95bFM Academic criticises government’s plans to sideline art-based subjects in school curriculum
29 August, 2024
Interview by Evie Richardson, adapted by Huia Cameron
Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland, Peter O’Conner, thinks the government's changes to the school curriculum will make going to school a “chore”.
Recently, the government announced changes to the school curriculum: focusing on maths and reading, and sidelining subjects such as art and music.
This comes as New Zealand scores their lowest ever results in the most recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, which shows New Zealand dropped 15 points in maths and 4 to 5 points in reading.
Of the 81 participating countries, New Zealand ranks 10th in reading and 23rd in maths.
However, Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland, Peter O’Conner told 95bFM's The Wire that artistic subjects, such as music, are more academic than the government thinks.
“Music is a form of maths. It centres on number, rhythm, pattern, and there's lots of evidence to suggest when we engage in, and through, our whole body in a mathematical structure, it has implications in the way in which we do maths in the classroom.”
O’Conner says PISA statistics show the area of reading New Zealand students are weakest in is inferential comprehension. This refers to the understanding of the subtext in a piece of literature.
He says drama, as a subject, helps students better engage in this area.
“Multiple studies over many years [have] shown that if children are, rather than just reading a text, exploring it through drama, [this] makes a significant difference to how well they can comprehend the text.”
The government is also aiming for 80% of students to attend school for over 90% of the term by 2030.
O’Connor says arts are one of the reasons why many children actively come and engage in their education.
“[Students] find [art-based subjects] enjoyable and fun; they're different from just sitting and listening to the teacher all day.”
He criticises the government's solution to adopt what he has previously said is a “black-and-white approach to learning”.
“Keeping an education system where children still want to be curious about the world; who are still excited about finding things out about it, is really important.”
He believes that students' interests are vital to their education.
“It's one thing to have a system which is a structured curriculum, and that's really important, but there needs to be freedom for children to explore their passions, to discover new passions, to have their passions for learning encouraged by teachers who aren't just there to deliver a standard set of knowledge.”
“Every child is unique, and every child should have their unique passions, dreams, and hopes, realised in schools.”
