Aesthetic and Practical Curriculum Subjects in Modern Primary Schooling: Nice or Just Necessary?

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

In his article, “Arts Education: Necessary or just Nice?, Harry S. Broudy, argued that arts education was a “putative victim of back to basics” (Broudy 1979, Bresler 2001). More than two decades later, the valuation of these subjects in public primary schooling has come under similar pressures from standard driven curricula (Winner et al, 2013). This symposium includes three papers from a Norwegian survey in Music, Art & Craft and PE (including dance). A fourth, comparative paper reviews the same fields in Irish Primary Education. A US discussant will comment on the papers from an US point of view and invite the audience in a discussion focusing on the question of “nice or just necessary” in a more global context.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Arts and Learning

Chair

• Magne I. Espeland, Stord/Haugesund University College

Papers

• Physical Education in Norwegian Primary Schooling: Physical Learning Activities for Bildung or Just Fun? - Helga Aadland, Stord Haugesund University College; Trond Egil Arnesen, Stord Haugesund University College

• Music in Norwegian Primary Education: Integrated Bildung (Klafki) Activities or a Reduced Academic Curriculum Subject? - Ingrid Gronsdal Arnesen, Stord/Haugesund University College; Magne I. Espeland, Stord/Haugesund University College

• Art and Craft in Norwegian Primary Education: A Curriculum Subject on the Move From Craft to Art? - Kjetil Somoe, Stord Haugesund University College

• Uncovering the “Niceties” and “Bare Necessities” in Arts Education in Irish Elementary Schools - Regina M. Murphy, DCU Institute of Education

Discussant

• Madeleine Grumet, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill