The
music community will be very pleased to hear progress made during Term 1
towards improving music education. sMAG
committee members continue to raise our collective voice in public forums,
submit to significant reviews and engage in important discourse with
government. sMAG committees have been
very busy engaging with the Federal Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group
(TEMAG) report “Action Now:
Classroom Ready Teachers Report”, the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
Permission To Teach (PTT) review, as well as our regular activities and
representations.
FEDERAL TEMAG REPORT - SMAG
RESPONSE
The sMAG Teacher Training Working Party met over several weeks to
make a response to the TEMAG report. The
committee submitted a three page response based on Recommendation 18.
SUMMARY:
“sMAG welcomes the
report findings and in substance agrees with the 38 recommendations put forward
by TEMAG. A stronger selection process, quality assurance processes and
undergraduate training and assessment will put Australian education at the
forefront of world-class systems.
As our
professional focus is on specialisation, we particularly welcome Recommendation
18. We would encourage
the Federal
government to strengthen this recommendation further.
Recommendation 18
Higher education providers equip all
primary pre-service teachers with at least one subject specialisation, prioritising
science, mathematics or a language. Providers publish specialisations available
and numbers of graduates from these programs.
All specialist
areas need to be included in this recommendation. Over the decades, primary
schools in particular have valued hiring a Visual Arts, Music and PE/Health
specialist teachers. Regrettably, only the larger primary schools can afford to
hire one or more specialist teachers, with most schools relying on the
abilities of their generalist teachers to deliver all programs. Unfortunately,
the Australian context has demonstrated that the generalist model of delivering
music has failed our students with generalist teachers not having the skills to
deliver the music/arts program. Music needs to be delivered in a sequential,
developmental, continuous and compulsory program from P – 8 by expertly trained specialist teachers. Elective from Year 9 – 12.”
The
sMAG TTWP then went on the summarise implementation suggestions based on the
remaining 37 recommendations under the 5 headings listed in the TEMAG report.
The
sMAG written report was submitted to Mr. Christopher Pyne, Mr. John Hattie –
Chair of AITSL (Australian Institute for
Teaching and School Leadership) and the chair of TEMAG Professor Greg
Craven.
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
(ACEL) Q AND A WITH TEMAG Members
On
March 18, many of the sMAG committee were able to attend a Q and A with members
of TEMAG and Mr. John Hattie, hosted by ACEL and Mr. Jeremy Beard. We are pleased to inform the music education
community that Mr. John Hattie agrees that all teachers should have at least 1
specialisation, possibly 2. He stated
that this area of the conversation was needed, and would welcome any debate by
the community. We followed up on email,
and putting Prof. Gary McPherson and Prof. Brian Caldwell in touch with Mr.
Hattie. AITSL offices have responded
positively, welcoming sMAG’s correspondence as a stakeholder, and assured us
that ongoing conversations will occur in the future.
The
full report highlights key areas for improvement in the delivery of Teacher Pre
Service education across all of Australia and all domains. The work ahead is significant. It would seem that the Federal government
will provide AITSL with extended regulatory authority in order to achieve key
outcomes across all Australian States.
VIT Permission to Teach Review (PTT)
The VIT have announced
a review of the Permission To Teach policy, which has been discussed at length
in the Victorian Inquiry into Music Education regarding the implications for
instrumental music delivery.
Submissions
close on April 13.
It is advised that many stakeholders submit,
highlighting that there are problems with the current implementation aligned to
the VIT definition of Instrumental Music as co- or extra-curricular.
Specifically section 2.11 of the discussion paper. Instrumental
teachers, and HOMs are advised to please read the pdf online and make
submissions. Please share with colleagues to inform the wider music education
community.
