Since last year, all second-graders in primary schools have received a recorder. The country’s initiative aims to spark children’s enthusiasm for music. This year the costs are estimated at around 145,000 euros per year. And that in turn causes heated feelings among the teachers’ union.
The project is therefore not music to everyone’s ears: the campaign would “force teachers to enjoy their pedagogical freedom,” says Manuel Sulyok (FSG), state president of the Compulsory Teachers’ Union. In addition, there is the musical tuning and adjustment of the recorders: “That is a huge amount of effort and a lot of noise.” His deputy Helmut Gaal (FCG) even describes the flute requirement as “pedagogically worthless”. It would make more sense to invest the money in music schools.
Winkler and Doskozil are in favor of the project
State education councilor Daniela Winkler (SPÖ) emphasizes that the initiative was created together with the brass band association: “The educational value of making music and learning an instrument is often scientifically substantiated.” The office of state governor Hans Peter Doskozil (SPÖ) explains that the project was very well received, “also because teachers and the music school system work closely together.”
The Ministry of Education explains that “in principle, any well-considered initiative to promote art, culture and creativity in the classroom is useful”. Evaluation results that would hopefully be available could further improve such broad projects and support teachers in the process.
Source: Krone
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