NINE Schools of Art

Recently read about Sweden's decision to shift the starting age for formal education from seven to six years. To me, this reflects a significant change in its educational philosophy, moving away from a historically play-based model. This policy aims to address 'declining academic performance' but raises concerns about its impact on child development, educational quality, and social equity.
"Cultural hegemony plays a critical role in shaping the discourse surrounding educational reforms. The prevailing belief that earlier formal education leads to improved academic outcomes is often uncritically accepted, sidelining alternative perspectives that advocate for child-centred learning rooted in cultural responsiveness. This dominance can marginalize voices advocating for inclusive practices, particularly those from Indigenous or non-Western backgrounds whose educational philosophies may differ significantly from Eurocentric models.

The global implications of these dynamics are significant. As countries adopt similar reforms influenced by Sweden’s decision, there is a risk of perpetuating a homogenized educational model that fails to account for local contexts and diverse cultural perspectives"
https://medium.com/ethix/the-global-implications-of-swedens-early-education-reform-8c3f4aad239f

The Global Implications of Sweden’s Early Education Reform Sweden’s shift to formal education at age six raises critical questions about child development, educational equity, and critical impact.

Finally releasing the blog for the Curatorial Practice : Research & Storytelling workshop at the Department of Art History Faculty of Fine Arts , Baroda. I aimed to challenge the traditional separation between theory and practice in curatorial education. By emphasizing praxis, we positioned curation as a dynamic, interactive process that requires critical thinking, creativity, and meaningful engagement with art, history, and cultural narratives.
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"The workshop departed from traditional exhibition practices, emphasizing the analysis of second-year Masters students' dissertations using art historical research tools. Through activities like mind mapping and narrative creation, students explored the complexities of curatorial practice, intertextuality between words and images, and audience interpretation. The workshop culminated in an open exhibition showcasing students' curated shows, highlighting innovative approaches to art historical research and exhibition design.
Students engaged in activities to create new, unexplored narratives using archival materials. The concept of intertextuality between words and images was highlighted, underscoring the importance of considering how audiences interpret these relationships. The participating students were urged to understand audience expectations, considering how viewers interpret text and image relationships. The workshop addressed challenges faced by curators, such as the limits of representation and the balance between representing artists and maintaining curatorial integrity. These were in general the key aspects of the workshop."

Curatorial Practice : Research and Storytelling Curatorial Practice : Research & Storytelling - Narratives | Interdisciplinary | Hybridity | Iconography| Representation | Viewership

“Farran points out that families of means tend to choose play-based preschool programs with art, movement, music and nature. Children are asked open-ended questions, and they are listened to.
This is not what Farran is seeing in classrooms full of kids in poverty, where ‘teachers talk a lot, but they seldom listen to children.’”

Really interesting perspective; would love to hear your thoughts.

A top researcher says it's time to rethink our entire approach to preschool A long-term study of a statewide preschool program tracked students through the sixth grade and found those who attended prekindergarten falling behind.

Everyone needs read this

Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids

Books are paper ships, to all the worlds, to ancient Egypt, outer space, eternity, into the childhood of your favorite musician, and — the most precious stunning journey of all — into your own heart, your own family, your own history and future and body.

Out of these flat almost two-dimensional boxes of paper will spring mountains, lions, concerts, galaxies, heroes. You will meet people who have been all but destroyed, who have risen up and will bring you with them. Books and stories are medicine, plaster casts for broken lives and hearts, slings for weakened spirits. And in reading, you will laugh harder than you ever imagined laughing, and this will be magic, heaven, and salvation. I promise.

Anne Lamott’s Wondrous Letter to Children About Books as Antidotes to Isolation, Portals to Perspective, and Crucibles of Self-Discovery “Books and stories are medicine, plaster casts for broken lives and hearts, slings for weakened spirits.”

Must read

Most Schooling Is Training for Stupidity and Conformity - Noam Chomsky on Education Avram Noam Chomsky (born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, and activist. More Chomsky: https://www.amaz...

Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids And start raising kind ones.

How to Engage the Youth, Teach Agriculture in Senior High School Now that the K to 12 program is gaining momentum, teachers who handle agriculture-related subjects may have to level up in nurturing the future workforce that will propel the agriculture sector. By Sonny P. Pasiona Photos by

Children will not learn in a hegemonised system They must have access to a curriculum that has their own knowledge systems recognised and represented.

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