Developing the Arts, Mrs Carey’s Concert and 21st C Learning

The need to provide for the creative arts was a key topic at our annual conference in June 2011.

A paper on the National Curriculum website describes an Arts program:

"An education rich in the Arts maximises opportunities for learners to engage with innovative thinkers and leaders and to experience the Arts both as audience members and as artists. Such an education is vital to students’ success as individuals and as members of society, emphasising not only creativity and imagination, but also the values of cultural understanding and social harmony that the Arts can engender" (National Education and the Arts Statement, 2007).

http://www.acara.edu.au/verve/_resources/Shape_of_the_Australian_Curriculum_The_Arts_-_Compressed.pdf

• Where are the Arts positioned in contemporary learning and where should they be and why.
• Have you experienced benefits or negative effects of an intense and demanding arts curriculum on learners? 

Barbara Stone, immediate past Principal of MLC Sydney was a keynote speaker at our conference.  In her presentation she mentioned the documentary made at the school and its release in cinemas and subsequently on tv and as a DVD. The documentary by noted film makers Bob Connolly and Sophie Raymond has been the subject of discussion and debate and we are interested in your opinions.

If you have seen "Mrs Carey’s Concert” please comment on the following questions and raise any other points you think we should be discussing.

• Does the approach to learning and pastoral care shown in the film reflect your ideas about 21st C learning or do you think there are other ways which are better?
• What role should "teachers” play in 21st C learning? Are they instructors, 
• guides, facilitators, or something else including combinations of some or all of these?
• Some viewers feel that the students were placed under extreme pressure to perform and reach a high level of competency. Is it good to "stretch” or should there be more scope to opt out?
• Where are the benefits for the 'chorus member' as opposed to the 'soloist'?
• Some commentators indicated that they think music and the performing arts should be compulsory for all schools. Do you think that making the creative arts compulsory help or hinder love of the arts and creativity
• Can you see ways in which personalized learning could be incorporated into the learning program with its intense focus on music performance?

To read more about the film and reviews go to:

http://www.mrscareysconcert.com/?page=index. 

To view the film go to:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/watchnow/iview

To view a Performing Arts Centre at St Peters Girls school, SA go to:

http://www.sarah.com.au/component/jedirectory/?view=item_detail&d_itemid=45

Article thanks to Ann Gorey, Educational Facilities Researcher & Planner, Ann Gorey & Associates, SA

With assistance from David Kilpatrick, Director, Kilpatrick Architects, SA