The Australian - June 17

The Australian newspaper has published an article on the push for more Music Education: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/an-education-for-the-soul/story-fniwj43s-1226956387933#  sMAG and The Music Trust/The Full Deal are mentioned, along with the Victorian government inquiry.  Please pick up a hard copy, or check your online subscriptions. 

TEMAG submission

Over the last few months, Christopher Pyne has set up online processes to review key aspects in Education.  The Federal submissions process to the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group (TEMAG) have now closed. sMAG made a substantive submission specifically on Music Specialist teacher training. When ready, all public submissions will be available to read here: https://submissions.education.gov.au/Forms/TEMAG/pages/index

The discussion paper can be read here: https://submissions.education.gov.au/Forms/TEMAG/Documents/TEMAG%20Issues%20Paper%20-%20April%202014.pdf

The sMAG Co-Chairs extend appreciation and thanks to the main writer for this submission; Professor Robin S. Stevens.  Thank you, Robin!

sMAG Patron Honoured in QBD Awards

Dr. Barry Jones has been awarded with a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list!  We welcome the news and congratulate our patron on this prestigious award, following his years of service to the community in science, humanities, politics and public health organizations.
Read the ABC story here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-09/victorians-honoured-with-queens-birthday-awards/5507662

Comment on Government response to the Music Inquiry

It has been a little over a week now since the Napthine Government tabled their response to the Inquiry into Music Education.

On the whole the response can only we seen as positive – each of the 17 recommendations were accepted in full or in principle.   Additionally, there is a commitment to continue a process of consultation on a number of the recommendations. 

We welcome the fact that the Government supports in full or in principle each of the 17 inquiry recommendations.  We welcome the fact that the DEECD will begin work on some of the recommendations and that stakeholder consultation will take place on others.  sMAG is willing to work with Government and the DEECD to fully develop the recommendations and their implementation as stakeholders.  We encourage the Government to further develop policies consistent with the recommendations and identify and allocate resources to the implementation of the recommendations in the coming weeks and months.  We urge Government to include the inquiry recommendations in their 2014 education policy and we urge government to insist upon meaningful data collection and accountability processes which will underpin all further strategic improvement planning. Any improvement implementation plan is incumbent upon meaningful data collection in order to allocate resources in a fiscal manner. It is crucial that we identify lags and strengths in order to form a foundation for all other implementation policies to be successful. 

There are though a number of things that we can do and are being done by the Co-Chairs and committee as follows:

1/ We have written to all MPs in both Liberal and Labor parties calling their attention to the inquiry and results.

2/  We are engaging with the DEECD. 

3/  We are seeking to brief the Opposition on the issue.

5/  We are developing some positive media around the issue.   A review of practices can often result in improvement strategies being delivered – which is what we wish to accentuate.  We believe that acceptance of the Inquiry allows us to demonstrate positive stories and we should seek to demonstrate the good things a number of schools have and argue that this should be the norm not the exception.  Should you have a positive story to tell about what successful implementation of the recommendations would mean to your school/area we would be pleased to hear from you via smag.schoolmusicactoingroup@gmail.com

The Music Trust continues their National campaign for signatures to this petition https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/full-deal. Please support them by sharing the link Facebook, Liking their page: https://www.facebook.com/musictrust  and adding on Twitter @ @Full_Deal_AU
The director of The Music Trust - Richard Letts, was on Radio National on May 24th.

Radio National interview with Dick Letts was repeated on Sat May 24th at 10 pm, or you can listen to playback online:http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/musicshow/music-education3a-in-crisis3f/5475520

Victorian Government response published!

The Victorian government response to the Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education has been published:http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/etc/Music_Ed_Inquiry/Government_Response_to_Education_and_Training_Committees_Inquiry_in_to_the_extent_benefits_and_.pdf

The Full Deal: Sign and Share!

Give Aussie Kids The Full Deal

Now the Australian Curriculum has arrived, every Aussie kid should receive a quality classroom music education. Yet research tells us most states cannot deliver The Full Deal.

Doesn’t sound like a big deal? Think again. Research also shows that kids who study music properly not only gain skills in this beautiful artform: they may do better in other subjects and are more confident and happier in life. While many schools do offer a good music education (about three times more likely in private schools), what about the 63% of schools nationwide that don't have any classroom music?

Read more about giving kids The Full Deal at our website, or jump straight to the petition and send a message to your Minister: you want every Australian child to receive a quality music education in school.

