Extracurricular cultural activities are not enough
The German Council for Cultural Education warns against viewing the number of extracurricular activities as a sufficient indicator of the success of cultural education.
"The numerous legitimizing myths of cultural education" - that everything is always good - must be questioned. Exaggerated hopes and promises of effectiveness must be decisively countered if cultural education is to be promoted sustainably.
In summer 2015, the study "Jugend/Kunst/Erfahrung - Horizont 2015" conducted by the Allensbach Institute on behalf of the Council revealed that 17% of pupils in Year 9 and 10 at general education schools nationwide have no art lessons and 22% have no music lessons. In addition to this, 33% of pupils miss art lessons and 27% miss music lessons more than rarely.
No matter how good extracurricular programs are, they cannot compensate for this deficit, writes the Council. The development of regular educational monitoring for the entire field of cultural education is therefore essential, the Council of Experts concludes.
More info: www.rat-kulturelle-bildung.de
