Let's hear it for culture

On 10th December I posted Mr Ball's offering on the primary curiculum:

A root-and-branch" review is planned into what is taught in English primary schools to allow more time for reading, writing and maths .... some set subjects and "clutter" would be cut to allow more flexibility and all primary pupils to be taught a foreign language.

The general outcry at the time, from the education world, was 'Please leave us alone to get on with what we are good at ... stop fiddling !'Now this morning I read from the BBC (it was their top morning news item) that our young people are now being promised access to high-quality cultural activities and the chance to pursue creative careers. This is just as it should be and something educationalist have been calling for ... I just wonder what Mr Ball's considers to be 'clutter'.

But where does it all fit? I feel sure we will hear more about this later today.

The way the primary school day is currently structured (constrained) by the National Frameworks really legislates against good primary practice. Those who can remember 'spider diagrams' before they became 'mind-maps' will be more than aware of how inspired teachers can develop awareness through a vast range of curriculum initiatives that centre on pupil involvement. There is no need for extra time for this initiative. All that is needed is for teachers to respond to the growing awareness that there is more to be developed in teaching and learning than the ability to manipulate text and numbers.

I feel confident that if left to their best devices practitioners will embrace this 'new' cutural initiative.

One of the problems that faces the initiative is in the text: "at least five hours of high-quality culture per week". We really don't have a shared definition of what 'high-quality' might constitute no more than we have a definition of 'good art' ( see the Turner Prize for the last few years ... particularly Mark Wallinger's bear.)