4c - Questions to colleague within the arts and local parents

I have decided to email out to 3 of my colleagues who work with me the following set of questions -


1. How do you feel discipline has changed since you were a child?

2. Do you think experience is just as valuable as qualifications?

3. Should having dance/drama qualifications mean you should be able to transfer them to any dance/drama board?

4. Should acting experience give you the opportunity to teach LAMDA or Trinity performance exams?

5. Should private dance/drama schools have an ofsted type inspection?

6. How do you feel about mixed level classes ie Grade 3 & 4 or bronze/silver together etc? Do you feel students can still progress?

7. How valuable do you feel 'The Arts' are in an education setting?

8. Do you feel parents/students appreciate all that is involved in running dance/drama classes?

9. Should exams in dance/drama be compulsory or optional. Do students work as hard without a goal?

10. How valuable are the arts to under achieving students?

I will await their responses and blog about those later.

I have also asked my line manager her opinion of The Arts in education -
This was her response:

"An education in the arts on its most basic level, gives a knowledge & understanding into the historical journey of auditory and visual creative beauty, genius and talent. 'A life appreciation' ...such an education has the power to open minds into creative thinking across all fields in education ... To inspire the development of inspirational leaders & artists to achieve the previously unthinkable & untouchable.

An arts education is the life force of learning - without it an education would be static and my rote!"

I have also asked an ex student the same question regarding the arts in education -
Her response:

"The arts had been incredibly important in my education. The arts have allowed me to explore talents and areas of growth that are unaccessible with other academic subjects. The arts have given me the freedom to follow a career path less widely chosen and the support whilst following this dream."


So far from verbal conversations I have had I feel  "The Arts" are well supported and valued however I am concious that I have only asked people who are associated with the arts.

I decided to post on a facebook group for local mums and see what their feedback was for arts in education for their primary school aged children - 


1st response - 
"I think the arts encompasses every subject which allows freedom of self expression ie. Art & design, drama, music, dance etc and I believe these are as crucial to a child's education as maths and English. Children need to be given the opportunity to learn about themselves and the world around them and how to express themselves creatively"

2nd response - 
"Totally agree with xxxxx* answer. Also if a child isn't particularly academic, giving them an opportunity to excel in the arts can have unlimited benefits, not only educationally but with self esteem too"

I was interested to see the 2 mums in question didn't see dance/music/drama as just subject that helped them during those lessons - but that they were transferable skills for life.

4a - Question relevant to my practice

So my initial questions that sprung to mind after going through Reader 4 were the following:

How has teaching changed in the last 20 years?

How has children's discipline changed or the way in which a class is managed?

What are the important skills a teacher must have and use?

Should you be able to teach with experience or should it be compulsory to have the correct level of qualifications?

Should someone who teaches for a  dance (ISTD/RAD) or drama (LAMDA/Trinity) board be able to teach GCSE/A Level dance or drama?

Should exams in extra curricular dance/drama be compulsory? Does it help their progression to work towards a goal?

How to deal with a student who fails an exam or doesn't get a high result?

Should students always work towards performances? Does this help with their personal expression?

Any opinions??

4b - SIG on google

I have now created my SIG on google - feel free to join as I would love to read your views and opinions:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/sig---the-arts-in-education

4b - BAPP SIG on Facebook

If anyone would like to comment in my SIG on Facebook the link is here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1682626381972917/?fref=ts

This SIG includes teachers and parents with arts and non arts backgrounds to get a mix of views from my questions and discussions on The Arts - how they have changed, what is important and how valuable they are.