SOFA

ON NOVEMBER 27TH, 2009 LYLE BENNETT (SOFA CO-CHAIR) SENT A LETTER TO THE HONOURABLE DAVE HANCOCK, MINISTER OF EDUCATION.  YOU CAN VIEW LYLE’S LETTER IN ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS POSTS.   ON JANUARY 12TH, 2010, LYLE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING LETTER FROM MR. HANCOCK:
Dear Mr. Bennett:

Thank you for your November 27, 2009 e-mail regarding the review of fine arts programs and your positive response to the Rationale, Vision, Guiding Principles and Creativity sections of the draft K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework (June 2009).  You stated that you feel there is a degree of inconsistency between these sections and the proposed program organization.

As you know, the draft K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework was posted online in September 2009 for all stakeholders to offer comments and suggestions.  Education’s intention is to create a proposed program organization based on the stated requirements of interested Albertans, especially students.  This includes flexibility and the option to build groups of courses that will develop skills.

In terms of next steps, after January 31, 2010, the draft document will undergo further revisions based on stakeholder feedback.  Once the K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework has been revised it will then be validated with stakeholders.  Programs of study for dance, drama, music and visual art will then be developed.  Resources to support the new curriculum will be acquired or developed and authorized.  As a final step, Education works with local consortia to ensure professional development support is available for teachers.  We have revised/extended our targeted implementation date for arts education to begin at the Kindergarten to Grade 6 level in the 2014/2015 school year, which will allow us extra time to complete this work.

In your e-mail, you outline a number of concerns with the draft framework, including what you see as an implied emphasis on generalist rather than specialist teachers for arts education.  There was certainly no intent to imply this.  Education’s role is to develop programs of study and authorize resources in consultation with stakeholders.  Each school division is responsible for determining how the programs of study are taught and for hiring staff based on specific qualifications.  School administrators designate teaching duties and assignments.  For various reasons, schools may be unable to access teachers who have specialized training in the arts.  In these cases, curriculum must be accessible to all who are responsible for instruction.

The scheduling of classes is completed by school administrators.  Since the single-credit courses proposed for high schools are meant to be combined, schools may retain current three- or five‑credit structures.  Schools will combine courses in ways that meet both their needs and the needs of their students.  The one-credit structure was proposed in response to educators who asked for the flexibility to provide all students with opportunities to access the arts.  You may be interested to know that there are no prerequisites or entry requirements stated in the current fine arts programs of study.  The junior and senior high music programs state that entry is at the discretion of school jurisdictions, and programs must remain flexible to accommodate a variety of student experiences and ability.

In the draft K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework, the General Learning Outcome of Connecting and Belonging specifically refers to experiences such as the teamwork required for performance of all types, including large ensembles.  It also means making connections with the community and with cultural groups.

I am pleased to hear that you met with Joan Engel, Director of Arts, Communication and Citizenship, Curriculum Sector, on December 3, 2009 and will continue to meet with staff on a regular basis during our curriculum development process for arts education.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns.  I appreciate your input and interest in arts education.

Yours truly,

Dave Hancock, Q.C.
Minister of Education

cc:    Honourable Lindsay Blackett,  MLA, Calgary-North West

Art Johnson, MLA, Calgary-Hays