The national curriculum and enabling creativity

Wayne Sawyer

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    9 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Gunther Kress’s for a curriculum based on textual creation in a global era of instability is particularly appropriate to the present historical moment. Here I argue the need for a notion of creativity as the basis for a national curriculum in English. The kind of creativity envisaged issues out of a systems theory approach which sees creativity not in terms of individual genius, but as part of the context of a discipline. I emphasise in particular Pope’s view of creation as re-creation, with students creating alongside the authors/filmmakers etc whom they read and view – a view of creativity with a respectable history in Australian classrooms. Three key recent paradigms of the subject – rhetoric, a renewed aesthetic and design – are brought together to centre this approach to creativity on the notion of form. I argue that the national curriculum needs to look not only at the necessary in curriculum design, but also at the sufficient, and that a focus on creativity will assist that move.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages11
    JournalEnglish in Australia
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Keywords

    • English language
    • creative ability
    • curriculum
    • education
    • social aspects
    • study and teaching

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