Contextualized Practices in Arts Education: An International Dialogue on Singapore PDF
Preview Contextualized Practices in Arts Education: An International Dialogue on Singapore
Education Innovation Chee-Hoo Lum Editor Contextualized Practices in Arts Education An International Dialogue on Singapore Springer Education Innovation Book Series Series Editors Wing On LEE David Wei Loong HUNG Laik Woon TEH Executive Editor Siao See TENG For furthervolumes: http://www.springer.com/series/10092 Aims and Scope – Springer Education Innovation Book Series Educationholdsthekeytounlockhumanresourcesthatasocietyneedstosurvive and flourish. This is particularly salient in a borderless knowledge economy. For the past decades, the sterling performance of economies such as Hong Kong, Finland,Japan,SingaporeandTaiwanininternationalstudies(e.g.TIMSS,PIRLS and PISA) has channeled much attention away from the traditional centers of education research in America and Western Europe. Researchers, policy makers andpractitionersallovertheworldwishtounderstandhoweducationinnovations propel the emerging systems from good to great to excellent, and how different their trajectories were compared to the systems in America and Western Europe. The Education Innovation Book Series, published by Springer, will delve into educationinnovationsenactedbytheSingaporeeducationsystemandsituatethem in both the local and the boarder international contexts. Primary focus will be given to pedagogy and classroom practices; education policy formulation and implementation;schoolandinstructionalleadership;andthecontextandinterface between education research, policy and practice. We believe that the latter is criticalinmakingeducationinnovationscometobear.Eachvolumewilldocument insights and lessons learned based on empirical research (both quantitative and qualitative) and theoretical analyses. Implications to research, policy and professional practice will be surfaced through comparing and synthesizing Singapore’s experience with those of successful systems around the world. The audience of the edited volumes and monographs published in this series includes researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and students in the fields of educationandteachereducation,andpublicpoliciesrelatedtolearningandhuman resources. Series Editors Wing On LEE David Wei Loong HUNG Laik Woon TEH Office of Education Research National Institute of Education Nanyang Technological University Singapore Executive Editor Siao See TENG Office of Education Research National Institute of Education Nanyang Technological University Singapore Chee-Hoo Lum Editor Contextualized Practices in Arts Education An International Dialogue on Singapore Editor Chee-HooLum VisualandPerformingArtsAcademicGroup attheNationalInstituteofEducation(NIE) NanyangTechnologicalUniversity Singapore ISSN2211-4874 ISSN2211-4882(electronic) ISBN978-981-4560-54-2 ISBN978-981-4560-55-9(eBook) DOI10.1007/978-981-4560-55-9 SpringerSingaporeHeidelbergNewYorkDordrechtLondon LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2013957688 ©SpringerScience+BusinessMediaSingapore2013 Thisworkissubjecttocopyright.AllrightsarereservedbythePublisher,whetherthewholeorpart of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,broadcasting,reproductiononmicrofilmsorinanyotherphysicalway,andtransmissionor informationstorageandretrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,orbysimilarordissimilar methodologynowknownorhereafterdeveloped.Exemptedfromthislegalreservationarebriefexcerpts inconnectionwithreviewsorscholarlyanalysisormaterialsuppliedspecificallyforthepurposeofbeing enteredandexecutedonacomputersystem,forexclusiveusebythepurchaserofthework.Duplication ofthispublicationorpartsthereofispermittedonlyundertheprovisionsoftheCopyrightLawofthe Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer.PermissionsforusemaybeobtainedthroughRightsLinkattheCopyrightClearanceCenter. ViolationsareliabletoprosecutionundertherespectiveCopyrightLaw. