The revised Ontario Arts policy is released

Over the last three years Ontario (Canada) has been involved in an extensive, research-based review, and revision, of its Arts curriculum policy (standards). The philosophy and intent of the document has started a curriculum shift from a decontextualized and formalist approach (1998 document) to a revised document that shows evidence of the impact of the work of critical and social theorists (2009). This document not only provides arts policy statements on antidiscrimination education, environmental education, critical literacy, and multiple literacies; it has articulated the Arts are a way of knowing, and making meaning. The cognitive and affective domain are acknowledged as part of the creative process, and the analysis process is articulated to acknowledges multiple points of view from larger socio-historical forces, to personal experience. Students are given voice, explore ideas, expose biases, embrace creativity, and become active agents in their learning. The concepts are infused throughout the document in examples that are focused on active involvement in artistic creation.

I am privileged to have been the project lead and principal writer of the Arts policy document review. The review was conducted with great care and included comprehensive information-gathering: research studies, benchmarking and document analysis with other jurisdictions (national and international), focus groups comprised of educators from 72 District school boards, and technical content analysis conducted by subject experts. The development has also been informed by existing promising practices in each of the arts disciplines, and consultations with Faculties of Education, parents, District School boards, Universities, and other Ministries; this formed the basis of recommended revisions to the curriculum. Writing, focus and feedback groups have advised on content and structural issues in relation to their specialty. The entire province had the opportunity to provide online survey feedback on the draft document (a combination of likert-score questions and open-ended questions), as well as numerous regional consultations (e.g., boards, universities, first nations schools, arts subject associations, arts councils). The process also included review and validation by colleges and universities (e.g., fact checks, bias checks). Several social justice lenses have been part of the revision such as inclusive education, environmental education, Aboriginal perspectives, and anti-discrimination education. There are many voices who have been directly and indirectly contributed to the document, and though this involves a system of consensus in some situations we were able to form a document that we can work with for at least the next decade.

The document was posted in May 2009 at:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/arts18b09curr.pdf

It is also available in hard copy for a nominal fee. I don’t think the pricing is set yet. Policy documents are often available for free (except for shipping and handling) or for less than $10. They are currently doing an initial print run of 150 000 copies for 8000 sites to get a few copies into each of the provincial schools. After this run is complete they will be able to take additional orders. The Publications Ontario website is:
https://www.publications.serviceontario.ca/ecom/

The document is called, “The Arts: Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8; (Revised 2009)” and it is publication number 231998.

There are a number of initiatives and projects underway to support the next stages of implementation. There is a lot of excitement in the system.

In upcoming blogs I will explore some of the details of the document, among other arts and education related topics.

Regards,
Mervi