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Status of Drama in the Primary School | Rhona Dunnett Guest Editor Journal
2011-03-04
Status of Drama in the Primary School
A little detour away from youth drama this week because of something that has emerged in the world of drama in education.
Im sure that the Practice.ie membership includes many educational drama facilitators I wonder if youve heard that the status of drama as an individual subject is under threat?
Evidence from recent primary school inspections suggests that there is considerable room for improvement in the literacy and numeracy skills of young people. To deal with this issue, a draft national plan to improve literacy and numeracy in schools has been developed. Among the changes proposed in the school system are:
- Improving teacher education for pre-school, primary and post-primary teachers
- Prioritising literacy and numeracy teaching in pre-schools and schools
- Using a range of measures to enable parents and communities to support their children`s literacy and numeracy development more effectively
It is the proposed increase in the recommended amount of time to be devoted to the teaching of literacy and numeracy which places drama in a vulnerable position. If you have a look at P30 of Better Literacy and Numeracy for Children and Young People: A Draft National Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools it states amongst its proposed actions:
Increase the recommended amount of time to be devoted to the teaching of literacy
and numeracy:
Issue guidance to schools to use all discretionary curriculum time for the teaching of literacy and numeracy and to incorporate Drama activities and the time for this subject within time for L1 to ensure that the specific total time for L1 and mathematics rises from seven hours per week to ten hours per week in first to sixth classes
Over time, revise the required learning outcomes in subjects other than L1, mathematics and science to take account of the reduced time available for these subjects and provide guidance on the possibilities for cross-curricular teaching and learning in areas such as drama, music and visual arts
It is also stated, on the same page, that in terms of the implementation of this action: Reallocation of discretionary time could be in place as early as 2011- 12 school year.
(http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/pr_literacy_numeracy_national_plan_2010.pdf)
This will mean the downgrading of drama to a teaching tool within the English Curriculum. Margaret Howard, Chairperson of the Association for Drama in Education in Ireland (ADEI) wrote earlier this week The Draft National Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools issued by the Department of Education and Skills proposes to incorporate Dramas time on the Curriculum into the English section of the Curriculum. As many of you will know, this means that Drama will disappear as a stand-alone subject on the Irish Primary School Curriculum.
Literacy and numeracy are core skills at the heart of primary education and I think its important for our country to work strategically to improve standards in these areas. But does it have to be at the expense of drama? Dramas position in the primary curriculum was hard won. It seems such a waste to abandon it while the subject is still being embedded into primary school life and teaching practice. Drama has so much to offer both primary school children and teachers.
This has come to the attention of many in the Irish Drama in Education community a bit late in the day. The Department of Education and Skills was welcoming responses to this draft plan until Monday, February 28th (literacynumeracy@education.gov.ie ). However, if youre just hearing about this for the first time and you would still like to respond, the suggestion is that you email anyway.
A detailed response to the plan is available from ADEI that can be signed and returned to the above email address.
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