2. Creating a positive culture and identity for schools in Australia On the 9th of July 2012 the Sydney morning herald (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/education-takes-a-dramatic-new-course-20120709-21rti.html) certified that dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts will be studied by Australian students and integrated into schools up until year 10. The article emphasised the importance of the new policy in education to provide an adequate and sustainable arts program in schools which the students will benefit from for their future prospects. The article also explains that having the arts apart of the curriculum will be believed to cause a positive impact in helping students develop their sense of identity. In the reading sociology on culture’ (hall, Neitz & bettani 2003) it is demonstrated that identity politics is created through music, dress and slang, hence indicating that through the use of our body’s and the actions created help people portray their sense of identity. For example drama creates different realities in which students can express themselves in many ways through their emotions, gestures, movement and language, this gives a chance for them to experience fulfilment and find their true self’s within their false identity of the character that they play; just as explained in the sociology on culture reading that males discover their gender identity by not being female in the absence of their fatherly figure (hall, Neitz & bettani 2003 p. 18). This therefore correlates with the views displayed in the news article as the education minister’s argument is that the arts will ultimately enhance creativity and help develop a sense of identity and have a positive influence on Australia’s culture. From an educative perspective the news article has given reliable statistics to confirm that the arts is in fact a positive influence in education as it has improved school attendance for the participants and has increased motivation and class participation. In society rules and cultural aspects can dictate the way of life and hence impact to ones identity, through education policy of the arts being made compulsory till year 10 provides a 4 year permanent state in which the students will adapt to new creative practises which will decrease their laziness and improve their social skills, ability to think critically and diligently and to find their sense of self. The arts are a crucial aspect of the education system and although it might not be suitable for everyone can positively provide even a small since of self identity even impacting them culturally through either dressing or not dressing, acting or not acting in a certain way in everyday life.

Creating a positive culture and identity for schools in Australia

On the 9^th of July 2012 the Sydney morning herald (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/education-takes-a-dramatic-new-course-20120709-21rti.html) certified that dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts will be studied by Australian students and integrated into schools up until year 10. The article emphasised the importance of the new policy in education to provide an adequate and sustainable arts program in schools which the students will benefit from for their future prospects. The article also explains that having the arts apart of the curriculum will be believed to cause a positive impact in helping students develop or reshape their sense of identity. New forms of expression can create an identity politics as students will inherit certain practises through the arts which might be against their cultural markers or what they identify themselves with. In the reading sociology on culture’ (hall, Neitz & bettani 2003) it is demonstrated that an identity politics is created through music, dress and slang, as through the use of our body’s and the actions created can negate people’s sense of identity through new expressions and way of life. For example drama creates different realities in which students can express themselves in many ways through their emotions, gestures, movement and language, this gives a chance for them to experience fulfilment and find their true self’s within their false identity of the character that they play; just as explained in the sociology on culture reading that males discover their gender identity by not being female in the absence of their fatherly figure (hall, Neitz & bettani 2003 p. 18). This therefore correlates with the views displayed in the news article as the education minister’s argument is that the arts will ultimately enhance creativity and help develop a sense of identity and have a positive influence on Australia’s culture.  However the students can be conflicted in which identity they associate themselves with. From an educative perspective the news article has given reliable statistics to confirm that the arts is in fact a positive influence in education as it has improved school attendance for the participants and has increased motivation and class participation. In society rules and cultural aspects can dictate the way of life and hence impact to ones identity, through education policy of the arts being made compulsory till year 10 provides a 4 year permanent state in which the students will adapt to new creative practises which will decrease their laziness and improve their social skills, ability to think critically and diligently and to find their sense of self. However in saying this the arts can provide a period where students will develop attributes or interests which can alter their future identity or interfere with the symbols of the present one creating an identity politics in where they either conform or reject. The arts are a crucial aspect of the education system and although it might not be suitable for everyone can positively provide even a small since of self identity even impacting them culturally through either dressing or not dressing, acting or not acting in a certain way in everyday life.

The Sydney Morning Herald , 9^th of July 2012, “Education takes a dramatic new course”: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/education-takes-a-dramatic-new-course-20120709-21rti.html

Hall, J.R, Neitz, M.J & Battani, M. (2003). Sociology on culture. London. Chapter 2: Culture, self and society

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Priscilla Younes