Call to embed arts in school curriculum

As Australia moves towards the implementation of a national school curriculum in the arts, a new review of research by the University of Sydney's Professor Robyn Ewing with The Australian Council for Educational Research calls for the Arts to be embedded in all academic disciplines as a way of cultivating creativity and imagination. Professor Ewing, Associate Dean, Academic Programs and a Professor of Teacher Education in the Faculty of Education and Social Work , stresses that the Arts (dance, drama, literature, media arts, music and visual arts) must not be seen as servants to other curriculum areas. The review highlights international research that shows those students whose learning is embedded in the arts achieve better grades and overall test scores, are less likely to leave school early, rarely report boredom and have more positive self concept than those students who are deprived of arts experiences. Examples from education and community education programs that embed quality arts processes and experiences demonstrate the potential of the Arts to change the lives of children and young people, particularly those experiencing difficulties. "Despite the growing body of evidence pointing to educational and wider social benefits of the Arts, to date equitable provision and resourcing of the Arts and monitoring teaching quality in arts education has received insufficient attention in Australia," Professor Ewing said. "Similarly, provision of quality teacher preparation in the Arts and ongoing professional learning has been almost nonexistent." Many successful arts programs have been established by philanthropic groups.