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publicationdoesnotimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesareexempt fromtherelevantprotectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication,neithertheauthorsnortheeditorsnorthepublishercanacceptanylegalresponsibilityfor anyerrorsoromissionsthatmaybemade.Thepublishermakesnowarranty,expressorimplied,with respecttothematerialcontainedherein. Printedonacid-freepaper SpringerispartofSpringerScience+BusinessMedia(www.springer.com) Series Editors’ Foreword As series editors, we are tremendously proud to announce the fourth book in our Springer Education Innovation Series on Singapore’s Arts Education. This book representsaneffortdescribinganddiscussinghowtheeducationsystemprivileges theArtsinthepresenttwenty-firstcenturycontextofinnovationandglobalisation. EducationalInnovationisnotalwayscharacterisedbythesciencesorinengineer- ing,butthespiritoftheArtsinrichculturesandpracticesexhibitingthediversityof perspectives,andexpressivityisonewhichoffersnewinsightstoimaginationand creativity. Itishearteningtonotethattheexemplarycasestudiesdescribedanddiscussedin this book shows that Singapore—although nascent in the Arts—is moving in trajectorieswhichareproductiveandforwardlookingwhencomparedinternation- ally.TheArtsmethodologyofjuxtaposingtheinvolvementsofthecreative-critical and reflective-reflexive perspectives is note-worthy of learning from other disci- plines,throughwhichartisticproductsarecreatedfromtheprocess.TheArtsalso bring to the foreground the individual expressivity and creativity through this process-methodology which schools in Singapore can harness. Such learnings are especiallymanifestedwhenschoolsformlocalandinternationalpartnershipswith practicing artists. These artists work hand-in-hand with students through which embodied experiences are formed and valuable dispositions in the aesthetics are formed. IndeedArtsandinnovationisaproductiveinterplaywhichcancontributetothe well being of the student. The aesthetics and the humanistic designs which are so criticaltodayshouldbedevelopedinourstudentsasatwenty-firstcenturyliteracy regardless of their future pursuits. The Singapore Education System is one of the few systems inthe worldwhich hassystematically embracedArts into the curric- ulumforallschools,andthisbookhasprovidedreflectiveinsightsintothisjourney ofreform. NationalInstituteofEducation WingOnLee NanyangTechnologicalUniversity DavidHung Singapore LaikWoonTeh v Foreword Ways Forward in Arts, Education and Culture This book embraces the arts, education and culture. As a tripartite operation with historical roots and a natural evolution to the present moment, it holds principles and premises of significance to artists, teachers, and cultural agents. Its three- dimensionaldynamicisatonceSingaporean-localinitsfocusontheparticularities oftheprogressiveisland-nationasitalsoiscross-culturallyuniversal,inthatlocal issues are directly relevant to the teaching and learning of the arts in national settings across the globe. This volume offers a dialogue on teaching and learning music,dance,thevisualarts,theatre,andtheartofstorytellinginwaysthatbalance philosophy and practice, and traditions and transformations. It is relevant reading for those who are committed to the future of the arts in society and its schools. Anywhere. Singapore is alive in the arts. The sparkling gem of a city at the southeastern edge of Asia, it shines in all of its artistic glory to its citizens and to waves of international visitors annually. While there are clear indications of governmental supportwiththeprimeintentoffinancialreturnthroughtourismandtheattraction offoreigninvestorsintothecountry,itwouldseemthatthebrilliantexpressionsby masterful artists benefit all citizens of the nation, including the young. The com- mitment by Singapore to the support of a continuous engagement in the arts for school-agedchildrenandyouthissurelynoteworthyintheseglobaltimesoffiscal uncertaintiesandtheconsequentreductionofthescopeofeducationprograms(that havefartoooftenresultedintheexclusionoftheartsinschools).ThatSingapore hasinvestedinartseducation,andthatittakesseriouslytheevolutionofitscultural policy as hinged to arts education, is inspiring to artists and educators in the arts everywhere.Theintrigueiscertainlythere,toknowtheframeworksthatundergird andupholdtheartsinSingaporeanculture,tounderstandthesystemsthatfosterthe artsinschools,andtorecognizethatasnosocietyistrulyutopian,evenSingapore hasitsowngrowingpainsinprovidingqualityeducationintheartsinwaysthatare integrativeandabiding. vii viii Foreword Asallsocietiesareinflux,eachwithitsownsetofgrowingpainsandcontext- specific challenges, a view of the situation of the arts and arts education in Singapore is not only a case in its own right but also a window to the wider worldofthearts,educationandculture.Enterthisvolume,conceivedofbyartist, educator,andscholarCheeHooLum,whohasassembledthosewithinandbeyond Singapore to describe, analyze and interpret the current state of affairs regarding school arts programs, the content and process of these programs, the preparation and continued professionalization of teachers charged with responsibility for the