Sign the Petition

Link to the petition: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/full-deal

The Full Deal Website: http://thefulldeal.com.au

sMAG April ENews

We have been very busy over the last couple of months, as we are sure you all have!  We hope your first Term in the 2014 academic year has been profitable for you, and that your programs are flourishing.

We would wish to thank Carl Stevens for standing in as interim chair over the summer time.  The role attracts a significant workload, and we are grateful to him for the work achieved, when most folks are having a well-earned rest.  Thank you, Carl!

Following our March and April meetings, sMAG has written to all the Victorian Liberal and Labour MPs, encouraging them to implement the 17 recommendations from the inquiry.  We have also received a letter back from Dr. Napthine’s offices acknowledging our letter, and the broader work sMAG conducts.  It is very encouraging for sMAG to be personally acknowledged by The Premier, with a letter that has been singed personally.   He notes the high levels of interest in the inquiry, and so from this we understand what the government’s aims are.  The letter confirmed that the government will make a response, which will be ready for the public in May.

Further, the sMAG committee has started to develop ideas around encouraging both sides of parliament to adopt the seventeen recommendations set out in the inquiry report.  We have started to look at ideas around a possible action plan of implementation should the government adopt all seventeen recommendations.  Progress is pleasing.

sMAG members have been in contact with members of parliament and their various public servants looking for meetings regarding the inquiry.  We look forward to hearing back from them when parliament rises for the Easter recess.

sMAG has written to the various relevant parent groups encouraging them to submit to the Our School Needs Labour Web Portal, to support the petition created by The Music Trust https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/full-deal, and to write to their local MPs.

We are expecting the media to start picking up stories regarding the inquiry, and the larger community push to have music education supported and improved.  Watch this space J.

If you would like to receive our monthly email newsletter, please send an email to smag.schoolmusicactiongroup@gmail.com with a subject heading 'Subscribe sMAG ENews'.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

THE MUSIC TRUST

www.thefulldeal.com.au

An online parent survey has been set up via Richard Lett’s and The Music Trust http://musicinaustralia.org.au/index.php?title=Welcome .  It is vital that a significant amount of data is collected through this forum to add weight to our efforts.  Would you please circulate through your newsletters encouraging parents to take the survey? In depth information can be found here: http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=850e6aa7d550c0f932264f185&id=fe86e370a2  The official Survey Monkey Petition: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/full-deal

Principals have tremendous power to employ a specialist music teacher should their circumstances allow it, and the parent community encourage it.  The Music Trust has listed an example of how to write to the Principal to this end, which parent may wish to use and adjust to the specific circumstances of your local school.  Have a look here and see if this is something your community can employ: http://musictrust.com.au/music-education/advocacy-argument/a-letter-to-principals-why-and-how-to-have-a-music-program-in-your-school/

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY

http://jazzday.com/

When planning a performance calendar, there is a promotional benefit in aligning a date with international celebrations.  Through social media, local events can be aligned with the major event allowing the news to travel further.  Are you planning an event for the International Music Day?  Why not let us know and we can carry your news.  We may even be able to set up an event page for you on Facebook. 

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DAY

June 21^st –  International Music Day.

http://www.imc-cim.org/archive/international-music-day.html 

Are you planning an event for the International Music Day?  Why not let us know and we can carry your news. At this point, only Brisbane has an official set up.  Victorians might like to think about how to optimise this global celebration of music education: http://publicholiday.org/calendar/world-music-day/   The UK have set up these events: https://musicday.org.uk/

OUR SCHOOL NEEDS - Parents

The Labour party has an online portal where anyone can nominate their school needs –www.ourschoolneeds.com.au Parents are great for promoting submissions like this.  Why not pass the information to supportive parents.  They may be in a position to put forward many aspects of your school that need addressing.

LETTER WRITING

sMAG would encourage all in the community to write via email or hard copy to their local Victorian MPs.   Because this is now timely the more awareness we can get amongst all the Victorian MPs, the stronger our position will be.   We have loaded a generic letter example onto our blog which you can alter and customise for your professional circumstances.  Please scroll down to March News to see the example. 

Letters to the editor in your local leader press would also be timely.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Please pass these connections to colleagues that use these platforms – particularly graduate teachers!

YouTube:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbRgPh9_ZHU&feature=youtu.be

Audio and slides: http://youtu.be/5ZnFPRj-tb0

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic

Twitter: @sMAG_Vic 

Thank you for your continued support.  We hope to make significant progress over the next 12 months.   Hoping this holiday season of celebrations and remembrances finds you well, and able to spend time amongst family and friends.