This is how art needs to be taught in primary schools: expert

Dr Greg Shapley

By Dr Greg Shapley
Community contribution / June 9, 2021

As schools become more focused on exams and outcomes, and as perpetual panic over the state of numeracy and literacy leads to the marginalising of creative subjects, both the quality and quantity of visual arts education is suffering.

This is not an article about the merits of a creative education (I'm taking it for granted that if you ...

EOI - Principal (Levels 3-10) - Temporary Relieving Pool 2026 - North Queensland

Department of Education and Training (Queensland) Townsville

Expand your professional horizons in North Queensland The North Queensland Region is establishing a talent pool of experienced leaders available for short-term relievi...

Teaching - Secondary / Feb 09, 2026

Nursery Room Leader

Teaching - Early childhood / Feb 08, 2026

Veritas Bradford

Teaching - Secondary / Feb 08, 2026

By Dr Greg Shapley

Community

Dr Greg Shapley is NOT a classroom teacher. He does, however, have a Doctor of Creative Arts degree, has taught visual and media arts at the University of Technology, Sydney and Sydney College of the Arts, has run two art galleries and curated over one hundred shows. Further, he has directed arts events and conducted workshops in schools and currently teaches instrumental music to primary and high school students. He also has two children who constantly surprise him with their creativity.

Similar news

School news / ‘Harmful and embarrassing’: The way HPE is taught needs to change, expert says Opinion / We need an urgent review of how literacy and numeracy are taught in primary schools School news / 'Essential concepts' of cybersecurity not taught early enough: expert

Latest comments

Between 3 teachers in my office we spent well over 10k of our own money. With one hitting the 6k mark. This doesn...

— Surfer Boy on ‘Unacceptable Reality’: Teachers Spend $1k Annually On Their Own Classrooms, Union Finds

Top events

School news / Teaching kids critical thinking skills early may help ensure our future

Education systems need to focus more on independent critical thinking and rational, evidence-based learning and problem-solving to find answers to many of the unprecedented environmental, social and economic challenges facing humanity, experts say.

Opinion / Should school breaks be considered part of learning?

A Charles Sturt University education expert argues that because recess and lunch are generally regarded as ‘breaks’ from learning and make up such a large part of the school day, schools and education systems should give them more consideration.

School news / AI could help students avoid sometimes paralysing learning hurdle – maths anxiety

While personalised support is widely recognised as the most effective way to address maths anxiety, many teachers struggle to deliver this level of support at scale within busy classrooms.

Professional development / Professional Development Through Culture and Aboriginal Cultural Immersions

How Aboriginal Cultural Immersions Strengthen Today’s Youth

School news / Spike in young Aussies vaping despite increased awareness of risks

Young Australians are continuing to vape in alarming numbers, despite being aware of the severe health risks involved, while a worrying cloud has formed around nicotine use among Australian teens, marked by high dependence and low parental awareness.

Opinion / We should not brand the Mosman Park tragedy as ‘unspeakable’

The tragic deaths of Maiwenna ‘Mai’ Goasdoue, 49, and Jarrod Clune, 50, along with their two teenage sons, Leon, 16, and Otis, 14, in their Mosman Park home have prompted strong emotions from many in the community.

School news / New grads hinder charge to implement evidence-based reading instruction: teachers

Underprepared graduate teachers are placing a huge burden on Victorian schools who are working hard to implement Multi-Tiered-Systems-Of-Support (MTSS) for evidence-based reading instruction, a glaring new study has found.

Opinion / Quieter, calmer and less colourful classrooms are far from a ‘back to basics’ return

You could be forgiven for looking at some contemporary classrooms and interpreting what you see as a step back in time.

School news / Checklist supports autistic students transitioning into 2026 school year

As another school year begins, parents, carers and schools are being urged to put simple, proactive supports in place to help autistic students have a smoother start and settle into new environments more quickly.

School news / Global recognition for multifacted consent and respectful relationships program

Teaching about consent and respectful relationships is vital to building a future where every student feels safe, valued and respected, Independent Schools NSW chief executive Margery Evans said today.

Comments