mainstream is either for pleasure or training. Mainstream is for wider educational goals as an overarching objective.
Q: In what ways do arts subjects help in getting students back into mainstream education?
Comment: Ok, this is answerable. You can look at projects and work undertaken with excluded children using art to help them get back into school?
Q: Is it important to include Drama within the teaching of other subjects to subject active/kinaesthetic learners?
Comment: OK, best ref here is ‘ALL Our Futures’ and the impact it had on bolstering creative subjects AND the creative teaching of other subjects. Some schools have creative strategies.
Q: In what ways is the teaching of arts subjects different in mainstream education to the teaching of them in non-mainstream education?
Comment: Yes a better-framed question and probably answerable.
So, overall, work on making the question one that can be answered, and do focus into a more specific area otherwise you risk being very superficial.