School arts cuts will limit pupils

Every child deserves a rounded and expansive education whatever their social circumstances or location. The decision to do away with specialists in art, music and drama could be a major hindrance to youngsters getting exposure to areas that might not get them a job but are necessary for a broad education and appreciation of some of the finer things in life.

Doing away with the specialisms in Aberdeenshire schools will mean any provision in these areas will be the responsibility of general teachers with the limitations this may bring.

Can a teacher with no ear for music, or eye for art give a good education in these fields? And do schools, by dint of some kind of vacancy lottery, benefit when they employ someone who used to be a specialist but is now providing more general teaching?

It’s clear there are difficult choices to be made with education budgets under increasing pressure and scrutiny, but is this the way forward? Parents and their children need the certainty that they are receiving expert tuition from someone who knows what they are talking about. Surely we want maths teachers to teach maths and not drama ... and vice versa?

More and more children face being bussed about to receive specific subjects and this puts even more strain on schools, parents and, more worryingly, children.

We know youngsters need great grades in maths, English, sciences and the like to get on in life, but they also need a broad education that makes them better individuals. Cutting music, drama and art is a worrying move.

“Can a teacher with no ear for music, or eye for art give a good education in these fields?”