SOFA

Below is a reply recieved from a SOFA committee member from Eduction Minister Dave Hancock. Altough similar to the letter below, it raises some different points!

Dear Sam:

Your MLA, Heather Forsyth, forwarded to me your December 1, 2009 e-mail regarding the K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework – June 2009 Draft.  I am always happy to see students show such an interest in important issues, such as education.

I understand you met with the Arts Education curriculum managers at the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils on November 18, 2009, and they addressed your questions.

I wish to address specific concerns in your e-mail.  The proposed changes to the Arts Education curriculum are summarized on the Fine Arts Updates Page on our website at www.education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/finearts/program-updates.aspx.  Click on Proposed Changes to the K–12 Fine Arts Programs of Study to see a chart that outlines what will remain the same and identifies proposed changes.  What is expected to remain the same includes the scope and sequence of skills for each arts discipline, along with the effective and promising practices currently found in Alberta’s classrooms.  The excellent programs enjoyed in our schools, such as ensemble band classes, are not expected to change.  As always, schools and school boards will be responsible for deciding which programs to retain when new curricula are implemented.  The purpose of this framework is to support and encourage effective arts programming, which may include performing ensembles.

The K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework – June 2009 Draft is not a program of studies.
It provides the philosophical foundation for programs of study in each arts discipline.  Future music programs of study will provide more detail regarding specific learning outcomes and suggested programs, such as performing ensembles.  However, the General Learning Outcomes given in the draft framework do include Connecting and Belonging (working as an ensemble) and Creating and Expressing (including performing).

With respect to teachers with specialized training in the arts, staffing for schools is the responsibility of school jurisdictions.  Small or isolated schools may be unable to recruit such teachers for a variety of reasons; therefore a new curriculum must be accessible to all who are responsible for instruction.  When new programs of study are developed, they are supported with learning and teaching resources, as well as professional development opportunities for teachers to support new program implementation.

The proposed program organization in the K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework – June 2009 Draft was developed as a response to requests for increased flexibility and variety.  The intent of the proposed single credit structure was to allow opportunities for schools to create programs to meet their needs by combining single credits.  In this way, schools could create groups of one-credit courses that would be similar to existing three- or five-credit courses, while adding new opportunities for all students to access the arts.  Distributed learning will also play a role by offering courses through the use of emerging technology, such as videoconferencing and digital resources.

We are working with post-secondary institutions to ensure students who wish to pursue career opportunities in arts education will have the required courses and credits to access these programs after Grade 12.  Representatives from Alberta’s post-secondary schools will continue to be involved in the curriculum development process, just as they have been involved in the creation of the Arts Education Framework, which is currently posted for feedback.

Two professors from the University of Calgary provided written text that contributed to the development of the draft framework.  Dr. Shelley Robinson conducted a literature review (Promising Practice and Core Learnings in Arts Education) and Dr. Robert Kelly’s work on creativity informed the development of the draft (there is a section on the creative process in the proposed framework).  His book appears in the bibliography section of the draft K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework.

After January 31, 2010, the K–12 Arts Education Curriculum Framework – June 2009 Draft and the Online Discussion Questions will be removed from Education’s website.  The draft will then undergo further revisions based on responses to the online discussion questions and responses gathered from e-mails, letters and face-to-face meetings.  All responses will be carefully considered during this revision.  Once the revision is complete, the document will again be posted online for stakeholder engagement.  We will then focus on beginning to develop programs of study, and we hope to begin implementation in 2014.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Susan McLeod, Curriculum Manager–Arts Education, Curriculum Sector, at 780-422-3217or by e-mail at Susan.McLeod@gov.ab.ca .  You could also contact Katherine Deren, Curriculum Manager–Arts Education, French and International Education Services, at 780-422-1988 or by e-mail at Katherine.Deren@gov.ab.ca.

Thank you for your interest in arts education.

Yours truly,

Dave Hancock, Q.C.

Minister of Education