With a
New Year sMAG extends good wishes to everyone, and the hope that everyone in
the community has benefited from a well-earned break. We expect and hope of
strong movement forward in our sector in 2018.
Our
collective work is not done! We would say that after a four-year journey
towards implementing the 17 recommendations from the Victorian Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education
(2013), we are just under half way towards achieving the aspirations. When every child, in every school has dedicated and
protected time undertaking music education, delivered by an expertly trained
teacher, with a sequential, continuous and developmental curriculum in
Victoria, then we can say ‘Tools Down’. Not before.
Music Education Expert Reference
Group
We
look forward to MEERG meeting in Term 1, 2018. We are keen to see work started
in 2015/16 completed and published. Substantive work around the VCAA Music
Education Guide, and the Melbourne University Quality Music Education Framework
has occurred over these years. We look forward to hearing about a date for
publication. We also look forward to continued discussions around the SIMP and
tertiary sector. Agenda items such as these would contribute towards fulfilling key
inquiry recommendations and the vision for The Arts as communicated in The
Education State white paper.
sMAG VISION 2018
sMAG
vision and aspirations for 2018 need to centre around improvement in tertiary
music specialism delivery; rural and regional music education delivery; and
continued improvement to the Secondary Instrumental Music Program (SIMP).
Furthermore, this is an election year! We all need to be equipped to lobby
local MPs in time for the May budget and again for the November election.
To
support the 2018 vision, we are planning events to optimize the vision and
engage all Music Educators in the conversation and actions.
sMAG Events 2018.
EVENT: PUBLIC FORUM.
- Victorian Government May Budget;
·
Tertiary Music
Education;
·
Rural and Regional
Delivery;
·
SIMP.
March 16th - 4.30pm start.
Deakin
University, Geelong,
Corporate City
Centre on the Water Front,
L3, 4th Floor, Sally Walker Building,
Geelong, Victoria 3220.
I
extend my thanks to Fiona Phillips who has secured a space at Deakin Geelong
for our forum focusing on lobbying towards the May budget.
The
room seats around 40 with beautiful views of Corio Bay once the presentation is
completed. You can access floor plans and other information at this address http://www.deakin.edu.au/locations/deakin-corporate-centres/geelong-corporate-centre.
Please RSVP to smag.schoolmusicactiongroup@gmail.com
FUTURE EVENT: PUBLIC FORUM – ELECTION.
Future date: June/July
Details
TBA.
EVENT: AUSTRALIAN MUSIC VAULT.
The
Australian Music Vault has opened at The Arts Centre - 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3004.
A
tremendous resource for any music teacher, it is dedicated to exploring the
history of Australian music.
A venue
that may be great for excursions into the future.
Let's check
it out together and see/hear the benefits.
Free.
No tickets
required. Partners welcome - have not made inquiries about children, it's up to
you.
Tuesday, January 23 2018, at 1 PM -
3 PM.
|
We will
meet outside the Arts Centre between 12.50 pm, and 1.00 pm and explore
together. As investment is made into our
sector, and associated sectors, we can all benefit. I have set up a Facebook
page, so please log on if you use social media: https://www.facebook.com/events/2093213260913990/
SIMP
sMAG
Vic has focused significant attention towards the Secondary Instrumental Music
Program (SIMP) in 2017. The new Permission
to Teach (PTT) policy came into effect on October 1, 2017. The policy is
publicly available on the VIT website: http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/news/news/2017/permission-to-teach-policy-changes.
We
welcome the clarity the document brings around the definition of a teacher
according to the Act of 2006:
“Central to the
2017 PTT policy is the principle that whenever a person is undertaking the
duties of a teacher - such as delivering the curriculum, assessing student
outcomes in an educational program and being responsible for a class - then
that individual must hold teacher registration or permission to teach”.
We
have continued the conversations with the VIT and the AEU around the
interpretation of the new policy. We anticipate the work will continue into
2018; and continue to be somewhat intensive.. Should anyone have concerns with
any SIMP position employment conditions, we advise you bring the conversation
to the attention of Erin Aulich at the AEU: Erin.Aulich@aeuvic.asn.au.
What you can do (Repeated
from 2017).
All Music teachers, and particularly IMTs, are acutely aware of
how intrinsic classroom, Instrumental lessons and ensemble pedagogy all
intertwine and are essential to delivering the Victorian Curriculum, VCE or IB
outcomes. As a community of practice, we need to be able to articulate this
clearly in every local school setting.
A few key phrases to embed in professional lives and
documentation may be;
· Instrumental
lessons and ensemble delivery are intrinsic in delivering outcomes against the
school’s approved curriculum (VicCurr, IB, VCE etc).
· Instrumental
teachers and ensemble directors report against the standards stated in the
approved curriculum, keeping accurate records of evidence and data.
· Instrumental
teachers and ensemble directors document curriculum across The ARTs domain as
required by the approved curriculum.
· Instrumental
teachers and ensemble directors meet with their Head of Music or upline
managers to provide evidence of their documentation and student progress.
· IMTs and
ensemble directors set aside time for professional meetings with their faculty
to ensure curriculum delivery is meeting the requirements of the approved
curriculum.
VICTORIAN JOBS.
With
the roll out of Victorian government targets for improvement in Music outcomes,
we see jobs. Let friends know about the listings at Recruitment Online, and
let's get some music happening! From time to time, I publish job openings on
the sMAG Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic/
sMAG FACEBOOK GROUP.
Networking
and supporting one another on Facebook provides for rich sharing at times. Please join the group, and join the
conversations: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101931139911842/
Federal Delegation.
Music Australia recently organised a Federal trip to advocate for Music Education on a
National level. We supported the Music Australia Federal efforts by writing
letters of support.
Letters highlighted
our support of the recent delegation, the
challenges faced in delivery, and the strategic outcomes required to reach
every child in every State in Music around the goals as outlined in the TEMAG
report Recommendation 18; https://www.education.gov.au/news/teacher-education-ministerial-advisory-group-report-released.
While
Music is not listed as a specialism, it is not excluded from the conversation. Federal
legislation covers Initial Teacher Education (undergraduate teacher training). We
need tertiary institutions to provide specialism training in Music so that a
high quality sequential, continuous and developmental music education can be
delivered to all Australian children, by an expertly trained teacher.
I am
pleased to report that we received a reply from Tanya Plibersek, shadow MP for
Education. Within her reply, she provides a reassurance:
I can assure you this
(Music Education) is an area my office will continue to take a keen interest in
as we develop our education policies going forward.
It’s
not too late to write. Please write to your local Federal member and the Hon.
Simon Birmingham - Education MP. https://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/contact/.
I
have published a video outlining how necessary it is to write to MPs on the
sMAG Victoria Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic/.
Please
look at the Music Australia PDF and
phrase your thoughts around the key points: http://musicaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Australian-Music-Education-Status-Priorities.pdf
Enjoy
the year everyone! I look forward to meeting some of you at the various events
planned for the year.
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