The
sMAG Instrumental Music Teacher Working Party have spent much time putting
together a submission for this review around item 2.11. Essentially the argument is around the
definition of a teacher. IMTs assess
student learning (as/of and for learning), develop specific curriculum
according to student needs, assess progress and subsequently report to parents
in formal documentation. The current PTT
does not acknowledge these professional practices in categorising IMTs as co
curricula providers. Whether delivering
individual/small group instrumental education, or ensemble (another form of
classroom) education all IMTs need to be acknowledged for their professional
practice as recognised teachers under the definitions. Failure to do this undermines the status of
instrumental music teaching and, therefore, music education in general; and it
pulls in the opposite direction to that of the Victorian inquiry into music
education and its seventeen positive recommendations. With proper recognition in the PTT
documentation the VIT will allow for both recognition of the high caliber
professionals in our music education community, and provide some quality
control around who can be appointed to such important positions that develop
student capability.
IMT
staff members are encouraged to speak to Marino D’Ortenzio at the AEU for
advice on any employment status concerns.
Victorian Inquiry Implementation Update
Elizabeth Pearce has publicly announced Richard Gill's National
Music Teacher Mentoring Program (Prep - Year 2) for Victoria in the
weekly DET school's bulletin. Expressions of interest are now sought
for Music teachers to train as Mentors with Richard Gill OAM in the NMTMP aimed
to benefit the Foundation to Year 2 student cohorts. Information on how
to apply can be found via the DET School Update Tuesday 24 March 2015.
The flyers have been uploaded to the Music Education NING: http://musiceducation.ning.com/main/authorization/signIn?target=http%3A%2F%2Fmusiceducation.ning.com%2F
Expressions of Interest Due: Monday 20 April
2015
For the Victorian Music Community, participating as a mentor in
the National Music Teacher Mentoring Program is Action 3 in a
long line of actions that professionals can contribute to the improvement plan
following the inquiry. Yet another way many vibrant and experienced music
professionals can contribute to the roll out of improvements following the
Victorian inquiry.
PREVIOUS ACTIONS
ANNOUNCED
Action 1: The VCAA is developing the
Guide and will consult on a regular basis with stakeholders. Inviting
participation, via the Notice to Schools is one consultation strategy that will
be used. Members of the education community are invited to email Helen Champion
directly, as she will still accept expressions of interest to participate in
development of the guide: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/correspondence/notices/2014/81.aspx
VCAA STUDY DESIGN REVIEW
Teachers and stakeholders
are invited to participate by joining the VCAA Consultation Register for VCE
studies in review in 2015. Participants
registered for consultation will receive email notification once the
consultation draft of the relevant VCE study design is available online and be
invited to respond to the consultation draft via an online questionnaire.
Teachers and stakeholders will be given the option of allowing the VCAA to use
their registration details to receive email notification of the implementation
briefings for the revised studies in 2016.
The review includes Music - please have a look at the online publication.
SYMPOSIUM ‘Music
Education in the Primary Setting: New Pedagogies for Deep Learning’
The second symposium was held at the Bestow
Institute of Educational Leadership on March 10. Experiential learning focusing on the 6 C’s
is enhanced with the NPDL theory of learning. An exploration was covered on how practical
learning occurs in musical learning spaces, where students create new pieces in
order to explore established genre.
Pathways on how to support the highly able and engage in collaborative
learning beyond the classroom was also shared. http://www.newpedagogies.org/
It is expected that the exposé will be repeated later in the year.
SOUNDS GREAT - VICTORIAN MUSIC EDUCATION
CONFERENCE
Save the date for Sounds
Great 2015 to be held in the outstanding facilities of Arts Centre Melbourne.
The opening keynote address will be provided by the one and only Mr. Richard Gill, OAM
”
A Happy Country is a Singing Country “
Thursday 16 July
9.00am. A focus on the National mentoring
program. Registrations for the
conference are open now! Enquiries can be directed to the Conference
Secretariat at the Association of Music Educators. info@amuse.vic.edu.au
NEW IPad APP
Academic activity in Term 2 around assessment and reporting
to parents will be the focus for many, as well as major performances. We wish you all the very best in these
endeavours.
