Arts Education And Music Provision In Schools

EDM number 1844 in 1992-93, proposed by Mark Fisher on 22/04/1993.

That this House believes arts education and the provision of music in schools are a vital part of the curriculum that aims to provide for the spiritual, moral and cultural development of children; further believes that educational experiences of the arts result from co-operative efforts which have been organised effectively on a local authority basis for the last 40 years and that the wider cultural pursuits of school children are unlikely to continue without the stimulus of many education authorities; is concerned by the dramatic cuts in local authority education expenditure, teacher redundancies and the diminishing role of local education authorities; notes that the delegation of budgets to schools and the provisions of the Education Bill have the potential to undermine peripatetic teaching, the special needs of the exceptionally able children and activities such as school and youth orchestras, choirs, professional Theatre-In-Education and theatre visits; and calls for all political parties to recognise the value of arts education and music provision in schools and to act to promote the creative work and cultural experiences of all children.

This motion has been signed by a total of 144 MPs.