Belinda
You might already be familiar with these but for drawing specific quotes the
Campaign for Drawing publications 'Power Drawing', 'Start Drawing' and
'Drawing on Experience' are useful on why drawing is valuable for children.
For visual arts generally the museum and gallery education journal 'engage'
could be fruitful.
Campaign for Drawing website: www.drawingpower.org.uk
Not sure of the address for engage probably www.engage.org.uk
good luck.
Angela



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Belinda Drake" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 9:34 PM
Subject: MY RESESARCH: THE BENEFIT OF THE ARTS IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL


I WONDER IF ANYONE HAS ANY SCINTILLATING VIEWS ON MY RESEARCH PROJECT JUST
FROM THE OUTLINE I AM SENDING.  I WANT TO GET SOME GOOD QUOTES ABOUT WHY THE
ARTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT.  DEADLINE 7 MAY!!  STILL TO WRITE
UP
FINDINGS.  I AM HOPING THE PLAN IS ONE WHICH IS LOGICAL AND HAS NO GLARING
HOLES. MANY THANKS.  BELINDA (DRAKE)



ESSAY SUMMARY/OUTLINE
An Investigation Into the Benefit of the Arts in the Primary School

Essay Plan
1.  Introduction
2.  WHY?
3.  Literature Review
4.  WHAT?
5.  HOW?
6.  FINDINGS
7. Discussion (esoteric discussion! - why is art important to human
development?  Ideas....this section should enable me to ‘let rip’ a bit!!!
Discussion of different views on this subject. A bit of this  should go in
2.     Why?
too!!
8. Recommendations
9.  Conclusion
10.  Appendix - graphs, examples of children’s art etc


1.  Introduction - STILL TO BE WRITTEN

“All people are capable of creative achievement in some area of activity,
provided that the conditions are right and they have acquired the relevant
knowledge and skills.”

“There have been many benefits in the introduction of the National
Curriculum.  There are also difficulties for creative and cultural education
in the
existing rationale, structure and levels of prescription.  These issues need
to be
tackled now to allow more initiative to schools within a clear framework of
public accountability.  All schools should review their provision for
creative
and cultural education within and beyond the National Curriculum.”

(NACCCE 1999: 10)

“A recent survey showed that despite the creative industries being worth
more
than £67 billion a year to our National economy, 80% of teachers are hard
pushed to find time for the arts.  This means that 1,000s of school children
receive only a rudimentary introduction to the creative world.”
(www.bigartsweek.com accessed 21/4/03 & 5/5/03)

2.  WHY?
2a.  Background to why I chose this subject and why it is important.
Educational history -  political situation under Labour party: election
winning manifesto ‘Education, Education, Education’.
I have grave concerns that with the National Curriculum emphasis on delivery
of the core subjects and Attainment Targets for English, Maths & Science,
arts
subjects have  been squeezed out  of the curriculum - at our children’s
peril! Teacher Training is geared to the efficient delivery of ‘core
subjects’,
and arts subjects consequently have a low status and teachers are not being
adequately trained to deliver these subjects.
My worries are shared - there has been continual pressure for a Government
rethink and criticism of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies by
Head
Teachers.
Whilst researching for this essay, there has been a policy rethink - Charles
Clarke,  Education and Skills Secretary,  has announced a ‘Creativity’ push.
As part of this essay I will look into his recent announcements and see what
action follows the words.....


2b.  Why the arts are important for human development -
. self expression “If you can draw even a little bit you can express all
kinds of ideas that might otherwise be lost - delights, frustrations,
whatever
torments you or pleases you.”  David Hockney in DrawingPower 2003, The Big
Draw
publication.  (I will need some other good quotes and academic input here)
. self discovery
. greater visual awareness
. greater spiritual awareness?
. respect and understanding of other views/cultures/passions
. respect for creative urge within us - composers, artists, performers
. human endeavour


2c.  My expected outcomes:
I am hoping to find evidence that there is a benefit to the school community
from involvement with arts events.
 My aim was to investigate whether it is possible to quantify whether  there
is  a beneficial effect from ArtExperience week.


My expected findings were:
    Improvement to school environment - lots of children’s art
    Teacher’s increased confidence in delivery of arts subjects
    Improvement to school morale - all working together for common goal
    School community strengthened:  as above all working together, pride in
achievements,     friendships and good working relationships between
governors,
staff, parents, children            fostered
    Learning  of arts subjects by children, helpers, staff from visiting
artists
    Inspiration - for some children/staff an ‘Epiphany’ - total inspiration,
life changing±!!!! as a     result of one of these experiences during
ArtExperience
    children gained in expertise - observational skills (and as explained in
p 2 of  my Literature    Review, physical, intellectual, language,
emotional,
social development)
    resources augmented - new paints, brushes, glue
    Greater Respect for Arts Subjects - Head Teacher’s report to
Governor’s Jan 2004 2 months          later praising schools achievements.
HT
considering applying for an ArtsMark award, which    shows pride in schools
artistic
achievements.

