HSC Drama and Music Debate
Drama and Music Teachers in New South Wales are revolting against proposed changes to the Higher School Certificate, which will force students to do longer exams and fewer practical performances.
The changes were released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) last month with teachers only given weeks to provide feedback.
In HSC Drama, ensemble group performances marked by external examiners now contribute 30 per cent of the HSC exam mark. Under the changes in future students would sit a 30-minute longer exam.
Students studying Music 1, would still have externally assessed performances but it would have less weighting on a student’s final mark.
The Facebook page Drama Peeps has been bristling!
The Creator and Administrator of Drama Peeps Jane Simmons wrote.
“The entire drama draft syllabus will fundamentally gut the course and how it is examined. Weightings, assessment, IP options, performance elements, submission of tasks, parity and equity of access.”
Michael Anderson, a Professor of Creativity and Arts Education wrote.
“I have just resigned from a very small role I had on the NESA HSC drama syllabus revision process. Here is the text of that letter
I am writing to resign from my voluntary role providing feedback on the HSC Drama syllabus revision process NESA.
As you know I provided extensive advice on this syllabus revision and none of my concerns about the draft syllabus have been addressed in the recent release. This is profoundly disappointing and undermines my faith in NESAs process. I will be expressing my view publicly that this syllabus revision process is symptomatic of the low regard NESA has for teacher feedback.
I have little faith the current consultation will change that. I do hope that I am wrong and that NESA responds to the overwhelming concerns of the teaching community.
Regards
Michael
Di Mac wrote:
“No external marking of (performances), no directing, no video, no research, no lighting. All IPs submitted electronically. Two hour written exam. I'm absolutely GUTTED after decades of fighting for Drama.”
However not all drama teachers agree.
Joanna Winchester wrote that Group Performances give big city schools an advantage over others with fewer resources.
“Without a big enough class, rural and regional students, don't get the greater mix of talent or they either borrow students from Year 11 or don't do drama at all. Whereas bigger city schools have a far greater option for mixes of students. Seeing Onstage every year, we often see Group Performances from the same schools. Surely this points us to a need to re-create the Group Performances?”
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