Vol. 568 No. 1
153 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the role arts and sports can play in both primary and secondary schools, both as subjects in themselves but also as tools for lifestyle and personal development which will yield students who are more equipped to say no to the negative challenges in life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15542/03]
Music, the visual arts and drama pro vide for sensory, emotional, intellectual and creative enrichment and contribute to the young person's holistic development. Education in these areas encourages ideas that are personal and inventive and makes a vital contribution to the development of a range of intelligences. The activities and experiences encompassed in arts education help the young person to make sense of the world, to question, to speculate, to find solutions and to express and understand feelings. The aims of education in the arts include the encouragement of individuality and the fostering of confidence and self-esteem.
Sport and physical education, although closely linked, are not synonymous. Sport begins in play and develops through games, competition and challenges, supporting teamwork and leadership. The focus in the physical education curriculum is on the child's holistic development, stressing personal and social development, physical growth, and motor development. Goal-setting, within the curriculum, focuses on individual improvement.
The physical education curriculum at both primary and second level is designed to enable young people to develop their physical abilities and talents to the greatest extent possible. Physical education also enables young people to develop desirable personal and social skills, such as the acceptance of rules, the capacity to accept winning and losing with equanimity, the concept of fair play and the ability to co-operate in group activities.
In my view, the arts and physical education, including sport, are essential elements of a curriculum that is designed to develop the whole person. There are many facets of both arts and sport that promote life skills and develop positive attitudes and self-esteem, and they can be particularly important in motivating and developing children experiencing educational disadvantage. Young people who acquire these attitudes and skills, whether through their experiences at school, in the home or in the wider community, will be well equipped to cope with the challenges of life.