developmentofchildren’screative-expressivepractices,andthepedagogicalpath- waysthatgenuinelyconnectchildrentotheartsandartistsforexperienceswiththe potentialtolastalifetime. We need only to consider a single issue—the diverse cultural traditions that compriseanation’sartistic-expressivespectrum—(asoneofmanymattersathand) to recognize the clear-and-present tensions there are for those who envision a relevant and cogent school curriculum in the arts. Within the limitations of a teacher’spreparationandthehoursofaschooldaywhosecurriculargoalisabroad and representative curriculum, whose artistic expressions shall be threaded into schoolmusicclassestoimpactchildren’sexpressivedevelopment?Forthecultur- allydiversenationofSingapore,shalltraditionalChineseorchestrasbeestablished inschools?Filipinokulintangs?Western-styledconcertbandsofwinds,brassand percussion? Curricular units in the traditional songs and dances of the Malay population, and group lessons on Indian tabla? All these (and more) engagements arealreadyinplayinSingapore,andsincethesedecisionsarenotsoeasilymadeat anygivenschool,onechoicemaynegatethepresenceofanotherandnotallmusical cultureswillbeinevidenceevenincurricularpracticewhereequityisclaimedasan important value. Knowledge of Singapore’s reasoned responses to its diverse population in content decisions, and of its reconsiderations in view of current researchandreflection,isprovocativeforsortingthroughreasons astohowthese complexitiesarewrestledwiththereandelsewhereintheworld. Somewhatindependentofquestionsofcontentwithinaprogramoftheartsfora society and its schools are the processes by which people encounter and become thoroughly engaged in the arts. From adults in the public sector who informally experience the arts, to students learning the nature of the arts through prescribed classroomencounters,tohighlymotivatedstudentswhoareintensivelyinvolvedin honing a serious set of arts skills (such as at Singapore’s arts-infused SOTA), processmeritscarefulattention.Processencompassesanalyticalandholisticpath- ways,oralandliteratechannels,kinestheticapproachesthatbalancethemind-body dualism,anddidacticandheuristicrealmsofinstructionalpractice. In Singapore as elsewhere, both specialist and non-specialist teachers are chargedwiththeresponsibilityforteachingthearts,andtheextentofpreparation, supervision,andgenuineassistancetotheseteachersverywellinfluencestheextent to which artistic experiences can be meaningful. (“Arts-light” activities, in which the arts function as time-fillers and entertainment pieces, too often result when teachers are insufficiently prepared in the art form and in the pedagogical tech- niquesthataresuitabletothestudentsandthechosenart.)Teachersdeservesupport Foreword ix intherediscoveryofprocess:Theydeserveaspreadofoccasionstobethoughtful, reflexive, resourceful, and wondrous of the “what-ifs” that happen when the constraints of traditional ways of teaching give way to the facilitation of learning in ways that students find appealing. The Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts(STAR)providespointsfordepartureandpossibletransferintoothersettings, asitdelvesinto(anddocuments)transformativeprocessesinteachingandlearning, actingupontherecognitionofteachersasactiveagentsofchange.Attentiontothe preparationofteachersinthearts,andcontinuingassistancetothemastheymake theirdailywayinservicetostudents,arekeytoinsuringthattheartswillcontinue tobenefitstudents—andsociety—inprofoundways. It’s fair to say that when it comesto the arts,education and culture, Singapore bears watching—by Singaporeans and by those far distant from the South China Sea.Thisvolumeopensapathwayforexploringartseducationwithinthecontextof schoolsinasocietythathasembracedtheartsashumanexpressionofthebeauty, joy,sorrow,angst,andsomuchmore.Itoffersanexaminationofartasexperienced inperformanceandasvisualexpression,anditanalyticallytakestotaskwhathas beenachievedwhilealsoopeninguphonestlytowhathasnotbeenaccomplished. It presents provocative opportunities for consideration by arts educators of every form and context. As Singaporeans steam ahead with ways to weave the arts into thelives ofchildren andyouthintheireverydayworldoflearning, thesechapters offer moments of repose, reflection, and reconsideration. We do well to look and listentoSingaporeforitsphilosophicalframeworksforartsengagementinschools, its articulation in cultural policy, its educational practices in classrooms and communities,anditsresearchandrecommendationsforchange. SchoolofMusic,UniversityofWashington, PatriciaShehanCampbell Seattle,WA,USA
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