Education is in the news most days, but it often makes grim reading. Reports show that many children suffer stress or depression due to early testing and exams, that bullying is still on the rise, truancy has reached epidemic proportions, and ‘school phobia’ has become a medically recognised phenomenon. These are worrying times for parents.
So when some positive news hits the stands, it must be time to celebrate. The recent (March) announcement that the government is pledging £1.5m to increase music provision in primary schools is a welcome sign that perhaps, at last, “the times they are a changin’ “.
The government has been increasingly under fire for focusing on literacy and numeracy above all else, with a study for the National Union of Teachers in 2002 showing that English and maths lessons were taking up half the teaching week in primary schools. Art represented just 65 minutes and music 45 minutes a week.
Perhaps we can breathe a collective sigh of relief that the powers that be have finally realised there is more to educating children than monitoring the standards of their reading and writing. Already the 13 LEAs trialing the pilot music scheme, in which professional musicians give lessons to 4-11year olds, have reported increased self-esteem, happinesss and confidence amongst pupils in the scheme.
To non-mainstream schools the importance of music (and other creative arts) is paramount. Many independent schools provide creative outlets for pupils, while Steiner schools have always taught music and singing as part of their curriculum. What is encouraging is that this £1.5m initiative represents a sea-change in the attitude of those who guide State School policy. School Standards Minister David Miliband and Ofsted chief David Bell are behind the new initiative, which promises that over the next five years all primary pupils will have access to music and the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.
The official reasoning is that providing creative environments can raise academic standards, but I’d like to think this sort of initiative will increase the happiness quotient too. Amen to that.