Brock conference infuses arts into curriculums
JOHN LAW
With arts funding constantly in the crosshairs, a Brock University initiative aims to get culture — in some form — into all classes.
Now in its seventh year, Arts Matter: Integrating the Arts Across the Curriculum shows Brock’s teacher candidates how to include four arts disciplines (dance, drama, music and visual arts) into other classes and subjects.
“There’s research out there that backs this up, that arts-infused programming in schools leads to higher achievement levels,” says Brock Faculty of Education professor Peter Vietgen, who launched Arts Matter in 2010 with fellow education professors Kari-Lynn Winters and Shelley Griffin.
The Oct. 5 conference, taking place at Brock’s Hamilton campus (1842 King Street East), offers workshops led by arts educators which show new approaches to including the arts in primary, junior and intermediate grades.
Exploration and critical thinking are essential.
It’s a way of including the arts into classes as diverse as history, english or geography, says Vietgen.
“They might use the visual arts to teach a social studies topic, or they’ll use music to integrate language arts,” he says.
“Especially in the elementary years, cross-curricular integration is key for student development.”
The full-day conference is interactive with live performances. About 100 teacher candidates take part every year.
“We’ve made a strong commitment in Brock’s department of teacher education to really adequately prepare our teachers for experiences in the classrooms within the arts,” says Griffin. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback with this conference, so we continue to do it on an annual basis.”
Vietgen says he’d love to include currently working teachers in the conference “if we had the capacity.”
The conference runs Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Niagara Parks gets new CEO
There’s a new leadership structure at the Niagara Parks Commission. NPC chairwoman Janice Thomson announced Friday that Reegan McCullough will begin his tenure as chief executive officer of the provincial agency, effective Nov. 7. McCullough is currently the executive director of Oil Sands Community Alliance in Alberta. Prior to that, he served as assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation for Alberta. “Reegan’s exceptional experience in executive management positions within both the public and private sector, focused on large scale operations, strategic policy and regulatory development, capital construction and financial accountability, make him the ideal candidate to assume the responsibilities of CEO,” Thomson said. Niagara Parks launched an open search in late May to fill the position of general manager, left vacant after John Lohuis’ retired at the end of August. During the search, the agency decided to create the new position of CEO. Responsibility for day-to-day operational functions was also assigned to a new position - chief operating officer. David Adames, the agency’s senior director of business development since 2013, has been appointed COO.