Criticism/Argument for a Week’s activities:  Is this enough....should there
not be regular, inspiring arts activities in school every week, not just for
one week a term?  Some school heads would say yes - and I have evidence of
other
’excellent practice’ where a week like this would be thought inadequate.
(Robert Fisher ‘ Researching Creativity  In Schools’ on Ridgeway Primary
School
and Nursery, Teaching Thinking Autumn 2003). One of the recommendations of
The
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (1982:141) report was that opportunities for
expressive and creative works in arts should be part of daily school work.

3.  Literature Review
Already carried out - to be inserted here, with updates on recent Creativity
push and update on some of the initiatives.
Main reports refered to in Literature Review are:
Calouste Gulbenkian 1982 The Arts in Schools...
Campbell, D (1997) The Mozart Effect
Department for Culture, Media and Sport ( Jan 2000) "Government Response to
All our Futures:      Creativty, Culture and Education"
Downing, D "Saving a Place for the Arts " NFER Northern Office 2003
Gardner, H (1993) Frames of  Mind:  The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Harland, J et al (2000) Arts Education in Secondary Schools:  Effect and
Effectiveness
Jenkinson, P (2002) Creative Partnerships
Ofsted, (Oct 2002) The Curriculum in Successful Primary Schools
NACCCE (1999) All our Futures - Creativity, Culture and Education DfEE

4.  WHAT?
What I did in my research.
Location: My focus was on an ‘ArtExperience Week’ in November 2003 at a
North London Junior School ,  with a multi racial student population of 240.
Sample:  240 children, 20 staff, 80 parent volunteers

Method:  Ethnographic - both qualitative and quantitative
I was one of team of parent organisers responsible for setting up the week,
fund raising, booking artists,  and I was present all week assisting the
children.

5.  HOW?
How did I go about my research?
- Written permission from the Head Teacher
- Letter explaining my research aims sent to all teaching and non -teaching
staff and what involvement I would like from school members
- 2 children’s Questionnaires, devised with input from the School Council,
one at the start of ArtExperience Week, one several weeks after
- 1 staff questionnaire, devised by a member of staff.
- informal interviews with children
- informal interviews with staff
- informal interviews with artists
- video footage during the week and at the Exhibition
- photographs taken and analysed
- observing children’s art work


METHODOLOGY:
Participatory Research -
As part of ArtsExperience Week Committee as both a parent and a parent
governor I helped parents, staff and children organise the event. My method
of
research was Ethnographic.......
well known, there each day -
 I am a member of the school community - as a parent, governor and active
member of the Parent Teacher Association committee and am therefore known to
the
children and staff in the school and my presence was therefore nothing out
of
the ordinary.  During the Art Experience Week  I was assisting in the school
each day as  a parent volunteer.
 Among other things I assisted in producing a leaflet, raised sponsorship,
booked artists and was available to set up and take down the event, assisted
during the week, put on the end of ArtsExperience Exhibition, helped
distribute
completed art work to the children and put on permanent displays and thank
sponsors and artists for their participation.

Activities during ArtsExperience Week
I assisted with the following different arts activities:
    1.  whole-school  activities
        - dance sessions
        - mural
        - freaky photos
        - sketch books
    2.   4 workshops which years 1-5 chose one of :
            costume making
            drama
            portrait drawing
            sci-fi drawing
    3.  Years 3&4 activities only:
            Model Houses of the Future
    4.  Year 5 activity only:
            Digital Photo Stories
    5.  Year 6 activities only :
            music mixing workshop
            op art



6.  FINDINGS - STILL TO WRITE UP
 - my daily diary
- my reflections in the 4 months since the ArtExperience Week
- analysis of 3 questionnaires (findings both quantitative and  qualitative)
        1 questionnaire has been put into SPSS which was very time-consuming
and hopefully has yielded some useful information
-analysis of interviews
- analysis of video
- photographic evidence of children’s achievements and activities
- analysis of discussions with children/staff/parents
- analysis of children’s art work
- plans for ArtExperience 2004

Discussion of Findings under themed subheadings:
    Views of School Community
    Children    QUOTES
    Staff   QUOTES (Ms W - break with timetable, Ms McC , Mr H)
    Parent QUOTES


    Increased Teacher skills

    Break with usual timetable
    Quotes on benefit of freedom, quotes on problem for usual
school structure

    Children’s art work - samples and photographs

    School Environment

    Learning Styles/Multiple Intelligences (Gardner, H. 1993)

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (1982:141) refer to the contribution made by
the arts to 6 areas of ‘educational responsibility’  see p 3 of Literature
review - have they been met:
- developing the full variety of the human intelligence
- developing creativity
- educating in feeling and sensibility
- developing physical and perceptual skills
- exploring values
- understanding cultural change and differences




7. Discussion (esoteric discussion!) - why is art important to human
development?  Ideas....this section should enable me to ‘let rip’ a bit!!!
Discussion of different views on this subject. A bit of this should go in 2.
Why? too!!

8. Recommendations
a.  How could this piece of research have been improved - longer term, wider
research, clearer focus  eg link with maths music


b. How can this research be developed to contribute to the on-going debate
about the NCurriculum and importance of the Arts - to request permission
from
Head Teacher to continue in future years

e.  How can delivery of arts subjects be improved generally in school

d.  Recommendations to the Government and educationalists


9.  Conclusion

10. Bibliography

11. Appendices